Adult Education

St. Paul's strong Adult Education program offers a variety of short- and long-term classes throughout the year. We seek to feed those hungry to know more about God, the church, and the world. Our opportunities are developed by Meg Baker, Director of Christian Education, in close collaboration with the Adult Education Committee.

Taste & Sing

Next up:

March 19, 2024

12:00 noon - 1:00 PM

Octagon Room


Our casual time of food and song is held at 12:00 noon in the Octagon once a month, September-May. With Meg Baker on piano and Erin Steele leading the singing, we’ll sing some hymns suggested by the group. Feel free to request your favorites! Then we enjoy a short program on a featured composer, lyricist, or theme, offering a deeper dive into the stories behind our worship songs. No musical experience needed!


Our time together culminates with fellowship over a tasty lunch for a $5 donation. Each meal is prepared by Ginny Hagberg.

Lenten Study

The Third Day: Living the Resurrection

Register by February 11

Classes meet Tuesdays February 20-March 26

7:00-8:15 PM in person at St. Paul's

Led by Mike McCurry


In this short term study, Bishop Tom Berlin uses his gifts of storytelling and understanding the Scriptures to connect participants to the experiences of those around Jesus in his final days, focusing on new life and redemption rather than loss. Join Peter, Mary Magdalene, and Thomas as they feel the despair of losing Jesus and the surprise and joy that awaits them in the resurrection. This study traces events around these characters, along with Paul and the disciples at Emmaus, and how the resurrection transforms their lives.


Classes meet in-person at St. Paul’s on Tuesdays, February 20 - March 26, 7:00-8:15 PM. The cost is $15 per person and includes the book. Enrollment is limited. If you have questions or need help registering, contact Dr. Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org, 301-933-7933 ext. 104).


Click the button to register and pay online. To pay by cash or check, use the sign-up form in the church office or narthex, or see Dr. Meg Baker.


The Third Day Class Registration

Lenten Community Book Study:
The Cross and the Lynching Tree

Wednesdays, February 21 - March 20, 2024

7:00-8:15 PM by Zoom


Pastor Pat will lead a book study exploring Dr. James Cone's award-winning book The Cross and The Lynching Tree. Cone expounds on the significance of the crucifixion through the lens of lynchings suffered by African Americans. (Content warning: This book contains graphic descriptions of lynching deaths.) 


Dr. James Cone is the Bill and Judith Moyers Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary, was awarded the prestigious Grawemeyer Award in Religion for this revolutionary book. 


This is not a Bible study, but a communal book study, where all are invited to engage through discussion of what we have read, from a variety of perspectives and lenses. Pastor Pat has also invited participants from other area congregations to further enrich our discussions.


For those who would like to be present for the discussion but are not able to read the book, you are also welcome. Please contact Pastor Pat (pallen@stpaulsk.org) for the Zoom link.


Click the button to go to the registration form!

REGISTER


Once you register, you will be sent the ZOOM link.


Participants are asked to purchase their own copy of the book The Cross and The Lynching Tree by James Cone. (Available from Barnes & Noble and Amazon, or special order through local minority-owned booksellers at Loyalty Bookstore  at https://www.loyaltybookstores.com/book/9781626980051)


Virtual Study Groups

Drop-in ANytime or Join Now!

During most of the programming year, we offer two or more adult study opportunities each week. All of these studies are designed to no-prep, no-stress, and free-of-charge (some with optional study guides available for those who wish to dig deeper). Participants may attend on a regular, occasional, or a drop-in basis. 


Each session is held through the Zoom meeting platform. If you have never zoomed before, have no fear. Zoom makes it easy to participate online from your computer, by cell phone, or by your home phone. 


For more information, please contact the Minister of Spiritual Care and Formation, Dr. Meg Baker, at mbaker@stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933, ext. 104. If you are interested in setting up an independent small group for study, prayer, or support and would appreciate some guidance, Meg is also available to help you get started.

  • Wednesday Bible Study:

    Sermon Safari (Ongoing) &

    The THird Day for Lent

    Wednesday Bible Study: Sermon Safari

    Wednesdays

    4:00-5:00 PM by Zoom


    Please join us for this weekly come-when-you-can Bible study on Wednesday afternoons. 


    This weekly come-when-you-can Bible study continues our Sermon Safari Series, in which we view and discuss a different sermon each week. Some of our previous sessions have featured sermons from Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, and Barbara Brown Taylor. Sermon Safari will meet through February 14. 


    On February 21, we will begin our journey through the six-week Lent study, The Third Day: Living the Resurrection, by Tom Berlin. (This study uses the same material as the in-person study on Tuesday nights led by Mike McCurry.) 


    For more information on the Wednesday gathering, or to receive the Zoom link, contact Dr. Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org. 

