Study Classes for January - March 2012:

• Classes meet at 11:15 a.m. Sunday morning.

• Nursery care is available during the hour.

January 1 - New Year's weekend, no class

January 8, 15, 29, February 5, 12
John's Intimate Gospel, with Dale and Barbara Bracey

The good news of Jesus Christ, according to John, differs enormously from the other three gospels. Christians have asked why is this so, and who has the more accurate understanding of Jesus. John was written after the first three gospels and after 70 AD. The gospel is responding to the changed times and culture, and it reacts to the philosophy of the later times. It looks more on who Jesus is and the prospect of being united with him and finding life in new dimensions. This is an intimate journal of a man who knew Jesus personally, who can tell us not only what Jesus did but what he thought and felt!

January 22 - Congregational Meeting, no class

February 19, 26
The Flood Myth? Competing Ways to Read Genesis, with David Pleins

Teacher and author, David Pleins, moves beyond literalist interpretations of the Bible to explore how the Flood story can profitably be read as an ancient myth of enduring spiritual value. He will also talk about Robert Ballard's search for Noah's flood, discuss the rabbinic legends about Noah, and wrestle with the image of God as a violent judge.

Dr. Pleins is professor of Old Testament at Santa Clara University and author of "When the Great Abyss Opened: Classic and Contemporary Readings of Noah's Flood."

March 4 - Oikocredit: Empowering the Poor Through Microfinance,
with Stuart Kengel

Founded in 1975, Oikocredit is an international cooperative microfinance investment vehicle that seeks to empower the poor with credit. Oikocredit provides financing to microfinance institutions (MFIs) that in turn make loans to individual entrepreneurs and small businesses that lack access to traditional financial services. "Oikocredit's mission is to promote global justice by challenging people, churches and other institutions to share their resources through socially responsible investments and by empowering disadvantaged people with credit."

March 11 - Mental Illness Concerns (sponsored by Health Ministries)

The focus is mental illness and how it affects those afflicted and those close to them. Kathy Forward, current President of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will be our speaker. Kathy will present information and talk on the subject and the stigma often associated with it. She will bring resource materials telling how NAMI and other organizations can offer education and support. In particular, how can we as a faith community offer support?

March 18 - Mary Magdalene: The Hidden Apostle

March 25 thru April 29 - A Free & Energetic Government:
Moving Government Back to the People