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Archive for adults

School of Christian Living Resumes Jan. 9

Posted by Robb Serna on Monday, December 17th, 2018 in All Church

We believe that faith deepens when we engage together in learning and discussion about who God is and how we are called to live. You are invited to engage meaningful content, wherever you are in your faith journey, and deepen your walk with Christ through a regular, intentional, authentic community space. The next School of Christian Living session begins January 9 and goes for seven weeks, ending February 20. Each evening starts at 6:00pm with dinner together, followed by several class options at 7:00pm for youth and adults. Children are supervised during the class hour, and those youth who are in choir may come just for dinner before or after their rehearsal time. Select one of the following classes to attend:

Survey 103: I Saw God at the Movies: Movie Class (ends February 27, without dinner on the last evening)

Application 103: Good Grief

Theology 103: Faith You Can Give Away (This class has been canceled and will be rescheduled at a later date)

Bible Literacy 102: A Historical Introduction to the New Testament

Read the full class descriptions here. Whether you are new to exploring your faith or a long-time practitioner, we invite you to find something of interest.

Dinner costs $10 for adults and $5 for children, up to a maximum of $25 per family. Please register online for the class/dates that interest you so that we may prepare dinner quantities.

New School of Christian Living Session Begins

Posted by Robb Serna on Monday, November 12th, 2018 in All Church

We believe that faith deepens when we engage together in learning and discussion about who God is and how we are called to live. You are invited to engage meaningful content, wherever you are in your faith journey, and deepen your walk with Christ through a regular, intentional, authentic community space. The next School of Christian Living session begins November 28 and goes for four weeks, ending December 19. Each evening starts at 6:00pm with dinner together, followed by several class options at 7:00pm for youth and adults. Children are supervised during the class hour, and those youth who are in choir may come just for dinner before or after their rehearsal time. Select one of the following classes to attend:

Survey 102: The Hopes and Fears of All the Years

Application 102: Improving Listening, Improving Relationship

Theology 102: What Is Advent? A Deep Dive Into the Christian Calendar

Bible Literacy 102: Analyzing the Bible: Sharp Tools for Digging In the First Time

Read the full class descriptions here. Whether you are new to exploring your faith or a long-time practitioner, we invite you to find something of interest.

Dinner costs $10 for adults and $5 for children, up to a maximum of $25 per family. Please register online for the classes/dates that interest you so that we may prepare dinner quantities. If you prefer, printed registration cards will be available soon.

(Re)Introducing the School of Christian Living

Posted by Robb Serna on Tuesday, September 11th, 2018 in Adults, All Church

We believe that faith deepens when we engage together in learning and discussion about who God is and how we are called to live. Starting October 3, the Deepening Faith committee and Ministry Team are excited to reintroduce an older LAUMC concept, the School of Christian Living, as a new opportunity to deepen your walk with Christ through a regular, intentional, authentic community space. You are invited to engage meaningful content, wherever you are in your faith journey.

The School of Christian Living will be held on Wednesday evenings, 6:00–8:00pm. Each evening starts with dinner together in Creekside, followed by several class options for youth and adults. Children have their own programming during class time, and those youth who are in choir may come just for dinner before or after their rehearsal time. The classes last for a session of several weeks, followed by a short break before the next session of classes begins.

Session Schedule:
October 3 – November 14
November 28 – December 19
January 9 – February 20
March 13 – April 10
May 1–29

Whether you are new to exploring your faith or a long-time practitioner, we invite you to find something of interest in the class offerings. Courses fit into the areas of theology, Bible, practical application, and a survey class for drop-in participation. Some courses will have no homework and no prerequisites, others will involve some homework, while a few will be part of a series and require that you have taken an earlier class in the series before participating.

Dinner costs $10 for adults and $5 for children, or $25 per family. Please register for the classes/dates that interest you so that the organizers may get a total head count for dinner and plan the room size for each class. Check out the schedule for the first session and register online, or look for course catalogs and paper registration cards at church.

