Formation/Education Program
is one of the special gifts at St. Matthew’s. Our desire
is for meaningful sessions that deeply explore Holy Scripture. We
believe with the author of the Collect for Proper 28 in the Book of
Common Prayer that we should “hear, mark, learn, and inwardly digest”
Holy Scripture.
In the last three years we have examined the Acts of the Apostles,
the parables of Jesus, the Gospel of Mark, Amos and Hosea, a study of the law
in the Old Testament that took us from the ten commandments through the law
in Deuteronomy, Exodus and Leviticus, and are concluding this academic year
with a 14-part look at the most intellectually challenging book in the New
Testament: Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
In addition to those Bible studies, our students have been involved
with a look at Mary, the mother of Jesus, using Penelope Duckworth’s Mary,
the Imagination of her Heart; a study of the Lord’s Prayer; an three-week
ecumenical seminar on Creationism, Evolution and Intelligent Design; and
various other classes including a session on global warming; a brief look
at the history of baptism, Celtic prayer, Anglican prayer beads and the
rosary, three sessions on Episcopal church history, some instructional
Eucharists, and worshiping together with Evening Prayer and Compline
Other sessions in years past have included studies of Handel’s
Messiah and Bach’s Requiem Mass, both the music and the biblical
texts used by the composers and librettist.
Sessions meet every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
