School has started, and summer’s end will soon be marked by the
Labor Day holiday. As vacations and other disruptions to life’s
normal routines wind down, many local churches are inviting South
County residents to get involved in a variety of helpful and
informative programs. Here are some of the programs you won’t want
to miss.
School has started, and summer’s end will soon be marked by the Labor Day holiday. As vacations and other disruptions to life’s normal routines wind down, many local churches are inviting South County residents to get involved in a variety of helpful and informative programs. Here are some of the programs you won’t want to miss.
In this time of discord between people of different religions, increased understanding of other faiths might be good for society. Morgan Hill’s St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 1774 Peak Avenue, is offering a free course to help people understand this aspect of our modern world.
“Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the Three Abrahamic Faiths” (denoting the religions that grew out of the tradition of Abraham, the Biblical patriarch) will be presented Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. Sept. 13. Some of the evenings will begin with a potluck meal before the teaching session.
The course will be taught by Dr. Matt Whitlock, adjunct professor of religion at Santa Clara University. Whitlock earned a Ph.D. in Biblical studies from the Catholic University of America, and his previous classes at St. John’s and other parishes have been popularly received. For more information, call (408) 779-9510.
For several years, Morgan Hill’s Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Ave. has held a mid-week Bible study at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. The group has studied many books of the Bible as well as other Christian literature.
The fall session will kick off on Sept. 15 with a five-week study of an acclaimed book written by the late Dutch Roman Catholic priest Henri J. M. Nouwen. “The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming” is available at the church for $11, which includes a free accompanying study guide.
The book is based upon the parable told by Jesus in the Gospel of St. Luke, one of the best-known passages in the Bible.
On the first morning, the class will watch a video about the life of Nouwen and the Rembrandt painting that inspired his book. For more information call (408) 779-3551.
Marriage is an important institution in American society, so valued that same-sex couples are waging legal battles to win the right to marry. Meanwhile, more than half of American marriages end in divorce.
Gilroy’s First Baptist Church, 8455 Wren Ave., is providing an opportunity for members of the community to strengthen their marriages. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., beginning on Sept. 20, the church is hosting a study called “Fireproof Your Marriage.”
This class is based on a popular movie of the same title. It will challenge participants “to love better, to love first and to love for a lifetime” and focus on methods to create “strong, God-centered, lifelong marriages.” The only cost for participation is the thought-provoking guidebook, $8.
Students in the class will have an opportunity to join the “Love Dares Challenge,” based on a book that offers a 40-day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love toward each other.
Each of the 40 days brings a “dare” for spouses, such as not saying anything negative about one’s partner for the whole day. The cost for this book is an additional $8. For more information, call (408) 847-6000.
Too often people today feel overwhelmed and isolated. There is a need to establish better relationships with those around them. Gilroy Presbyterian Church, 6000 Miller Ave., offers a cure to this malaise through a six-week series focused on developing community.
Pastor Jeff Holmes will be preaching a series of sermons at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. worship services beginning on Sept. 20.
Everyone present that day is invited to a barbecue at the church and will be given the opportunity to sign up for a free small group, based on neighborhood, age or marital status. These groups will meet at various convenient times and locations.
The series is known by the acronym LIFE:
– Connecting to God by learning about Him.
– Connecting to others by intentionally sharing and caring.
– Connecting in a fun, family atmosphere
– Connecting to the world with an external focus.
After the initial six weeks, participants will be able to continue in the same or a different group to pursue particular common interests. For more information, call (408) 842-3000.
