Adult Ministry Advent Series
8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Advent and Christmas: Season of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, heralds good news of great joy to all people. But it is also a time of reflection and preparation and in the world around us, a lack of peace and often difficulty feeling the joy during difficult times. As we enter into the busyness and contradictions of this time, adult classes will focus on an intentional recalling of what the season is all about using the four general themes of Advent. How do we take time to experience all these things, in a way that lets us live in this place of contradictions while still feeling the healing, peaceful, joyful unconditional love of God?
November 29 – Hope: Hope is about as vital to our well-being as are air and water. With hope, so much is possible; without it, so little is. Many things can threaten our hope; on the other hand, hope is an ever renewable resource, often buoyed by the fruits of spiritual life. Julie Neraas, Associate Professor in the Graduate Liberal Studies Program at Hamline, spiritual director, ordained Presbyterian minister, author of “Apprenticed to Hope: Sourcebook for Challenging Times” was Theologian in Residence at FPC some years ago.
December 6 – Peace: Our life experience can be terrifying, but the season of Advent is a time to receive the grace that is forever present and available to each of us. Come and hear ways we can welcome God’s grace and set a course to transform our lives and that of the world. Carol Rennie, OSB, a spiritual director and a teacher of teachers, is a member of the monastic community of St. Paul’s Monastery and is an adjunct to the Benedictine Center in St Paul.
December 13 – Love: Love is connectional, communal, individual. How do we live in this place and season when we may not be feeling loving or loved? How can we truly experience the love of God and use it for healing in ourselves and others? Gregory A. Plotnikoff, MD, MTS, FACP, Medical Director of Abbot Northwestern Hospital’s Penny George Institute for Health and Healing, will engage all gathered for a dialogue on Love as the universal healing power. He strongly believes that we are all called to be healers. He will share practical insights that apply to everyone from his clinical practice, the latest medical research, Presbyterian spirituality as well as his six years at Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan.
December 20 – Joy: Holiday time is a joyous time. However, about 10% of Americans are experiencing mental illness, numerous others have encountered the loss of jobs, loved ones or relationships and feeling the grief of those losses during this time of celebration. Today we will look at including those who are hurting and honoring them in their pain during our celebrations and discuss how to include everyone at the joyous holiday table. Rev. Ross Aalgaard is a psychotherapist, Pastoral Counselor, Licensed Graduate Social Worker with Westminster Church Minneapolis Counseling Center. In his words “whether you choose to acknowledge God or the spiritual realm in some other way, your spirituality can be a genuine resource for your life and well-being”
December 20 – Blue Christmas Service: Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer all make the holidays painful for many people. To honor the needs of people who are blue at Christmas we will gather at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 20 for a special worship service. This service will be more reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope.
First Presbyterian Church
535 20th Avenue North, South St. Paul, MN 55075
651/451-6223 www.fpcssp.org