Jail Ministry Seminar, Sept. 8

Posted by Robb Serna on Wednesday, August 29th, 2018 in Serve & Social Justice

Have you ever considered volunteering at Elmwood Correctional Facility? All are welcome to learn about this opportunity and be trained to go into the jail conduct Bible studies, group classes, worship services, and other spiritual services. Come to the Going In, Staying In Jail Ministry Seminar on Saturday, September 8, 9:30–11:30am in Creekside. CIC Ministries has a mission to respond to the spiritual needs of detained youth and incarcerated adults in Santa Clara County, and the organization trains teams of volunteers to participate in that service. A few LAUMC members have already been trained, and we hope to increase the number of trained volunteers from LAUMC. Contact Chaplain Bev Boxill-German (408-390-1275) if you are interested in attending the training seminar.

New Choir Forming

Posted by Robb Serna on Monday, July 23rd, 2018 in Adults, Worship & Music

Whether you’ve sung in a high school musical, collegiate a cappella group, Carnegie Hall, church choir, the car on your way to work, or a late Friday night at karaoke, you know you love singing—and God knows that, too! How about sharing that gift with us all during worship? A new choir is forming at LAUMC, and all are welcome! Being a part of LAUMC’s beautiful and diverse music will take you to a new spiritual level of worship as well as bringing you into a warm and loving musical community.

The new adult choir will sing a variety of music that needs a full spectrum of vocal ranges and styles. The choir will rehearse on Tuesday nights, starting August 28 at 7:15pm in the Choir Room. On Sundays the choir will rotate singing at the two morning service times on a monthly basis. In September (starting September 9) the choir will sing at the 10:00am service; in October it will sing at the 8:30am service.

There are no auditions required to participate in this choir. You are invited to participate in a sectional gathering with other singers in your voice range for some voice blending, group bonding, and dessert. Basses (the lowest voices) will gather on August 9, altos (second-highest voices) on August 16, sopranos (highest voices) on August 30, and tenors (medium-low voices) on September 6.

Not sure where your voice fits in? No worries! Contact Director Bill Golden (408-656-4453), and he will sit down with you briefly to hear which voice level would be best for you.

Note: Bill is on a mission trip in Mexico through August 6. During that time, please contact Kathy Marshall (650-815-1720) if you have questions about the new choir.

Invitation to Explore Changemaking

Posted by Robb Serna on Monday, May 21st, 2018 in Adults, Changemaker Initiative

What is changemaking, anyway? The Changemaker Initiative team invites you to explore various aspects of changemaking to learn the many ways we can all be compassion-driven changemakers. Come to one event or several—you choose. More opportunities will come later in the summer and fall. For more information, contact Lay Director Kim Jones.

Exploring Changemaking and the Arts: The Power of Origami
Wednesday, May 23, 10:00–11:30am, Room 8
See and engage in examples of how art has changed individuals and communities for good. Hear Nancy Jenks tell an incredible story of how folded paper has provided clean water. Fold some paper yourself to help with this project!

Exploring Changemaking and Faith
Wednesdays, May 30, June 6, and June 13, 10:00–11:30am, Room 8
Using Ashoka’s Empathy 101 curriculum and Biblical texts, come see scripture in a new way. The sessions, led by Kim Jones, stand alone, so attend any number you are able.

Exploring Changemaking Skills
Thursday, June 7, 7:00–8:30pm, Room 8
Strengthen empathy through a participatory workshop with active listening led by Susie Buchholz, a psychologist. Please let Susie know if you plan to come so that she can prepare adequate materials.

Exploring Changemaking: The Solution Finders Mindset
Thursdays, June 14 – July 5, 7:00–8:30pm, Room 8
In a world where our sources of information focus more on the problems, our abilities to find strategies that solve those problems are weakening. We can find ourselves struggling to retain our own hope and inspiration for a better world. This four-week discussion group will expose you to news of what people around the globe are doing to improve the world by using a tool called Solutions Journalism. Come learn how to find solutions-driven stories on topics that interest you and engage in basic changemaker thinking by analyzing how people are responding to problems. What are their ideas? What’s working? What’s not working? If you have a laptop or tablet you are welcome to bring it with you. Contact group leader Melissa Allison with questions.

God, Church, #MeToo

Posted by Robb Serna on Wednesday, April 18th, 2018 in Adults, All Church

Are you caring for yourself in the wake of the #MeToo Movement? What is the #MeToo Movement? Is this movement bringing back painful memories and emotions? How does #MeToo impact you? How does it relate to justice and mercy? These are just a few of the topics that will be covered on Thursdays, April 26 – May 17, at 7:00pm in a four-week series titled God, Church, #MeToo. Clinical psychologist Dr. Gabrielle Lou will facilitate an exploration of the healing process, self-care, and the importance of prayer. All are welcome. Contact Director of Congregational Care Patricia Parfett for more information.

