Adult Education Opportunities

The adult education programs of Fourth Church provide short-term and ongoing education for our members, friends of the church, and the wider community, through both in-person and Zoom options.

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CURRENT CLASS OFFERINGS

If you want to tap into the rich resources of previous classes, simply click on this link to find all the adult education classes that were recorded.

Christian Mysticism: Roots to Today
January 5, 12, and 19 
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Led by Vicky Curtiss, former Fourth Church Associate Pastor and current Program Director for Siena Retreat Center

What exactly is mysticism? From its roots in the thirteenth century to modern day, we will discover “practicing the presence of God” by considering the works of mystics such as Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, and Teresa of Avila, as well as the recently published Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground by Mirabai Starr. We will learn how we too can be mystics in our everyday, current lives. 

Resilience, Respect, and Resistance: Being the Church in Uncertain Times
January 26, February 2 and 9 
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Led by Matt Helms, Nancy Benson-Nicol, Joe Morrow, and Rocky Supinger

In this three-week course series led by our own Associate Pastors, we will explore how our faith can serve as a guide and inspiration in a tense political climate. We will look to examples from both history and the Bible as we seek to live out the ministry and mission to which we are individually and collectively called.

Topics will include Resources and Practices for Spiritual Resilience, Foundational Values for Public Life, and the Church’s Role in a Time of Division. 

Book Discussion of James by Percival Everett
February 16 and 23, March 2 
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Led by Jeff Doane, former Fourth Associate Pastor, and John Clum, retired Duke University English Professor.  

Percival Everett’s James is a critically-acclaimed and best-selling retelling of Mark Twain’s classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the eyes of the runaway slave, Jim. We will discuss how Twain’s Jim differs from Everett’s Jim, as well as the ways in which James turns Twain’s novel into a work that makes the reader examine their own feelings about race. How does this relate to us as members of Fourth Church?

Comparing the Gospels
March 9, 16, and 23 
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Led by Matt Helms, Associate Pastor for Children, Family, and Welcoming Ministries

This class will explore each of the four Gospels, comparing and contrasting the unique lenses each writer brings to the life and teachings of Jesus, allowing us to expand our understanding of Jesus’ ministry. 

Arts and Culture: Flowers and Liturgy
March 30 
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Led by Shawn Fiedler, Major Gift Officer
Joined by Will Nifong and Colin Collete, Mangel Florist Owners

During this season of Lent, flowers play a significant role in Christian liturgy.

Rev. Shawn Fiedler will lead this session as we discuss the symbolism of particular flowers in Scripture and Theology.

We will also be joined by Will Nifong and Colin Collete, owners of Mangel Florist, to discern what meaning congregants draw from floral displays during holiday periods as well as ordinary time. 

Videos of the Bible Study with Tom Are

During the pandemic, Tom Are wrote a short book, Joy Even on Your Worst Days, which he calls “a preacher’s read of Philippians.”

Using the book as a guide, in autumn 2024 Tom led us in exploring the letter of Philippians, the most joyful writing in the Bible even though it was written while Paul was in prison.

You can view the four presentations from the Bible study here:

Video of Session 1
Video of Session 2
Video of Session 3
Video of Session 4

Give Us Your Input

To make an inquiry for information or to send evaluative comments, or to suggest a future course offering, email the Adult Education office.

Recommendation Form for a class or speaker
Proposal Form to submit a class of your own for consideration

Staff/Contact Information

Matt Helms
Associate Pastor for Children, Family, and Welcoming Ministries
Email

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