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Faith Formation for All Ages


Diane Ott-Hager
Director of Faith Formation
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Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church offers classes and faith formative learning opportunities for all ages. If you have questions about any of the following programs or want to sign up, please contact our Director of Faith Formation, Diane Ott-Hager at 612-789-7256, ext 12. or dianeh@gachurchmpls.org

On this page you will find information about
Sunday School--Confirmation Class--Other faith formation opportunities

Faith Formation at GA-Church is
an invitation to grow
in
relationship with God.
Listen! God is calling!

The design and intention of most of the Faith Formation offerings is that, even the first-time visitor could jump into the faith conversation. Check the weekly bulletin, monthly Gazette, or the church web site (www.gachurchmpls.org)
for dates, times, updates, and other information. Listen! God is calling! Come! Join us for the following:

Regular Sunday Schedule

Sunday at 9:15 A.M. - PRAYER (Upstairs in the NEW PRAYER ROOM)

Please note our new Prayer Room location — Upstairs in the Education Wing in the Classroom farthest East— ask for directions from an Usher.

The PRAYER time in the Faith Room provides the opportunity to pray with others, to pray for specific concerns submitted to GA-Church, and to spend intentional time listening to God.

Sunday at 10:00 A.M. - WORSHIP (Upstairs in the SANCTUARY)

The WORSHIP includes a variety of musical expressions, a Children’s Sermon and Holy Communion. A Nursery is available on most Sundays. The Nursery is intended for children under age-three. Infants, Toddlers, and Pre-Schoolers are invited and desired to be in WORSHIP.

A time of FELLOWSHIP follows WORSHIP
(Downstairs in the FELLOWSHIP HALL)
Chimes will indicate the transition between Fellowship and Faith Formation time.

Sunday at 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. – FAITH FORMATION for ALL
(Upstairs and Downstairs in various locations of the building)

  • Sunday School-
    Downstairs for students in Pre-School & Kindergarten
    Upstairs for Students in First – Fifth Grade Classes
  • Middle School, High School and Adult Opportunities
    + Music Ministry – Phil Holzman, Minister of Worship and Music, regularly rehearses with instrumentalists and vocalists on Sunday

+ Media and Ministry – Scripture and faith topics arediscussed through various media

+ Sunday School Aide – Support this ministry by serving as an aide

+ Fellowship/Kitchen Assistant – Support this ministry by serving as an aide

FAITH FORMATION on Sundays

Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses Joan Mitchell facilitates conversation about Bruce Feiler’s book and made-for-public-television-DVD-series, Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses. Joan has lived in Israel, is familiar with Feiler as speaker and a writer, and loves to discuss scripture with brothers and sisters in Christ.

This group will meet during the Faith Formation time (11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.) on February 7th & 14th

Feiler’s book is available from a number of sites online, at major book sellers, or at Half Price Books. If you wish to have Director of Faith     Formation Diane Ott-Hager secure a copy of Feiler’s book for you, contact her at 612-789-7256, ext. 12. dianeh@gachurchmpls.org

Sustaining Simplicity: A Journal

During the Sundays in Lent at the Faith Formation hour, we’ll return to Anne Basye’s book, Sustaining Simplicity: A Journal. Several people purchased Basye’s book in November 2009. We’ve ordered more of Anne Basye’s books in anticipation of this Lenten Sunday series.

Five different facilitators or teams will foster conversation about Sustaining Simplicity: A Journal. This group will meet during the Faith  Formation time (11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.) on the following Sundays:February 21st,(not on February 28 due to Congregational Meeting) March 7th, 14th & 21st

FAITH FORMATION on Mondays
More coming--check back soon.

FAITH FORMATION on Tuesdays
More coming--check back soon.

FAITH FORMATION on Wednesdays
11:00 A.M.
A Study of ROMANS

Since June 2008, several GA-Church members and friends have set aside Wednesday mid-morning to be immersed in God’s Word. GALATIANS and ACTS have been read devotionally and discussed practically. We’ve used Walt Wangerin’s book, Paul: A Novel as a touchstone for conversation about ACTS and other writings of Paul. Please join us for a weekly reading of Romans at 11 am!

FAITH FORMATION on Thursdays
7-8:30 pm.
The Cost of Discipleship (Discipleship)by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Consider starting 2010 by joining us to read Bonhoeffer’s Christian classic. The group that began in November wishes to welcome new participants.

In 1906, Dietrich and his twin sister Sabine are born on February 4. Six years later the Bonhoeffers move to Berlin where Dr. Karl Bonhoeffer begins teaching neurology and psychiatry. Dietrich enjoys a comfortable, privileged childhood there. . . . In 1937, Bonhoeffer publishes the Cost of Discipleship (from Martin Doblmeier’s documentary on Bonhoeffer).

The group has begun Section II, the discourse on The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).  Newcomers are welcome to become part of the Bonhoefferian discussion. Check with Diane to find out exactly
what chapter the group will be discussing this week.

Diane still has a few copies of Bonhoeffer’s book … and … it is available from a number of sites online, at major book sellers, or at Half Price Books. 

Many/most Thursday evenings are times to come together to discuss – as Pastor Stefan would say, “from a God-angle” – documentaries, feature films, and “The Monthly Reader” book selection. The next several “Monthly Reader” selections include:

2010 — Upcoming Book Selections

February      Take This Bread by Sara Miles
March            Take This Bread (continued)
April               Eternal Life: A New Vision: Beyond Religion, Beyond 
                         Theism, Beyond
Heaven & Hell  by John Shelby Spong
May                 Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
June              Home by Marilynne Robinson
July               Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith
                          by Anne Lamott
August         The Brothers Karamazov
September   The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
October      Surprised by Joy by C. S. Lewis
November    Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
                        
by Richard Foster
December    Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings,
                         and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary
                        
by Marcus J. Borg

Confirmation 2009-2010

LEARNING LOCKIN
February 19th & 2oth at Mount Carmel (website)

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION AT GA CHURCH?

Confirmation at GA is for youth in 6th through 8th grades. Our events and classes are joined with the youth of Mount Carmel Lutheran Church in Northeast Minneapolis. Pastor Dodd Lamberton of Mount Carmel, Pastor Stefan Rickman and Director of Faith Formation, Diane Ott-Hager of Gustavus Adolphus are the main facilitators of these events. Other adults are included as chaperones and mentors as needed. For more information contact Diane Ott-Hager (see info above) and/or read the pdf attachment available below.

Click here to see dates for the 2009-10 Confirmation Group


Reconciling in Christ

On May 3, 2009 in a Special Congregational Meeting Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church passed a motion to become a Reconciling in Christ congregation. To get some general information about RIC, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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