St. Matthew’s offers opportunities for learning and spiritual growth for children and youth in all age groups. While learning in small and large group communities is most important, connecting those communities to the larger parish is also vital to the health of our congregation. There are times during the year that all group classes will do educational activities together, specifically during seasonal programs, such as Advent and Lent.
YOUTH Offerings:
Our Youth curriculum focuses on equipping and training our young people for adulthood and ministry. Each class is one step in what will become a lifelong journey.
- PRE K-5th Grade — Sunday mornings, 9:30 a.m.
We have classes for ages 2 through 5th grade using the Spark curriculum (Augsburg Press). - Middle and High School — Sunday mornings, 9:30 a.m.
We have classes for 6th through 12th grades which provide learning and fellowship in a warm and friendly environment, using the Community of Christ curriculum.
ADULT Offerings
The goal of the St. Matthew’s Adult Christian Education Ministry is to provide opportunities for personal growth that will meet spiritual needs and provide choices, such as special learning communities and small groups which foster fellowship and unity.
- NEW Class! Can We Laugh? Exploring Humor, Wit, and Laughter in the Bible — The class will meet on Sunday mornings in the Undercroft from 9:30 to 10:20am, starting August 9 and continuing through December 20, with breaks for school and the holidays. Have you ever laughed at something you heard or read in the Scriptures? Have you ever wondered whether the biblical authors had a sense of humor? Is it all right to laugh at some of the things in the Bible? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a great class for you! We will examine several narratives to see how laughter can be a helpful way to learn about the Bible and to better understand the use of humor in storytelling.
- Adult Bible Study — Sunday mornings, 9:30 a.m. in the library. Led by Clay Olbon. We organize by book, and study one chapter each week, reflecting with open-ended questions. Led by Clay Olbon, we will continue the study of Genesis.
- Wednesdays with The Word — 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. (following healing service), in the undercroft.
The use of violence is one of the most controversial and difficult issues in the Bible. Violence appears throughout the biblical narratives, from Genesis to Revelation. How could the God of peace call for the genocide of people in the Book of Joshua? Why are there countless battles and violent deaths, particularly in the Old Testament? Why did Jesus, who blessed the peacemakers and preached forgiveness and mercy, receive the death penalty? How did the early church wrestle with violence that was part of daily life in the Roman Empire? During the fall, we will explore several accounts of violence from the Old and New Testaments to understand why the authors depicted it and how they understood it in relation to God.
- Cafè Theology — First and Third Saturday morning, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. We share a light breakfast and coffee, putting the “cafe” in theology! No experience needed! All you need is an interest in different ideas and opinions built around life experience and the insights shared by the chosen books and authors.
- Centering Prayer — Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. (via Zoom). A period of centering prayer, followed by a book study and conversation about contemplation and the practice of centering prayer.
