EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Sunday School 9:35-10:30
All kids, nursery-5th grade, meet up on the 3rd floor
(room 300) for Bible lessons, songs, games, crafts,
and fun!!! We will start off the morning with high-
energy concert-style songs with lots of movement!
Age groups will divide by age for small group
activities/lessons. Please join us!!

Middle School and Adults
6th grade and up meets in the Youth Room (located
on the Balcony Level just west of the Sanctuary).
There are currently 2 adult groups meeting on
Sunday morning. “Pathfinders” Sunday school meets
in room 208 and “Pastor’s” class meets in the
forum—topics in both classes vary so drop in and
join them anytime!
Winter Adult Class and Bible Study
Opportunities

The new year is a great time to join a group! Contact Kelley
for more information.

Coming in January:
United Methodist Traditions, Seasons and Symbols of the
Christian Year, Faithful Parenting

Coming in February:
Royal Women of the Bible

Coming in March:
Why? A study on the will of God
Haven’t taken a Bible study in awhile?  Please consider
participating in a short-term study.  Dedicating an hour a
week for 6-8 weeks is a good place to begin!  Childcare is
always provided! Times and dates TBA.
Faithful Parenting—Starts 1/15/12
Parents of young children (birth-middle school) are invited to participate in an NEW class just for you! “Parenting:
Ten Biblical Traits Your Kids Will Re-member You For” will be held on Sunday mornings from 9:35-10:30 in room
304.  Drop the kids off in Sunday school on your way and spend some time with other parents who wrestle with the
same things you do. So come and celebrate the joys of parenting and share the struggles. You’ll make some new
friends, too!  This 6-week class is appropriate for single and married parents, as well as for parents of toddlers,
preschoolers, and elementary aged children.  A class “workbook” will be provided on the first day. A donation of $10
is suggested but not necessary to cover costs. Jennifer Barleen will facilitate the class.
The Gospel of Mark
As part of the “Seasons of the Church Year” study we are not only learning about the cycle of liturgical seasons, but
the scripture readings that are typically read during those seasons. Although the liturgical year follows a 12-month
cycle similar to our calendar year, the Revised Common Lectionary is a 3-year cycle of readings that are “prescribed”
for each Sunday: a passage typically from the Old Testament (including those books referred to as the Apocrypha), or
the Acts of the Apostles; a passage from one of the Psalms; another from either the Epistles or the Book of Revelation;
and finally a passage from one of the four Gospels.

The Lectionary cycles (creatively named by the letters A, B, and C...) highlight particular gospels; the readings in the
first year (Year A) are taken from the Gospel of Matthew, those in the second year (or Year B) from the Gospel of
Mark, and in the third year (or Year C) come from the Gospel of Luke. Portions of the Gospel of John are read
throughout the Easter season and our summer months after Pentecost, and are also used for other seasons including
Advent, Christmas, and Lent where appropriate.

Year A begins on the first Sunday of Advent in 2013; Year B begins on the first Sunday of Advent in 2011, and Year C
begins on the first Sunday of Advent in 2012. As you have probably already figured out, we are currently in “Year B”
where the Gospel of Mark is highlighted.  In my opinion, Mark is the “most fun” of all the gospels to read. Mark’s Gospel
is a relentless story about Jesus’ announcement of God’s righteous kingdom and the acts that accompany this
proclamation. Throughout his ministry, Jesus encounters resistance. Evil is manifested in the demonic and in the
actions of human beings. Human characters in Mark are often fearful and stubborn, and at times extremely violent. Self-
seeking and the desire for honor work at cross purposes with God’s will.

Evil, however, is being defeated: Jesus banishes demons, teaches about God’s kingdom (often calling his disciples
“fools” in the meantime; the original Greek word is much closer to the English “idiot”!), and challenges religious and
political structures that are harmful to human well-being. At times, people respond in faith, trusting in Jesus’
compassion and divine authority. Though Jesus dies on the cross, once again evil is overcome as God raises him from
the dead!

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to write about what makes Mark’s gospel unique from the other synoptic (seen
alongside; similar) gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have much common material. In fact, both Mat-thew and Luke
may have had the Gospel of Mark in front of them as they wrote their particular versions to the people they most
wanted to reach. Most scholars agree that Mark was the first Gospel written, probably be-tween the years of 65-75 AD,
when Christians were being persecuted in Rome. This is also the time of the disastrous Jewish-Roman war (66-74 AD),
in which Jerusalem and Temple itself were destroyed by the Romans.

I invite you to take the time and read the Gospel of Mark with me. Read it rapidly the first time (it’s not very long…), in
one sitting if possible, to get the feel of it and an overview. You’ll notice the urgency, the sense of intensity and
movement. Observe Mark’s emphasis on Jesus’ actions, and watch for the world immediately. Then, over the next few
weeks, read though the chapters more deliberately. Look for parts that are known to you and notice parts that are new.
I look forward to the journey with you!
—Kelley Menke, Director of Christian Education