Stations of the Cross Sponsors

Response requested by February 18


For 2024, individuals, families, classes, and groups are all invited to sponsor a station for the Stations of the Cross experience during Holy Week. During the Holy Week days between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday (March 25-29, 2024), sponsors assemble and maintain a display based on a provided theme. Your RSVP will determine whether we have enough volunteers to host a Stations experience this year. To learn more or to sponsor a station, contact Dr. Meg Baker (mbaker@stpaulsk.org) by Feb. 18.

The Upper Room

St. Paul's continues to receive our usual shipment of paper copies of The Upper Room daily devotional guide. 


If you would like The Upper Room mailed to your home address, or know someone who would, please contact Erin Steele at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org and provide the name, mailing address, and whether you prefer the pocket-size or large print version.


To receive a single copy without being added to the on-going mailing list, please phone Meg Baker at 301-933-7933 ext 104.

Helpful Bible Guides and resources

The American Bible Society provides many free Bible resources to help you engage in God’s Word and encounter the God of the Bible. 


Opportunities abound on their website, https://bibleresources.americanbible.org, where you can subscribe to the Daily Bible Reading and access topic-specific resources, such as Bible background and context, practical applications for daily life, and short studies on each book of the Bible. Helpful tools are also available, such as “Getting the Most Out of Your Bible Reading,” which offers tips and prompts to deepen your reading experience. 


Allow the Scriptures to speak to you as you read the Bible each day. Engaging in regular “dialogue” with the biblical text reveals new understandings about God, and about yourself.


Click HERE to download the most recent Daily Bible Reading Guide. The two-page layout is designed to be printed and folded as an easy-to-carry pamphlet.

WE Gather Together: Virtual Small Groups

Now Forming!


In this time of isolation, we are working to organize opportunities for congregants to participate in “virtual” small group gatherings either by phone or online. Some of you may want to meet together just to be in community, others may wish to focus on prayer or Bible study, and still others may be interested in some sort of online adult study. We hope you will be a engage with our faith community in this way. To find out more, please contact Meg Baker at mbaker [at] stpaulsk.org or 301-933-7933 ext. 104.

Past activities

St. Paul’s offers many workshops, trips, and special opportunities throughout the year. Here are some of the things we've done in the past: 


Fall 2019: Christian Faith 101, a popular adult study explores the religious, historical, geographical, political, and cultural context for the birth and evolution of the major components of Christian faith, doctrine, scripture, and practice. 


October-November 2019: A special short-term class on Bible Study and Meditation, led by Meg Baker.


Sept-Oct 2019: Fall Supper & Study classes met for 6 weeks and looked at practicing spiritual disciplines, the faith journey of an African American inner-city poet, and the connections between biblical books Galatians and Romans.


July 28, 2019: Field trip to attend a performance of the Broadway musical “Amazing Grace” at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.


March-April 2019: Lenten Supper & Study classes met for 6 weeks to dive into topics including The Book of Acts, the Lenten Journey through great works of art, quiet prayer, and women of the Torah.


February 2019: The Wesley Challenge. The Wesley Challenge is structured as an independent daily devotional, with each day’s reflection focused on one of 21 questions that John Wesley encouraged the first Methodists to ask about their faith journeys. Weekly DVD wrap-up sessions let us process the journey together.


Fall & Winter 2018: Disciple IIA. We offered the full Disciple II program in two parts. The 16-week class in 2018 offered a deep dive into Genesis and Exodus. The 2019 session, Disciple IIB, focused on Luke and Acts. Disciple II, like the popular Disciple I program, emphasizes deepening our relationship with God and our growth as disciples through close contact with biblical texts, reading, reflection, and discussion.


Fall 2018: FaithFlix. Adults of all ages met Sundays to enjoy a light lunch while watching and discussing a short faith-provoking film clip during this drop-in, come-as-you-are series of sessions.


December 2018: Celebrating Abundance. This new advent study, led by Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton, used the Walter Brueggmann text of the same name and encouraged reflection on the radical gift of a baby born in a dusty city to a young unwed mother and laid in a simple manger.


Oct.-Nov. 2018: Present Over Perfect. A short-term study held on Thursday nights, using the book by New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist, inviting us on a path away from frantic efforts and daily striving for perfection, and toward real peace with ourselves and God.  


Sept.-Oct. 2018: Supper & Study. Our annual series of short-term classes included 6-week offerings on these topics: Making Sense of the Bible, The Synoptic Gospels, The Lord's Prayer, and Invitation to the New Testament.


August 26, 2018: Stained Glass Window Tour. Senior Pastor Rev. Adam Snell offered a guided tour of the windows of our Sanctuary, explaining the parables, Biblical narratives, imagery, and historical figures that adorn our sacred space.


August 18, 2018: Trip to the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC. See www.museumofthebible.org for more about this new museum.