Changemaking – You Are Invited! April 14

Posted by Robb Serna on Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 in All Church, Serve & Social Justice

What is changemaking? Can we really change the world? As followers of Jesus, our mission assumes that personal transformation will lead to social transformation. But we are not always clear about how to do that with the kind of impact that we (and God) hope for. Ashoka is a social entrepreneurship organization that is in the business of identifying people who have the inspiration, character traits, and skills to change the world for good—and then helping them do it. In partnership with Ashoka, LAUMC’s Changemaker Initiative will help translate our heartfelt compassion into practical changemaking—in our families, our schools, our church, our businesses, and our organizations. As we start this initiative, please take a short survey that will tell Ashoka (and us!) some ways in which we are already changemakers.

You are invited on Saturday, April 14, to learn more about the Changemaker Initiative and how you might be part of it. Bring your energy for impact and join us for a day of learning and exploration. All ages are welcome! About 30–35 “Fellows” will be chosen from our congregation to embark on a 10-month process of changemaking in any and all sectors, with our faith as the core. Fellows will assemble teams of collaborators and be mentored by Ashoka experts to pilot and carry out innovative change. During this time we will establish an entire ecosystem and mindset of changemaking at our church—and there is a role for everyone.

Morning Session: 9:30–11:30am (childcare provided)

Why is changemaking essential for both young people and adults to thrive in a rapidly changing world? Learn more about the Changemaker Initiative and engage interactively to create ideas for shaping our homes, schools, workplaces, and other institutions to support people to be powerful changemakers. Lunch (11:30am – 1:00pm) will be offered to all participants.

Afternoon Session (optional): 1:00–3:30pm

In what areas are we drawn to explore changemaking? If your interest is sparked by what you experience in the morning, you are invited to stay for the afternoon session—especially if you think you might want to apply to be a LAUMC Changemaker Fellow or wish to support one of the selected Fellows as part of a team. Help shape the topics that LAUMC’s Changemaker Fellows will address. Explore your passions and choose from any of the four main themes to work on: Changemaker Families, Changemaker Workspaces, Changemaker Churches, and Changemaking in the Community.

Please register by April 9 so that sufficient food and childcare may be provided. Space is limited. If you have questions, especially if you are interested but unable to attend, please contact Kim Jones, lay director of LAUMC’s Changemaker Initiative.

Congregational Care Minister Training Starts April 8

Posted by Robb Serna on Monday, February 26th, 2018 in Adults

Do you have a gift for listening to those needing an ear or those who are lonely? Do you have a compassionate heart for those going through tough situations? Are you being called into ministry caring for others? Congregational Care Ministers, or CCMs, are a team of trained lay volunteers who use their gifts and graces to partner in ministry with the clergy and staff to provide care for our congregation. Congregational care is critical in every local church, and no one person can address all the hurt of a congregation or community. This partnership between lay and clergy enables LAUMC to provide a more consistent and deeper level of care to our church family.

LAUMC will hold a training for new CCMs on Sundays, April 8 – May 20, 11:15am–12:30pm in the Resource Center. With this training, you will be empowered to make hospital visits, telephone persons in need of contact, meet one-on-one with persons in need of a listening ear for prayer and encouragement, offer support to grieving families, and proactively seek to encourage and care for persons in need. Training topics include organizational development, Wesleyan Way of Care, boundaries and ethical practices, listening, older adult ministry, hospital visits, death, and prayer.

Registration is limited. Early bird pricing of $40 is available through March 8, then the cost will increase to $50. You can register on our website.

Take Control of Your Medical Care

Posted by Robb Serna on Wednesday, January 10th, 2018 in Adults

On Thursdays, January 18 – February 8, 7:00–8:30pm in Creekside C/D, our Congregational Care ministry is holding a series of conversations on taking more control of your own medical care. Sessions include two screenings and discussion of the Nightline video “Being Mortal,” trained Advanced Care Planning educators explaining how you can put your own decisions in a legal written form, and documenting how you want to be remembered in your memorial service. The video will be screened and discussed twice on January 18, once at 10:00am and again at 7:00pm. Contact Bob Olah with questions.

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