SESSION ONE - September 16 - November 11

People of Faith 
Is America now or has it ever been a Christian nation?  What is the meaning of separation of church and state?  How can the church be faithful in a pluralistic society?  These and other questions will be explored in this DVD based class lead by Jack Ertell.  Along the way you’ll meet Jonathan Edwards, Harriett Beecher Stowe, Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other Christian leaders.

First Bible - October 7, 14 and 21  
This three week class introduces our Third Graders and their parents to the Holy Scriptures and prepares the children to receive their First Bible on Reformation Sunday, October 28.

 First Holy Communion – October 28, November 4, 11 and Saturday, November 17 and November 18
This four-week course prepares our fifth graders for their first Holy Communion.  Students receive instruction during regular Sunday School hours with an additional Saturday morning session for parents and the students the day before they receive communion.  The parents meet in the Fireside room from 9:00-10:30 with Family Counselor, Jim Rude for a presentation and discussion titled On the Cusp of Adolescence.  The students meet from 9:00 – 12:00 to complete their study, receive acolyte training and bake bread to be used for their Communion, the next day, Sunday, November 18.

SESSION TWO - November 18 – January 13 

Newcomers’ Class
If you’re new to St. John’s, this is the class for you!  Four major topics are explored – The Bible, Jesus, Faith and living the Christian Life.  There’s lots of opportunity for questions as well as meeting new people.  Please register for Newcomers by contacting the Church office at stjohnsphoenixville@verizon.net or 610-933-3947 or by speaking emailing Pastor Krommes at c.krommes@verizon.net.

Living the Questions
How do we live as Christians in the twenty-first century without being obnoxious – but life-giving people?  What does it mean to “reclaim the word and the world”?  Each week a short video segment brings acclaimed scholars, theologians and other experts to the class that then elicits fascinating discussion.  If you have more questions about faith than answers, this class is for you.

Ongoing Adult Classes
At any time during the year our ongoing Adult Classes -- Happy Hour, Sunday Morning Book Club and Faith Life welcome new participants!

SESSION THREE - January 20 - March 24  

Prayers of the Old Testament

One of the key questions in the life of prayer is “Can I be honest with God when I pray?”  If we look at the Old Testament, the answer is surely yes.  From the exuberant praise of Moses and Miriam to the desperate cries of Jeremiah, the Hebrew Scriptures are fresh with heartfelt prayers to God.  Led by Linda Landis, this class will invite you to meet God in fresh ways.

Ongoing Adult Classes

SESSION FOUR – April 7 – May 26 

Newcomers’ Class
New to St. John’s?  This is the class for you!  Four major topics are explored – The Bible, Jesus, Faith and living the Christian Life.  There’s lots of opportunity for questions as well as meeting new people.  Please register for Newcomers by contacting the Church office at stjohnsphoenixville@verizon.net or 610-933-3947 or speaking with Pastor Krommes.

Prayers of the New Testament
Are your prayers stuck in a rut?  In this class you’ll find new words and new ways to pray through the prayers of Mary, Simeon and Anna, Peter, Paul, John and Jesus himself.  Their words and patterns can serve as rich models for you in your own conversation with God.  Led by Linda Landis, prayers of the New Testament will surely help you to pray. 

Living the Questions 2
Even if you miss the first session of Living the Questions, you are invited to join in the discussion as each week a new fascinating topic about our faith is introduced. 

Ongoing Adult Classes

More Adult Learning Opportunities

Small Group Bible Studies

 You are invited to join one of our Wednesday Bibles Studies.  The first takes place at The Episcopal House – an independent-living apartment building for Seniors on Mason Street in Phoenixville, from 10 AM to 11 AM.  The group is inter-generational and great fun.  They’ll begin September 19^th with one of the letters of Paul. The second study takes place in the Fireside Room at St. John’s from 7 PM to 8 PM also beginning September 19^th also with a letter of Paul.  Don’t worry if you can’t make all the sessions, flexibility abounds and grace is generous. 

 If you are interested in starting another study on a different day or time, please speak with Dana Deichmann, Parish Educator or contact the Church office at stjohnsphoenixville@verizon.net.

 Table Talk Evenings

Once in a while a social issue, book, movie, play or an issue emerges that elicits a desire for some discussion with others. Then we set up impromptu times of learning and discussion just for adults.  So, if you discover such a book or movie or play and would like assistance in shaping an event to discuss it with other folks from St. John’s, speak with Dana Deichmann.  Then we’ll find out if others are interested, make arrangements for a place to meet – homes where we can enjoy snacks and “beer” are terrific -- and dig into the topic together.

Theologian in Residence – March 2 and 3

Trusting in Faith – Living in Love

 Each spring St. John’s welcomes a member of the faculty of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia for a weekend full of learning and growth.  Sometimes we invite leaders from the town as we seek to be part of the spiritual and economic redevelopment of Phoenixville, other times we focus upon our own growth as a community of faith.  This year we will welcome Dr. Erik Heen, a world renowned New Testament scholar as well as our sister congregations in our community for a Community of Faith Breakfast on Saturday at 8:30 AM with our learning time beginning at 9:30 AM.  Please invite friends and neighbors to the breakfast. Then on Sunday morning, Dr. Heen will serve as our preacher and lead a special Adult forum.  The specific topics for the Breakfast and Forum have yet to be determined. 

            Dr. Erik Heen holds the John H. P. Reumann Chair in Biblical Studies at LTSP and is our Seminarian Phil Waselik’s favorite professor.  Phil says he is just fascinating to listen to and teaches in a way that “you can’t help but learn.”  Dr. Heen is interested in the role of Scripture in the contemporary church as well as what the New Testament can tell us about the origins of Christianity. Increasingly, the history of biblical interpretation has also been a focus of his research. He is currently researching the use of the Bible among Lutherans in North America in the 20th century. As part of his interpretation studies, he seeks to learn all he can about how the Bible is being actually read in parishes and homes in the United States today. He's always eager to hear about innovative approaches to parish-based Bible study, including those that explore "the Lutheran understanding" of Scripture.

            The Diakonia Program

DIAKONIA is a two year process of spiritual formation and theological education for baptized members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or anyone wishing in good faith to study these teachings.  This process occurs in three basic ways:

These are the tools DIAKONIA uses to help equip God’s people for service in parish and neighborhood ministries.  This course of study, combined with spiritual retreats and group interaction, helps train people for the many diverse tasks and opportunities for ministry. The DIAKONIA curriculum consists of twelve courses, six per academia year.  Each course is five sessions in length, and meets weekly for three hour sessions.  This year DIAKONIA will be held on Monday evenings from 7 to 10 PM at St. Luks’s Lutheran Church in Devon.  Contact Dana Deichmann for information.

 Online Theological Study for Laity

The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia offers a popular series of online studies designed for lay people.  For more information go to the Seminary’s Website at www.ltsp.edu.