An eclectic series of classes sure to stimulate thought, discussion and action.

A scribe once came to Jesus asking, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Quoting the Scriptures, Jesus replied: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” These words resonate deeply with the members of Saint Andrew Christian Church where we practice our faith by worshipping with enthusiasm, by caring for one another, by working for justice and peace, and by engaging in study.

As part of an American religious movement now known as The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Saint Andrew Christian Church embodies several of the core values Disciples have always held dear. One of the primary characteristics of the Disciples is that we have always been a thoughtful people, serious about studying the Scriptures, spirituality, theology and ethics. We refuse to “check our brains” at the church door when we enter worship. Our study leads us into the world, better equipped to carry out the ministry and service to which we feel God calling us. To better reflect the Saint Andrew commitment to connecting head and heart and to more fully embody Jesus’s injunction to “love God with all our mind” we are dubbing our adult education ministry as “The Academy for Life and Faith.”

On Sunday mornings you will be able to choose from a variety of classes. A set of “core courses” will be offered on a rotating basis. These classes will cover the foundational aspects of Christian thought and life: “Engaging the Bible,” “Finding a Faith that Makes Sense,” and “Seeking the Good Life: An Introduction to Christian Ethics” are among the courses that will be offered each year. “Elective courses” will also be available addressing contemporary issues in Christian faith. In all offerings, we seek to offer adult education that will help Saint Andrew members and friends to reflect passionately yet critically on the intersections of religious commitment and everyday life.

Sunday Adult Education Series

February 5
Fracking in Kansas

with Joe Spease
9:30 am, Friends Hall

Fracking represents one of the greatest threats to our water and air. Regulations are needed. Learn what you can do to help protect our air and water.

Joe Spease is CEO of WindSoHy, an energy company developing innovative, large-scale, renewable energy projects. He serves on the executive committee of the Sierra Club, and has provided frequent expert testimony on various energy-related issues.

February 12
Creating Sanctuary: Adversity, Our Brains & Our Health

with Lesa Chandler
9:30 am, Friends Hall

What does my childhood experience have to do with my current health situation? How can we better understand the violence in our world? How can Saint Andrew create a more healthy, healing environment for members and the world in which we live? Since ancient times, philosophers have pondered how separate or integrated the mind, the body, the spirit, and the soul are. Modern brain research is providing new information about connections between our experiences, our thoughts, our feelings, and our health. This session will provide an understanding of some of the science that undergirds trauma-informed practice and
the foundation for improved mental and physical health.

Lesa Chandler has worked for more than 25 years with youth and families in local church settings and in the child welfare system. She and her husband, Jeff, have served as therapeutic foster parents, working with children severely wounded by their experiences of abuse and neglect. Lesa currently serves as the director of professional development for Cornerstones of Care, which is implementing a trauma-informed model called Sanctuary to create a safe environment to nurture healing and growth for clients and staff.

February 19
Creating Sanctuary: Tools for Building a Healing Community

with Lesa Chandler
9:30 am, Friends Hall

All of us experience traumatic events, both directly (e.g., the death of a loved one) and vicariously (watching the news). Why does it affect individuals differently? What practices create and what ones destroy the elements required to be a healing community? This session will explore the S.E.L.F. model for dealing with adversity and trauma, a model which has been employed with people of all ages in a variety of settings from schools to psychiatric hospitals to refugee camps. What are some tools for creating Safety, promoting Emotional intelligence, dealing with Loss, and planning for the Future?

February 26
Banishing Bullying Behavior - Empowering Students to Stop the Pain

with SuEllen Fried
9:30 am, Friends Hall

SuEllen Fried will cover the five kinds of bullying, current research and strategies for
students, educators, and parents to deal with bullying situations. She will be sharing information that she has learned from over 75,000 students and educators in 36 states over the past 19 years.

SuEllen is the author of four books and a workbook on bullying prevention and intervention. She has appeared on the TODAY Show, MSNBC, was featured on the A&E Documentary, Bill Kurtis Reports "Bullied to Death," and was named George H. Bush's 900th Point of Light.