Course Title:  ELCA Statement on Sexuality
Time:  Sunday Morning (weekly) 9:45 am
Place: McCombs Fellowship Hall
Leaders: Pastor Sam 

Pastor Sam will teach a class on the ELCA statement on Sexuality (the NC Synod would like congregations to study the statement and send  responses to the synod office by November).

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Course Title:  The Man From Tarsus: Paul and the Rise of the Early Church
Time:  Sunday Morning (weekly) 9:45 am
Place: Room 110
Leader: Bill Davis

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Course Title:  Divine Drama
Time:  Sunday Morning (weekly) 9:45 am
Place: Room 109
Leader: Pastor Sam

Divine Drama is a year long course on the Old Testament (Biblical Narrative) and the New Testament (Our Narrative).  The Divine Drama is one of the Crossways International series.  We are currently exploring the Old Testament.  The course requires preparation and study through the use of the Bible, the Divine Drama Student guide and workbook.  The cost for materials is $30.00 for the entire year and includes the 2 study guides and 2 workbooks.

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Course Title:  Sacred Seasons, Holy Days
Time:  Sunday Morning (weekly) 9:45 am
Place: 
Leader: Frank Howard

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Course Title:  Crossways Bible Study
Places and Times:  Wednesday at 6:00 pm and Thursdays at 10:00 am in McCombs Fellowship Hall
Teachers:  Pastor Sam Zumwalt

Course description: Pastor Sam Zumwalt teaches the Crossways Bible Study each Wednesday during the school year at 6 p.m. in McCombs Fellowship Hall. Typically, the class follows the same holiday and end of year schedule as New Hanover schools. 

Crossways is a four semester class that covers the entire Bible plus the intertestamental period. Students may audit the class without purchasing materials; however, the $60 cost for 60 units is an exceptional bargain. Couples or good friends may be willing to share a set of materials. As students are able, they will be encouraged to purchase a good study Bible. 

Because Crossways will be an on-going program at St. Matthew's, students may begin anywhere in the cycle with the knowledge that they will eventually be able to receive teaching on all 60 units. 

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Course Title:  Prayer Group
Time:  Tuesday Morning (weekly) 9:45 am
Place: Library
Teacher: Nan Phillips

Course description: The Prayer Group is open to everyone.  The group studies an aspect of prayer and then shares prayer concerns of our church family, the community and the world. All prayer concerns are kept confidential.

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Course Title:  Weekly Spiritual Formation Groups
Leaders: Mary Horne and Zan Bramley

Times:
Monday morning group meets at 9:30 am (Library)
Wednesday morning group at from 9:30 am (Library)

Course description: The secret of this course is the combination of three very important ingredients. The first is balance.  To be spiritually healthy, we need a well balanced spiritual life, just as to be physically healthy, we need a well-balanced diet and exercise. The second ingredient is knowledge and the third ingredient is mutual encouragement and accountability.  The Spiritual Formation Group is founded upon the six major areas of discipline found in the life of Christ and the corresponding Six Traditions seen in the history of the church: the contemplative movement or devotion to God; the holiness movement or virtue in all of life; the charismatic movement or spirit empowered; the social justice movement or compassion for others; the evangelical movement or proclamation of the good news of the gospel; practicing the sacramental life or harmony between faith and work.

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Course Title:  Sisters Bible Study
Leader: Jodi Davis

Times:
Monday night group meets at 7:00 pm

Course description: Our Womens Bible study continues on September 17th with another book in the Sisters series:  "Unfailing Love:  Growing Closer to Jesus Christ".  The book is based on the Gospel of Luke and is a 6-week course study.  Stay tuned for future Sisters Bible Study courses during the year.

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Course Title:  Via de Cristo (4th Friday each month)
Place: Various Churches - To Be Announced
Contact Person:  Renate Gray and Via de Cristo Team

Course description: Literally meaning "way of Christ", Via de Cristo is a short course in Christianity that is designed to provide all Christians with a significant foundation for individual and community spiritual growth. Grace and Growth are combined in an exciting and energetic way.  At Via de Cristo the participants become increasingly aware that they  are part of a community abounding in God's grace. The three days are a triple encounter: with Christ; with Christian brothers and sisters; and with a Christian community.

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Course Title:  Stephen Ministry
Place: Room 117
Teachers:  Bethel Paris and Pat Mahl
Dates and Times: 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month;  Contact Bethel Paris at 256-2377 if you have questions

Course description: The Stephen Ministry program will prepare interested men and women to become Stephen Ministers, equipping them to care for the many needs in our church.  The fifty hours of training will include topics such as the art of listening, assertiveness training: relating gently and firmly, ministering to depressed persons, ministering to older persons, ministering to those experiencing divorce, utilizing community resources, ministering to those experiencing grief, ministry to the dying and their family and friends, ministering to those with addictions and their families and friends.  Following training, the Stephen Minister will be commissioned by our church into active, caring ministry. The Stephen Minister will work in continual consultation with Stephen Leaders and receive ongoing education in the helping ministry.

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Ages 2 through 5th Grade:  Bring Home the Good News Bible Learning Curriculum

This year we will be studying “Living the Good News “, a lectionary-based study that includes take home sheets for families to discuss the lesson.

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6th, 7th, and 8th Grade: Confirmation Class

The Confirmation class meets weekly on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in McCombs Fellowship Hall. The sessions are devoted to learning and discussion.  Topics include the Bible (Old and New Testament), Luther's Small Catechism (the Ten Commandments, the Apostle's Creed, Baptism, Holy Communion, Confession and Forgiveness, and the Lord's Prayer), the life of Martin Luther, the Lutheran Church and the church year. Other times during the year are devoted to two weekend retreats, one week of camp at Lutheridge, mentoring, service projects, and community building activities.

Middle School Sunday School is held in the gym at 9:45 AM.

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9th thru 12th Grades:  Senior High Sunday School

The Senior High Sunday School class will meet at 9:45 in one of the Youth rooms in the McSwain Activity Center. We will be using a series called "Claiming Your Faith" which explores familiar Bible stories in new ways and examines the Lutheran faith as a post-Confirmation young adult. We will look at various traditional and modern interpretations of scripture and wrestle with leading a life of faith in our modern culture.

High School Sunday School is held in the gym at 9:45 AM.

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