Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Athens, GA 

Small Group Catalog and Registration, Winter Semester 2015

Monday, Jan. 26 - Saturday, March 28, 2015

Welcome to the small group catalog. Please peruse the groups offered. Once you have decided on your first and second choice, please click on the register button (at the bottom of this page) to register your choices. You will receive further information by email.

Groups are listed sequentially from Monday through Sunday.

Monday

9:00 AM: “Christ Walk: A Spiritual-Physical Fitness Program” -- This small group will follow the program outlined in the book Christ Walk by Anna Fitch Courie. The book outlines a 40 day program for individuals and groups to focus on improving physical health while engaging in spiritual and mental reflection and growth. The group will select different biblical routes to complete (through walking, etc.) while reading a reflection passage on health and spirituality each day of the journey. Group gatherings will provide encouragement, time for shared reflections, joint spiritual and physical exercises, and more. (Also offered on Thursday, 10:00 AM)

7:00 PM: “Bible and Worship: The Great Vigil of Easter” -- This group aims to help you deepen your Bible knowledge and enrich your appreciation of liturgy and worship by studying and designing the “Great Vigil of Easter” (a rich and meaningful worship service for the evening before Easter Sunday). The vigil begins with a new fire, baptism (renewal of baptismal vows,) and first mass of Easter by using Lent (e.g. Bible readings) to gain a deeper understanding of the liturgical and pedagogical emphases in this rite. Along with learning, the group will plan a Great Vigil of Easter for the Holy Cross community. While members of the group will get first refusal on roles in the rite, they will not be required to take one. – A minimum of eight (8) registrations is required to go forward.

Tuesday

10:00 AM: “Faith and Film: Where is God iyn That Movie?” -- The group will view selected movies and examine the treatment of spiritual themes found in those films. Film clips and movies will be used to examine concepts of forgiveness, salvation, connection, and grace. Conversation will include application to daily life with an eye towards sharpening participants’ perception to seeing God images not only in movies but also more clearly in daily life. There will be popcorn. The group also includes the discussion of a film chosen by the participants. (Also offered on Thursday, 7:00 PM.) 

2:00 PM: "Hymn Texts and Tunes from Early Church to Present" -- You do NOT have to be able to sing or whistle to enjoy this group. A basic curiosity about how faith is shaped and nurtured by hymns and music is all that is necessary. Each session will be devoted to authors, composers, texts and tunes from a particular era of the Christian Church, especially those included in Lutheran Book of Worship. The goal is to help participants discover new depth, richness, and meaning in hymns and tunes both familiar and new to them.

7:00 PM: "Quiet: Life as an Introvert" -- In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult to be an introvert. But introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated. This group will focus on the experiences, challenges, and blessings of being an introvert. It will explore the experience of, and explanations for, being an introvert in various areas-- relationships, work, play, and church/religion/spirituality. -- Even if you are not sure whether you are an introvert (maybe you are just shy), you are welcome to this group. Extroverts who would like to improve their understanding of, and relationships with, introverts The group will use the book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. (Also offered on Wednesday at 4:00 PM.)

 Wednesday

10:00 AM: "Creative Crafting” -- If you like to be in the company of other Christians, share prayers and devotions, and engage in creative crafting—or would like to learn to do so--then this group is for you. Some of the craft projects will benefit people in need in our congregation and community (e.g. the next Second Sunday Community Celebration’s art exhibit).

12:30 PM: “Introduction to Latin American Spanish Language & Culture” --  If one of your New Year's resolutions is to learn Spanish (and even if it is not and you are simply intrigued) this small group could help kick-start your efforts. In eight sessions, we will cover such topics as:

• pronunciation of the written language,
• basic vocabulary,
• simple and common conversational exchanges,
• cultural topics according to participants' interest; for example, naming customs, family relationships, the role of the godparent, cooking, etc.,
• the Lord's Prayer in Spanish.

All materials will be provided by the facilitator.

4:00 PM: "Quiet: Life as an Introvert" -- Same as Tuesday, 7:00 PM.

