Fall 2023 Spiritual Classes and Bible Study

I. Orthodoxy 101: A Class for Everyone

When: 2nd & 4th Saturdays from 3:30-4:30pm (bi-monthly) in St George Fellowship Hall (beginning Sat Sep 9)

What: A course exploring the fundamental doctrines and aspects of Orthodox faith and life. This course will focus on theology, the sacramental life, Church tradition, and spiritual wisdom, with plenty of time for questions. Inquirers and catechumens hoping to be received into the Orthodox Church need to have actively attended this class for at least one year. All are welcome.

Required Texts (all available in the St George bookstore or online)

1.      Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, The Orthodox Way (ISBN: 0881416290)

2.     Hieromonk Gregorios, The Orthodox Faith, Worship and Life (ISBN: 978-1939028693)

3.     Archimandrite Tikhon, Everyday Saints (ISBN: 0984284834)

II.           Morning Bible Study

When: 9:00-10:00am on Tuesdays (weekly) in St George Fellowship Hall (beginning Tues Sep 5)

What: We’ll begin with St Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. This ‘prison epistle’ was written by Paul to the Church in Philippi, which was close to Paul’s heart. He counsels them warmly, encouraging them to love and pray for one another. In this letter, Paul also recites one of the earliest hymns to Jesus that we have. Though only 4 chapters in length, Philippians is a beautiful entry point into the world of the New Testament. Come and be nourished by the Scriptures in this relaxed morning group.

III.        Evening Theology & Spirituality Book Group

When: 7:00pm on Wednesdays (weekly) after Daily Vespers in St George Fellowship Hall (beginning Wed Sep 20)

What: This weekly group will be an ongoing offering after Wednesday Daily Vespers for helping develop a deeper spiritual life and relationship with God. We’ll begin on September 2o with 5 weeks discussing the accessible, short book on prayer by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, Beginning to Pray (ISBN: 978-0809115099). Despite the title, this classic little book will yield helpful insights for both new and longtime Orthodox Christians alike. Available in the St George bookstore or online.

Then, as we enter into the Christmas season, on November 1st we’ll move into a patristic text, St Athanasius’s On the Incarnation (ISBN: 978-0881414271). This little 4th-century treatise will profoundly enrich our experience of the Feast of the Incarnation, the Nativity of Jesus Christ in the flesh. For those who have not tried to read the Church Fathers before, this is a great place to start.

If interested in any of the above classes, please email Fr Anthony at franthonygilbert@gmail.com to RSVP and to receive additional schedule details.