ADULT EDUCATION AT BETHEL
Adult education at Bethel features a one-hour Adult Forum, a welcoming, inclusive gathering of people who want to learn about and discuss a wide range of topics. Among our interests are Christian life and faith, including personal life and faith journeys and spiritual growth; contemporary social and ethical issues; Christian history and tradition; understanding the Bible; and non-Christian religions. Session leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and include members of Bethel and visiting scholars and experts. Those attending and leading the Adult Forum at Bethel engage with one another through open, respectful, questioning conversation.
The Bethel community has a commitment to excellence in Christian education. Over the years, the Adult Forum has also provided the venue for examining our congregational worship life, critiquing and supporting many of Bethel’s areas of mission—care for creation, non-violence, and inter-faith dialogue—and for growing together in spirit, community, and faith.
Adult Forum takes place in the Fellowship Hall on most Sunday mornings: 8:30 a.m. coffee and pastries, the presentation begins at 8:45 a.m.
Sunday, April 6 “Imagine How the Holy Spirit Might Work Among Us”
In last month’s mission conversation, we discussed what the Holy Spirit does with the church in Acts: telling the story of Jesus; caring for people in need; gathering to break bread, pray, and discern; and encountering “outsiders.” On April 6, we’ll imagine how the Holy Spirit might do those things among us.
Sunday, April 13 “What Does Bethel’s Property and Maintenance Board Do?”
Speaker: Nathan Schroeder, Chair of Bethel’s Property and Maintenance Board
Continuing our discussion of the work of the Bethel Boards, Nathan Schroeder joins us to talk about Property and Maintenance. You might be surprised by the range of tasks that the Property and Maintenance Board completes in a year and the skills needed to complete those tasks. Perhaps, you’ll find a monthly or annual task that you might want to help complete!
Sunday, April 27 “Goals and Objectives of Bethel’s “Got Hope” Campaign”
Speaker: John Holahan, Chair of the Bethel Foundation
We began the month by asking how the Holy Spirit might work through us to tell the story of Jesus; care for people in need; gather to break bread, pray, and discern; and encounter “outsiders.” As we end the month, we move to a discussion of the financial resources needed to enable those activities and to maintain our historic building. John Holahan, Chair of the Bethel Foundation, will discuss the goals and objectives of Bethel’s fundraising campaign, “Got Hope.”
Sunday, May 4, 2025: Mission Conversation
“How might Bethel fulfill its Mission?”
Pastor Scott will help us to consider how we would like to tell the story of Jesus, care for others, gather to worship, and encounter others; what we value about our current practices and hope to continue; and what new opportunities we might explore.
Sunday, May 11 “Re-Imaging Our Language of God“
Speaker: David Light Shields, Bethel Member
The Bible is brimming with largely untapped metaphors for God. Similarly, the world surrounds us with lively options for new language to refer to and contemplate the divine. In this interactive forum, we will explore stories behind the “God language” we use in both our private lives and shared Sunday liturgies. And we will reflect on options for new metaphors that might help us experience God in fresh, exciting, and challenging ways.
