Education & Formation - Adult

Listed below are the adult classes offered at Saint Stephen's beginning on January 6th, 2008. Click here to contact us if you need more information.

SUNDAY MORNING CLASSES - Meet at 9:15 a.m.

• Foundations of Discipleship with Fr. Gahan & Jennifer Brooke-Davidson. The Saint Stephen's community invites everyone to begin a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. We believe God has a purpose for each one of us and discipleship is the way to uncover our unique gifts and understand our unending purpose in God's plan. Our Foundations of Discipleship class is an introduction to this exciting lifelong journey with Christ and with one another. In the class we cover eight subjects: Faith, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Christian Discipline, the Bible, Prayer, and Eternal Life. During our eight sessions together we will read the Bible together and take a hard look at our principal Sunday worship - the Holy Eucharist. What's more, we will build a small group of folks or twelve or so people who grow together in trust and fidelity. Pre-registration required; contact Jennifer Brooke-Davidson directly at 847.6691 or jenniferb@ststeve.org.
  
  
• Next Steps with Fr. Gahan & Jennifer Brooke-Davidson. Nearly 200 people at Saint Stephen's have completed Foundations of Discipleship in the last three years. Many have continued their work in scripture and spirituality classes and in small groups. Fr. Gahan and Jennifer Brooke-Davidson are now extremely pleased and excited to offer a sequel to Foundations, Next Steps. Next Steps will continue and deepen the discipleship work begun in Foundations, strengthening and equipping you for your continuing journey of faith.
  
  Next Steps will be offered twice a year, in March and in June. It will serve as both sequel to Foundations and as adult preparation for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation. The first session of Next Steps will meet on Sunday mornings, March 2, 9, and 16, and for a day retreat on Saturday, March 15. Participants are asked to commit to be present for all sessions. (If you are currently engaged in a Sunday School class, we recommend that you remain in that class and sign up for the June session. We expect to hold a second Confirmation Sunday following that class, and so you will not need to wait a whole year.) Pre-Registration is required by Monday, Feb. 25. Simply email Jennifer at jenniferb@ststeve.org or call 512.847.6691 to reserve a place. (If you try to tell her on the sidewalk on Sunday morning, she is very likely to forget!).
  
  We look forward to taking this Next Step together!
  
  
• Spiritual Formation in a Small Group with Ben & Eleanor Edwards leading the group. Reservation required: contact Ben and Eleanor at edwards@txwinet.com.
  
  
• The Gospel of John: A Short-Term Group Study with Bob Reed. Reservation required: contact Bob at rnreed@austin.rr.com.
  
  
• Exploring the Faith, reading the second half of Richard Rohr's book "Jesus' Plan for a New World", with Mary Anne McGee. The subtitle is "The Sermon on the Mount," so you can see it is not new material but a new way of looking at traditional teaching. The thrust is to raise our sights from a personal level to a much larger scale that invites us to work for peace and justice, not only for ourselves, but for all. If this sounds somewhat different from your current understanding of Jesus' message, come discover a deeper way of reading and living out Jesus' call to love your neighbor. We really enjoy sharing our questions and insights and learning and practicing how to live in peace with those who disagree with our opinions. There are diverse opinions but everyone is respected and heard. We meet in the School Library on the back patio. No reservation required. For info contact Mary Anne at magnamc@txwinet.com.
  
  
• Bible Study for Parents with Anita McNabb & Darelle Jordan. No reservation required. For info contact Anita at mcnabb@txwinet.com or Darelle at rvjordan@peoplepc.com.
  
  
• Finding Your Core Values with John Stark and Muriel Jackson will be offered from time to time. For info contact John at jstark7@austin.rr.com or Muriel at mkjackson@juno.com.
  
  

MONDAY MORNING STUDIES

• Women's Bible Study: Contact Ellen Bomer at ebomer@txwinet.com for info.

TUESDAY MORNING STUDIES

• Men's Bible Study begins at 7:00am in the Chapel each Tuesday morning. Contact Ben Edwards at edwards@txwinet.com, Michael Iles (footfalt@hughes.net), or Norm Rolling (annrolling@yahoo.com) for info.

WEDNESDAY STUDIES

• Financial Peace University beginning Wednesday, March 5th. Imagine yourself DEBT FREE. Come join us for Financial Peace University, a nationally recognized program by Dave Ramsey. Financial Peace University is a fun, life changing program that will teach you how to take control of your money. You will learn how to get out of debt...and stay that way, communicate with your spouse about money, invest with confidence and change your financial future. Registration is being held now. Classes will meet on Wednesdays from 7:15-9:15 p.m., beginning March 5. The program is hosted by Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church and available to the community. Contact Jennifer Jaime at jaime403@austin.rr.com for cost of tuition and more information.