Adult Education

ThirdArts
September 21st, 9:00 am - Johnston Hall
A new umbrella designation for all of the arts sponsored by Third Church. Come and learn about this eclectic mix of events celebrating the arts in our midst and the creative gifts of our Creator. Music, drama, visual arts and dance events all combine to make for an unforgettable weekend of arts events.

“Bread for the World”
September 28th, 9:00 am - Johnston Hall
Bread for the World’s 2003 Offering of Letters campaign is entitled “Rise to the Challenge: End World Hunger”. What does this mean for us at Third Church? We’ll explore the what, why, when, where and how questions related to this campaign.

God Views: The Convictions That Drive and Divide Us
September 28th, 9:00 am - Celebration Center
led by Aaron Doll
We live in a society that has a natural tendency to polarize itself along religious and political matters. This has led to divisive partisan politics in the church over important issues such as the ordination of gays and lesbians and abortion, to name two. Jack Haberer presents an alternative picture of the way Christians group themselves that leaves room for the appreciation of other points of view.

Brown Bag Study

"Every Day Faith"
Thursdays in October, 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm
Led by John Wilkinson in the Celebration Center
This series will explore five essays by well known writers that focus on every day aspects of faith. Come for one or come for all. Bring your brown bag lunch!; Note: Copies of the essays are available in the church office.

October 2nd “The Spiritual and the Secular” by William Sloane Coffin (Johnston Hall)
October 9th “Frontier” by Kathleen Norris (Celebration Center)
October 16th “The World of a 747 Pilot” by Joseph Sittler (Johnston Hall)
October 23rd “Vocation (1)” by Rowan Williams (Johnston Hall)
October 30th “The Derelict Cross” by Barbara Brown Taylor

Faith Matters
The Christian Century, Study Guide Feature Articles
April 18th at 9:30am with John Wilkinson in the Parlor
April 25th at 9:30am with Aaron Doll in the Chapel
Our Theologian in Residence, Elizabeth Caldwell shared with us her work on Adult Curriculum with The Christian Century. Join us in the weeks following Easter as we explore the current faith-and-life challenges of selected articles with Dr. Caldwell. Watch the bulletin and email updates for more information. Prior familiarity with the material will not be required to attend.

March Adult Education Opportunities
Celebration Center at 9:30 am
March 7 - Stagnant Population Growth and Rochester’s Future Led by Evan Lowenstein, Director, Common Good Planning Center

March 14 - Rochester’s Questionable Economic Trends Led by Kent Gardner, Center for Governmental Research

March 21 - Earth Scan: Ecology and Community Led by Elizabeth Henderson, Genesee Valley Supported Agriculture

March 28 - Crisis in Public Education Led by, Michael Robinson, Deputy Superintendent & George Larkins, Principal at School #6

Johnston Hall at 9:30 am

March 7 - Peace, Unity and Purity: An update from the Task Force In 2001, the General Assembly mandated a task force to address issues of controversy facing the Presbyterian family. John Wilkinson serves on the task force. During this four-week series, he will explore the task force’s mandate and work thus far. For further information, visit www.pcusa.org/peaceunitypurity.

March 14 - Bach Cantata: Scott Stratton-Smith will give one of his popular previews of the “Cantata #4” (“Christ Lag in Todesbanden”) by J.S. Bach, which the choir will present at 10:45 a.m. on March 21.

March 21 - Peace, Unity and Purity: Biblical Authority and The Lordship of Christ Led by John Wilkinson

March 28 - Peace, Unity and Purity: Ordination Standards and Power in the Church Led by John Wilkinson

February 28 and 29 - Theologian in Residence
APCE 2004 Educator of the Year Elizabeth Francis Caldwell
Third Church will welcome Elizabeth Francis Caldwell, Professor of Educational Ministry at McCormick Seminary, on February 28 and 29 to serve as its Theologian in Residence. Professor Caldwell will lead a teacher training event on Saturday, February 28, preach at Sunday morning worship (8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.) and make a presentation at a congregational luncheon on February 29. (See registration information.)

