The Living the Questions Sunday School Class, which meets in the Parlor (behind Fellowship Hall) will begin a new study on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 9:30am.  They will be using Brian D. McLaren’s book, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything.

A wide array of people from different theological backgrounds claim that through McLaren’s books they have begun to rediscover the faith they’d lost or rejected. In this book, you’ll find what’s at the center of Brian’s critique of conventional Christianity, and what’s at the heart of his expanding vision. In the process, you’ll meet a Jesus who may be altogether new to you, a Jesus who is:

• Not the crusading conqueror of religious broadcasting;
• Not the religious mascot of partisan religion;
• Not heaven’s ticket-checker, whose words have been commandeered by the church to include and exclude, judge and stigmatize, pacify and domesticate.

McLaren invites you to discover afresh the transforming message of Jesus-an open invitation to radical change, an enlightening revelation that exposes sham and ignites hope, an epic story that is good news for everyone!

For more information about this class or study,
contact Jennifer Holmes (mededit@sw.rr.com or 940-696-9991).

Join the Living the Questions Sunday School Class during the summer of 2011 (starting June 19) as they use video from the NOOMA series (featuring Rob Bell, founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan) to guide their discussion.

NOOMA is a transliteration of the Greek word, pneuma, which is translated into English as wind, breath, or spirit.  The following quote is from the back of NOOMA videos:

We can get anything we want, from anywhere in the world, whenever we want it.  That’s how it is and that’s how we want it to be.  Still, our lives aren’t any different than other generations before us.  Our time is.  We want spiritual direction, but it has to be real for us and available when we need it.  We want a new format for getting Christian perspectives.  NOOMA is the new format.  It’s short films with communicators that really speak to us.  Compact, portable, and concise.  Each NOOMA touches on issues that we care about, that we want to talk about, and it comes in a way that fits our world.  It’s a format that’s there for us when we need it, as we need it, how we need it.

For more information about the Living the Questions Class,
contact Jeff or Lauri Cooper:
jcooper003@gmail.com or 940-781-7831.

Written in a humorous, accessible style, Being United Methodist in the Bible Belt: A Theological Survival Guide for Youth, Parents, and Other Confused United Methodists, is an easy-to-understand guide to the kinds of theological questions many United Methodists ask.  Those participating in the study will better understand our unique brand of Christianity as United Methodists in light of the understandings of those from more theologically conservative traditions. The book makes one appreciate Wesleyan theology and practice while respecting other traditions.

Join the Living the Questions Sunday School Class for the study of this book beginning Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 9:15am.  The book costs $11.

For more info on this class that meets in the Parlor, contact Jeff & Lauri Cooper (jcooper003@gmail.com or 940-781-7831).

The Living the Questions Sunday School Class (meets in the Parlor) will begin a new study on January 9 using Bernard Brandon Scott’s book, Re-Imagine The World: An Introduction to the Parables of Jesus.

In his parables, Jesus re-imagines the world. The re-imagined world, called the kingdom of God, presents his followers with a new option for living, one that contrasts with the default world of the everyday. In this book the author sets his interpretation of the key parables of Jesus in the context of other things Jesus said and did. The result is a startling and provocative picture of the historical figure and the challenge he presents to contemporary life.

For more information, contact Jeff & Lauri Cooper: (jcooper003@gmail.com or 781-7831).

The Children’s & Adult Sunday School Classes of FUMC are each taking part in a food drive to benefit Interfaith Ministries.  The Adults began a competition among classes on Sunday, October 31, 2010.  Here are the current stats:

The first number is the number of items collected.  The second number is “pro-rated” based on the number of members in the respective class.  Check back each week to see how each class is doing.

The Children begin their drive on November 7, 2010, and each week they are looking for different items that are of special need by Interfaith.  Here is what children should bring each week:

• November 7:  Pork ‘n’ Beans
• November 14:  Peanut Butter
• November 21:  Jelly
• November 28:  Canned Fruit

For more about the Adult Food Drive, contact Rev. Troy Sims (tsims@fumcwf.org or 940-766-4231, x229).

For more about the Children’s Food Drive, contact Rev. Lydia Pellikan (lpellikan@fumcwf.org or 940-766-4231, x272).

The Living the Questions Sunday School Class, which meets in the Parlor, will begin studying The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis on September 12, 2010.  This classic satirical book contains “letters” from a high-level demon named Screwtape to his novice nephew, Wormwood, who is trying to lead an ordinary man astray.

The book costs $9.  For more info, contact the class presidents, Jeff & Lauri Cooper (jcooper003@gmail.com or 781-7831).

Wednesday, March 24, 2010, the Living the Questions Sunday School Class and their children provided and served a meal for the less fortunate of our community at Mt. Calvary United Methodist’s Power Meal.  Over forty people were served.

Many thanks to all of the participants that made this event a success:

• Jeff & Lauri Cooper (class presidents);
• Matt & Kim English and Kate;
• Chad & Jennifer Hillberg and Jack & Kara;
• Jennifer Holmes and James & Joseph Scales;
• Troy Sims; and
• Elizabeth Yeager.

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Join the Living the Questions Class on January 10, 2010 for their next book study, The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus, by Amy-Jill Levine, the 2010 Perkins Lecturer.

It is a simple truth that Jews and Christians should be close friends, since they share common roots and a basic ethical system. But the gulf between the groups seems vast. Levine, professor of New Testament studies at Vanderbilt, presents a strong and convincing case for understanding Jesus as “a Jew speaking to Jews,” and for viewing Christianity as a Jewish movement that ultimately swept the world in its influence and authority. But with this expansion came an insidious anti-Jewish sentiment, fed by some New Testament texts (wrongly understood, the author urges) and the emerging political power of the Christian church. Levine does a masterful job of describing the subtleties of anti-Semitism, across the years and across the religious spectrum, from the conservative evangelical mission to convert the Jews to the liberation theologians who picture Jews as adherents to an older, less merciful religion. In the end, Levine offers a prescription for healing and mutual understanding; a chapter titled “Quo Vadis?” outlines steps that can be taken by Jews and Christians alike to bridge the divide that has caused so much suffering over the centuries. Written for the general public, this is an outstanding addition to the literature of interfaith dialogue.

For more information, contact the Coopers – jcooper003@gmail.com.

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, members of the Living the Questions Sunday School Class prepared and served food (chili, tea, and cookies) for the less fortunate at Mt. Calvary UMC (at 5th St. & MLK Blvd. on Eastside).  About 38 people enjoyed this warm, tasty meal on a very cool and rainy night after sharing in Bible study.

If you have a small group that would be willing to participate in providing meals at Mt. Calvary, contact Rev. Troy Sims: 940-766-4231, 229 or tsims@fumcwf.org.

The Living the Questions Sunday School Class will begin studying Marcus Borg’s The Heart of Christianity:  Rediscovering a Life of Faith.

This book is based upon the belief that one must be transformed in one’s own lifetime, that salvation means one is healed and made whole with God now.  Borg feels the new paradigm allows more people to be and become Christians.  In his compelling proposal Borg consistently aligns the emerging paradigm with God, Jesus, the Bible, tradition, and religious practice, which constitute the heart of Christianity.

The book costs $11.