LENTEN STUDY SERIES 2020
/
Once again we come to that forty-day time of preparation before Easter, the great liturgical season known as Lent. For 2020, the three Union Council congregations of Union Avenue, Pilgrim, and Westminster will continue our decades-long tradition of sharing in this season together through worship, study, and fellowship, beginning with an Ash Wednesday worship service at Westminster (February 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary). On the subsequent five Wednesdays, our annual Lenten Study Series will begin with a simple supper (soup and salad provided, bring anything else you'd like to share) at 5:30 p.m. We'll break into small groups at 6:00 p.m. and then reconvene en masse close to 7:00 p.m. for a short time of evening prayer.
For the Study Series, we're offering the following learning tracks to shape and guide our small group discussions each Wednesday evening:
1) a study on racial justice using The Angela Project Presents: 40 Days of Prayer for the Liberation of American Descendants of Slavery (ISBN-13: 978-0978557287, link to Amazon). While a 40 day devotional, this could easily be the basis for a group to come together and talk each Wednesday about what they read/prayed/pondered in the past week as well as engage in online resources and structured lessons, if desired. (And of course, it can be a simple way to take up the discipline of individual prayer during this season without participating in a small group study). Participants would be responsible for acquiring a copy of the book for themselves.
2) a study using John Indermark's book Traveling the Prayer Path of Jesus (ISBN-13: 978-0835898577, link to Amazon). Indermark is an Eden graduate, UCC pastor, and prolific author, and this study would explore the different types of prayer in which Jesus engaged and walk people through his journeys to understand how and why each matters. There will be information on the assignments and key readings available for everyone, and there will be opportunities to engage the conversation through an online discussion forum as well as form a group to meet together in person. Participants will be responsible for acquiring a copy of the book for themselves.
3) a study using Matt Rawle's The Grace of Les Misérables (ISBN-13: 978-1501887109, link to Amazon) which explores several of the themes found in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables (grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope). Rawle is a United Methodist pastor and author who's writings engage the faith with the arts. Each session would make us of the Bible, Rawle's book, and video clips from the 2012 motion picture adaptation of the musical. Participants would be responsible for having read/seen/watched Les Misérables prior to the study and acquiring a copy of Rawle's book for themselves.
4) a study using Eric Smith's Paul the Progressive?: The Compassionate Christian’s Guide to Reclaiming the Apostle as an Ally (ISBN-13: 978-0827231726, link to Amazon). Smith is a Christian pastor and author, and his book revisits Paul in light of modern biblical scholarship, telling the story of a Paul who challenged the norms of his day, broke down barriers of gender and ethnicity, and re-imagined God's plan for the world in terms of radical inclusion and salvation available to everyone. Participants would be responsible for acquiring a copy of the book for themselves; a study guide would be provided.
5) a conversation about our three congregations' joint ministry endeavor, Union Communion Ministries. Using the document A New Vision for Union Communion Ministries that the UCM board adopted last November, participants would engage in discussion regarding the background and history of UCM, who we are today, what we are called to do, how we live into that call, and what that will require from us. Participants would be provided the document prior to the study.
Of special note: we do not know how many of the above studies will be offered – that all depends upon interest and commitment to participation. If you are interested in participating in any of these, please email Rev. Michael Riggs (rev.michael@union-avenue.org) indicating which study/studies interest you in ranked order of preference. So long as there are enough participants, we'll offer that particular study.
Of very special note: each of these groups (except for #2) needs someone to help lead the conversation about what was read during the week – a simple and easy thing to do. The study on Les Misérables requires someone that is willing to lead the group each week using a prepared lesson, perhaps even rotated each week among the participants; so if you have a love for Les Misérables, perhaps this is an opportunity for you to pour your love into your faith by helping lead this study.
We do hope you will choose to be a part of this year's Lenten Study Series. The food, fellowship, and discussion will surely nourish and nurture the soul as well as our being Church together as we prepare our hearts, minds, souls, and lives of discipleship for Easter.