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Adult Study Class Forming: Becoming A Blessed Church by The Rev. Hartshorn Murphy
Typically, our adult study groups have focused on subjects ranging from the contemporary life, spiritual practice, Christian ethics and the person of Christ. Occasionally, we have examined religion and politics and sometimes, we offered bible study. I can not remember a time when we have focused on "the church." In part that's because most church books are based on the self help movement with titles like, "12 Ways to Grow a Healthy Church." There are dozens of these books and they all contain helpful information which is basically useless. That's because congregations are woefully "contextual." What works in one context will fail miserably in another context and so what's needed is a better process rather than a better product. N. Graham Standish has written a wonderful little book based on his experience as a pastor of a Presbyterian church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania. It's title is Becoming a Blessed Church: Forming a Church of Spiritual Purpose, Presence and Power. And while there are some practical how to's in the appendix, the book's value is its willingness to challenge us as clergy and lay leaders: ministers of the gospel all of us, about the need to ground our work in the spiritual life. I found the text to be challenging and a bit unsettling as my assumptions about church life were tested. As I read it, I wondered if I would have the nerve to invite our folk at St. A's into a discussion with me as their priest about how we do church and how we might do that with greater wholeness and holiness. But, in the end, this is not a book about finding fault but about finding hope and about a change of heart rather than a new program or project. I invite especially those in leadership − but then again, we are all leaders here if we are willing to serve! − to join me in reading "Becoming a Blessed Church." Block II classes meet Sundays at 9:30 a.m. − 10:15 a.m. on Sundays, Nov. 11, 18, 25 and Dec., 2, 9, and 16. The book will be available in the bookstore for $18 and a sign up will be on the patio so that we'll know how many copies of the book to order. Copyright © 2007 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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