Disciple Leader Training

A training session for DISCIPLE Leaders, new and returning, will be held on Saturday, July 18 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided, along with the opportunity to meet and fellowship with each other. To learn more about becoming a DISCIPLE facilitator, or to sign up for this training session, please contact Barbara at 704-295-4813 or bbarden@mpumc.org by Monday, July 13.

2009 Disciple Closing

Mark this date on your calendar and plan to attend the Disciple Closing Ceremony and Celebration on May 21, 2009. A communion worship service will be led by Dr. James Howell and Rev. Barbara Barden in the Sanctuary at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception with hors d'oervres in Jubilee Hall.

Invitations to all 2008-09 graduates will be sent out in the next few weeks, but plan now to invite your family and friends to celebrate with you. Especially consider inviting that friend or relative you are praying will participate in Disciple next year, this is a great time for them to see the impact a good bible study has in a church like Myers Park United Methodist.

Large Print Bibles

When an email came in recently seeking large print bibles for men in need at Uptown Shelter, DISCIPLE Bible Study classes donated funds to provide 33 NIV Bibles for homeless men who have requested them. DISCIPLE students prove again that they love to learn and love to share that love for learning.

Thank you to all who contributed to this effort - thank you for answering the call!

Register Now - Disciple 1 Class

We have opened registration for a Disciple 1 Class. The class starts Wednesday, Jan 7. The class will meet weekly (breaks for holidays) on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm. Jamie Rodway will lead this class. Register by contacting Christine Mull at cmull@mpumc.org . Class is limited to 12 participants. Student books are available in Goodness Gracious Gift Shop at a cost of $33 plus tax. Child Care is also available by reservation only for children ages 4 and under. If you have questions contact me at bbarden@mpumc.org

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.

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.

Moment of Disciple

You are invited to A Moment of Disciple on Wednesday, August 6 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. where you will learn about the Disciple Bible Study program, meet some of the facilitators and can be among the first to register for fall classes! Moment of Disciple will be an orientation that “feels” just like a regular Disciple class meeting.

DISCIPLE is a global, nondenominational program that has impacted the lives of over 1.5 million people over the past 20 years. It is a foundational building block at the heart of our church where more than 800 people have now completed at least one course in the series. Some have taken two or more classes! Everyone begins with Disciple 1: Becoming Disciple through Bible Study, the prerequisite for other more advanced classes.

Disciple 1 will take you through over 80% of the Bible in a 34 week period. You will be part of a small group of 12-15, some of whom are not members of this church and may come from entirely different denominational backgrounds, providing a rich backdrop for an already diverse class of students. Dr. James Howell, our senior minister, recently said:
“The Disciple program provides a classroom environment for participants to delve into the Bible, ask questions and begin to understand the scriptures on a personal level. It is a great study for life-long Christians or for someone reading the Bible for the first time.”
Please, consider joining us for A Moment of Disciple on Wednesday, August 6.