Fall 2003 Series
Third Church Outreach Committee Inaugurates
the New Two-Year “Core Curriculum”
After a year of strategizing among the seven Outreach teams and coordinating with Adult Education, the Outreach Committee launches its new two-year “core” social justice curriculum this September with a 10-session biblical/theological foundation series by Rod Frohman, Third’s Associate Pastor for Church and Society.

The series begins Sunday, September 14th with two repeating classes per month. “Third Church has a long history of social justice advocacy and even many informative classes,” said Don Boyd, Outreach Chairperson. “What we need now,” he added, “is to nourish and equip our great volunteers so that they are not exhausted and discouraged in their good work. We need to move to the next level of advocacy while maintaining our service record. This takes a deeper level of spiritual resources. We need bread for our journey, fuel for our souls. Our new core curriculum will hopefully help us do just that,” Don concluded.

Class # 1 Sunday, September 14th, 9:00 am- Johnston Hall
Original Covenant - With the earth; With particular families;
The struggle for inclusivity; The Amphictyony;The Monarchy

Special class
Friday, September 19th, 7:00 pm- Johnston Hall (dessert)
Report from the Thailand Globalization Conference

Class # 2 Sunday, September 21st, 9:00 am - Celebration Ctr.
Broken Covenant; Fall of the house of Israel; Emergence of prophets; Fall of the house of Judah; Apocalypticism – The response to tyranny

Repeat Class for # 1 & 2
Saturday Sept 20th, 9:00 to Noon
Johnston Hall (Continental Breakfast)

Class # 3 Sunday, October 5th, 9:00 am -Celebration Center
New Covenant in Jesus Christ; With all people; Imitation of Christ;
Resurrection: The spirit of the slain Jesus is unconquerable;
Church as “new” Israel

Class # 4 Sunday,October 12th, 9:00 am - Celebration Ctr.
The Coming Kingdom; eschatology, telos and the importance of vision; The city of God versus the human city

Repeat Class for # 3 & 4
Friday, October 10th, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Johnston Hall (dessert)

Class # 5 Sunday, November 2nd, 9:00 am - Celebration Ctr.
Reformed theology’s assumptions – Christ and Culture 5 postures;
Calvin in Geneva—Reformed tradition --Transformers of culture;
Critical modernists (neither fundamentalists nor secularists)

Class # 6 Sunday, November 9th, 9:00 am - Celebration Ctr.
What is The Common Good? Pluralism and ethical skepticism -- “common” is impossibleThe amphictyony--- many tribes—many visions—a common shrine; The “shrine” as the built and natural environment - one unit

Repeat Class for # 5 & 6
Saturday, November 15th, 9:00 to Noon
Johnston Hall (Continental Breakfast)

Class # 7 Sunday, January 11th, 9:00 am - Celebration Ctr.
The Ecological Vision: Ethics for a Fragile Planet;
Environmentalism in a regional context

Class # 8 Sunday, January 18th, 9:00 am - Celebration Ctr.
The Artistic Vision: The “New Urbanism” Architecture of Community; “My Community, What’s the Plan” of the Common Good Planning Center

Repeat Class for # 7 & 8
Saturday, January 24th, 9:00 to noon
Johnston Hall (Continental Breakfast)

Class # 9 Sunday, February 8th, 9:00 am - Celebration Ctr.
The Political Vision: “Metropolitics”;
New forms of regional cooperation

Class # 10 Sunday, February 15th, 9:00 am - Celebration Ctr.
The Economic vision: “Economic Democracy”;
“Sustainable growth” – a merger of enviro-ethics, political ethics and regionally planned economies to overcome the concentration of poverty

Repeat Class for # 9 & 10
Friday, February 20th, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Johnston Hall (dessert)