Faith Formation at Christ Church is based on the belief that people grow in their faith best when they have the opportunity to engage in conversation with others about things that matter.  The objective is to provide sustained, engaged, and critical conversations to deepen a faith that is living, explicit, and fruitful. Faith formation seeks to: enhance the ability to clearly express personal faith; develop clarity about thoughts and beliefs; understand the connection between faith and life; and strengthen personal faith by sharing and learning with others.

Program content may include book discussions, focused Bible study, and lectures on a wide range of relevant topics. Typically, there’s a break during the summer months.

Additional formation programs and activities are scheduled throughout the church year. Recent offerings have included special workshops: Spiritual Gifts Inventory to discover unique personal gifts and how they might best be used; Appreciative Inquiry Workshop to better identify where the Spirit is working at Christ Church; Fierce Conversations Workshop to support meaningful conversations in today’s political/social environment; and Civil Discourse, using the Episcopal Church’s curriculum to help folks understand and practice civil discourse, particularly as it relates to discussion about politics, policy and legislation.

Summer theology potluck events usually begin with dinner at the home of a congregant. This year, we’ll all be tuning in from our own homes via Zoom. There follows a presentation and discussion with a theology, social justice, or community support focus. Presentations may feature guest speakers, compelling videos, or discussion of current issues affecting Christ Church or the local community. Sometimes the objective of the evening is purely fellowship. Theology potlucks are scheduled on a Sunday evening in June, July, and August.

Coffee hour after the 10:30am Sunday service is occasionally the venue for discussion of a pre-announced topic. Active listening and open discussion offer a safe place to share thoughts and opinions.  The monthly “Spiritual But Not Religious” Book Group began as a way to initiate discussion of spiritual matters in the broader community. The Group meets the fourth Thursday of the month, 1:30pm, via Zoom. All are welcome!

Education for Ministry, an on-going cyclical four-year study program, described in more detail elsewhere on this website, takes students deep into scripture, theology, and ministry.