Thursday

10:00 AM: “Christ Walk: A Spiritual-Physical Fitness Program”-- Same as Monday 9:00 AM.

5:30 PM: “Seize the Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer” -- The thoughts and insights of Lutheran pastor, Nazi-resister, prolific writer, and inspiring theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, are as pertinent today as when he wrote and spoke them  during the 1930's in that they speak directly to our lives today.  The group will use Charles Ringma's "Seize the Day with Dietrich Bonhoeffer".  This group will be a study using a devotional that offers insights into Bonhoeffer's theology:  i.e., "When God was merciful to us, we learned to be merciful with our brethren.  When we received forgiveness instead of judgment, we, too, were made ready to forgive our brethren.  What God did to us, we then owed to others."  (Dietrich Bonhoeffer in "Life Together.") Participants will be invited to connect Bonhoeffer’s teaching with their lives.

7:00 PM: “Faith and Film: Where is God in That Movie?” -- Same as Tuesday, 10:00 AM.

Friday

10:00 AM: “The Meaning of Jesus:  Two Visions “ -- Two Jesus scholars , Marcus Borg and N.T. Wright, with widely divergent views present the core issues of the historical Jesus debate, issues such as:  Was Jesus born of a virgin?  Was Jesus the Messiah, and if so, did He know He was?  Was there a bodily resurrection? -- Marcus Borg, Professor of Religion at Oregon State, former Lutheran and now Episcopalian, presents the revisionist view of a pre-Easter and a post-Easter Jesus.  N.T. Wright, canon of Westminster Cathedral in London, presents the traditional, conservative view.  Both scholars present their viewpoints in a cogent, articulate fashion, laying the groundwork for a great deal of thoughtful discourse within a group setting.

7:00 PM:  “Darts and Dialogue” -- Enjoy competing in a fun game of darts and collaborate in exploring relevant topics of interest to group participants. Group participants are invited to take turns in selecting a topic for dialog. Refreshments will be provided. 

Saturday

9:00 AM: “Jesus and Java, Christ and Coffee, Caffeine and Conversation” -- Perk up your body and your soul on a Saturday morning with this group’s unique combination of “coffee tasting” and “Christian conversation.”  The group meets in an informal setting and has a “light” format (i.e. one hour). Participants will sample a variety of coffees and explore selected teachings of Jesus. Participants may choose to sample several coffee houses in the area or remain in one central location with a different coffee featured on site each week--or a combination thereof. Each gathering will include a Bible study that focuses on the application of Scriptural truths and principles to daily life. Saturday 9:00 AM . (Also offered on Saturday at 10:00 AM.)

10:00 AM: “Jesus and Java, Christ and Coffee, Caffeine and Conversation” -- Same as Saturday, 9:00 AM.

7:00 PM: “Beer-Tasting and Bible-Feasting” -- Join with other members and friends of Holy Cross off-campus to enjoy laughter, build supportive community, and delve a bit into the Word of God while sampling beers from around the country and the world. This small group is a great way to make new friends and/or renew old relationships. Time will be set aside to nourish participants' souls with prayer and Scripture.

Sunday*

10:00 AM:* “The Jesus I Never Knew” – This LITE* small group is based on Phillip Yancey’s award-winning book by the same title which seeks to present a new different perspective on the person of Jesus and his work—his teachings, his miracles, his death and resurrection—and ultimately, who he was and why he came. The book, and the small group, seeks to engage questions like: Who was this man Jesus?  What was he like?  Why does no one who meets Jesus ever stay the same? How does the Jesus of the New Testament compare to the Jesus we think we know so well?

*Note: The Sunday LITE group is designed for persons living a great distance from the Holy Cross church campus or with children participating in Faith Learning Hour.

SPECIAL GROUP

TBA: “Trips, Tips and Terrific Times” --  This group seeks to enrich the lives and meet the needs of older adults by offering day trips, lunch outings at local restaurants, guest speakers and by implementing ideas generated by participants. The group will gather during the daytime. The precise schedule will depend on the schedules and interest of participants as well as the availability of venues, sites, and speakers.

Register Now!