Disciple 08-09 and Fall Term Started Friday

Like many of you I have purchased my student manual and taken my study bible off the shelf and put both in tote bag ready for my first day of class. And like many of you I am both excited and anxious. I am excited about making some new friends as I get to know the others in my class. I am anxious about reclaiming a discipline of 20 minutes of daily Bible reading that admittedly has not been maintained since my last class. I am glad that I will have my classmates to hold me accountable as I work to reestablish this discipline. I am grateful to the team of 20 facilitators that have stepped forward and offered to lead are 17 Disciple classes which are starting within the next several days. Our first class, Invitation to Psalms (a men's group) met this past Friday at 7 am. On Tuesday at 10 am an Invitation to Genesis class will have its first session at the Carriage Club in the living room of one of our member's apartments. I look forward to hearing from many of you as you start your first sessions. Blessings on each of you as we begin our studies.

Welcome to Disciple 4:Under the Tree of Life

I am really looking forward to us beginning this study together on Monday, September 8 at 1pm. Please complete the daily readings for Session 1 prior to our first session. The theme word for this first session is FAMILY. Our Bible reading will be primarily the book of Ruth. Throughout the 32 weeks we are together we are invited to spend everyday in the Psalms. As shared under the Psalm of the Week section in week 1 "We will join our voices with the faith community that stretches across the centuries and reaches around the world." As you read in preparation for week 1 I invite you to share any questions or insights on your readings with the group by adding comments to this post. I will be adding my comments as well.

Classes Filling/New Classes Added

It has been an exciting and busy time in our office registering folk for the 2008-2009 Disciple year. As of today we have 17 classes being offered. Seven classes are now full with several others with only 2 or 3 openings. After taking into consideration the special day and time requests made during these past several days for classes not presently on the schedule and in consultation with our facilitators we have added the following new classes. It is our hope that with the variety of days, time and course offerings you will be able to find one that works for you.

Disciple 1 on Sunday mornings from 8:30 - 10:30. A great time for persons needing child care for children 4 and under.

Disciple 4 on Mondays from 1-3pm, and Jesus in the Gospels on Monday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm.

A great oppotunity for moms with children in our preschool is the Tuesday, 9:30 - 11:30 short term Invitation to Romans study.

If you have questions regarding our classes do not hesitate to call the adult education office at 704-295-4815.

Invitation to Romans Classes Added

We have added a Tuesday morning 9:30 am and Tuesday evening 6:30 pm classes of Invitation to Romans. Barbara Peacock will lead the morning class and Chris Bankhead will lead the evening class. To learn more about this study and to register visit www.mpumc.org/disciple_bible_study.org.

Registration for 2008-2009 Classes is now open

More than 70 persons gathered in Jubilee Hall last evening for the kick-off/ informational session for the 2008-2009 Disciple Bible Study classes. In addition to the scheduled days, times and classes presented last evening we have already added three more classes based on interest by participants. The newest classes include a Disciple 1 class on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm; an Invitation to Old Testament Class on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm; and a Disciple 4 class on Monday afternoons at 1pm. To register for these or any other classes go to http://www.mpumc.org/mpumc/disciple_bible_study/ .