At St. Michael's we provide numerous adult learning opportunities designed to deepen our understanding of the Bible, nurture our faith, stimulate our thinking about important issues and provide direction for living out our faith in our homes, workplaces, and world.

For a printable brochure of the information on this page please click here.

ADULT EDUCATION-
Steven Prothro is the chair of the religion department at Boston University and author of the New York Times bestseller, Religious Literacy-What American’s Need to Know and Don’t.  Prothro says that almost anywhere you look in America today you will find believers, but hardly knowledgeable believers.  In fact, he says, most Americans know very little about Christianity. Most lack an understanding of the essentials of faith. Why?  Prothro says there has been a pronounced shift in America in recent decades.  Previously, when it came to religion, people sought to integrate head and heart, believing God gave us brains to use, Scripture to inform, and the natural world as a resource for insight and understanding.  Today, however, there has been a pronounced movement toward a religion based on emotions. It doesn’t matter so much what Jesus had to say.  It doesn’t matter that we really understand Scripture and the context in which books of the Bible were written.  What matters in religion today is what one feels and having a personal relationship with Jesus. The result, according to Prothero, is that most Americans are religiously illiterate.

Well one of the aims of adult education at St. Michael’s is to help integrate head and heart, to help us use our brains, to deepen our understanding of Scripture and the world.  We do that in the hope that participants in various education offerings might receive insight and inspiration to think more deeply and creatively, and live more graciously in response to what we know of God as revealed in Jesus.   

Faith in Daily Life -2011/2012
Take a break from the day for lunch and conversation about faith and life with other members of St. Michael's. We have threeFaith in Daily life groups. Each meets once a month. There is agroup that meets the first Thursday of the month in Roseville at the Chianti Grill,another group meets the second Thursday of the month in downtown Minneapolis in the Thrivent Cafeteria and the third group meets the third Thursday of the month at Chammps, located at 35E and Larpenteur, just north of St. Paul. We will begin the year reading and discussing Marcus Borg's new book, Speaking Christian - Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power And How They Can Be Restored. Borg writes, "The language of Christianity is in a state of crisis. Christian words and phrases have not only diminished inmeaning, but they'vebecome so distorted and virtually strippedof their biblical and historical meanings that they are a stumbling block to people of faith." In this book Borg redeems the languageof Christianity by restoring its power to illuminate us and transform the world. As Anne Sutherland writes, "This book could start a revolution. Borg cracks open the encrusted words of faith and pops them into fresh language that people can understandand trust. The last time this happened, we got the Reformation."
The book is available in the church office for $14.
The schedule for September will be one week later than usual
to accommodate Labor Day. Our first meeting days will be:
Roseville - September 8
Mpls - September 15
St. Paul - September 22

Colleagues are welcome to join us.

MONDAY'S MINISTRIES 2011/2012

On the first and third Mondays of the month you are invited togather at the church at 7 a.m. for a light breakfast and conversation. Conversation often centers on articles that have caught the eye of Roland or other participants. We also have a variety of video resources that we useto augment the discussion. This year the first video we’ll be using is The Gospel in Life - Grace Changes Everything by Timothy Keller, former seminary professor who is now the pastor of a church in downtown Manhattan. Our first meeting will be on Monday,September 19.

WOMEN'S CIRCLES 2011/2012 - Join a CIRCLE of Friendship
     Sarah Circle meets the first Tuesday of the month at 9:30am,at church or in a members home,
        for a coffee brake, fellowship and discussion.
     Elisabeth Circle meets the first Wednesday of the month at 12:30pm, at the church,
        for dessert, fellowship and discussion.

Sarah Circle-first gathering first gathering Tuesday, September 13th, 9:30am
Elisabeth Circle-first gathering Wednesday, September 14th,1:00pm at church

You can choose to purchase Dr. Martin Thielen's book"What's the Least I can Believe and still be Christian?" as a supplement to our monthly conversation or simply attend circle meetings and engage with others through biblical study, video clips and discussion questions.

Thursday Morning Study  - 2011/2012
Life of Jesus - Who He Is and Why He Matters What really happened back in the first century, in Jerusalem and around the Sea of Galilee, that changed the shape of worldhistory? Who is this figure that emerges from history to have such a profound impact on culture, ethics, politics and philosophy?
In this 6-part series, historian John Dickson will help us dig deeper into what is known about Jesus and why it matters.The class will begin on Thursday morning, September 22nd at 9:30 a.m. There is a companion book to the series that costs$11. If you are interested in ordering a copy, or if you have anyquestions please contact Roland at roland@stmichaelselca.com.

DESSERTERS II - BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GROUP - Meets in member's homes the 4th Tuesday of each month (except December) during the school year. You heard it here first! Technology is passe!! If you want to be on the cutting edge, setting the trends rather than following them, you will want to be seen reading a book. Absorbing knowledge and experience in a measured manner, with the leisure to ponder while lingering over perceptive passages is the new status symbol. Discussing the experience with other courageous early adopters guarantees recognition as a cultural innovator. Desserters II offers an easy way into this scintillating world. We enjoy and encourage discerning new participants - no dues, no quizzes, attendance is not taken. The books we are reading delve into various settings, cultures and eras. Watch the Sunday bulletin announcements or contact the church office for meeting locations. For a list of dates and books click here.

Religion in Life - Meets during our education hour (between services) on Sunday Mornings from 10:00 - 10:50 in the Courtyard Room. This is a forum which brings extraordinary speakers, experts in their field, to help us carefully examine the intersection of our faith with vital aspect of our daily life and important ethical issues in the world. By participating in this special time of learning, participants gain new insights that will shape how they live out their faith in the world.  Children's Sunday School and childcare are provided during this time.