Lenexa United Methodist Church
Fall 2008 Class Offerings

We are excited to be offering a myriad of classes and groups this fall! The following classes are in addition to our Sunday morning classes!! Get ready for an exciting time of spiritual growth, Christian education, and fellowship! Sign-up through the church office (office@lenexaumc.org or 913-888-5600), on Sunday mornings, and during Fresh Start Sunday on August 24. Note: Childcare will be offered on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. If you have a childcare need on another day/night, contact Linda Stoker: 913-888-5600 or Email Linda

Sunday Mornings:

9am: “Seeing Gray in a World of Black & White”, facilitated by Kay Bailey and hosted by the Branches Sunday School Class in Room 113. This will be a 6-week class beginning September 7 using a book by Adam Hamilton. It will look at the divisiveness of our world, country and within Christianity, and calls us all to listen and find a middle ground or at least a level of loving tolerance. We all struggle with Christian brothers and sisters as we see things differently…and this spills into politics, morals, etc. We will use Study Guides, and participants may purchase books.

10:30am: “Five Languages of Love”, facilitated by Linda Stoker in Room 122, for approximately 8 weeks starting October 19. We’ll explore Dr. Gary Chapman’s five love languages and how to “express heartfelt commitment to your mate”. Chapman uses real-life examples from over thirty years of marriage counseling to illustrate the five distinct languages people use to express love. You’ll understand why you feel the way you do, and you’ll acquire indispensable methods for helping your spouse feel loved. The Five Love Languages can breathe life into your marriage. This can also be good for couples who are seriously contemplating marriage, or who have been married for awhile! We will get used copies of books so cost should be about $3 a book.

Sunday Evenings:

5:00-6:30pm — Pam Mettner’s ChristCare Group meets in Room 122 the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. The group will be discussing “I Believe in Jesus”, by Minerva G. Carcano. They will study this for 4 sessions, beginning September 7 (ending October 19). This group is open to everyone.

Monday Mornings:

“Monday Morning Quarterbacks” will meet with the pastoral staff from Lenexa United Methodist Church for breakfast and coffee at 6 am at the Black Dog Coffee House to discuss the previous Sunday’s sermon!! This is an unstructured group that will allow people to get a great start to their week enjoying the fellowship of pastors and other friends, while allowing enough time to get to work (as applicable). Don't be surprised if the words "football" or "basketball" get tossed around a bit during this group! The group kicks off on Monday, September 8!

Monday Evenings:

Disciple 4: “Under the Tree of Life” 32-week Bible Study: This Bible study concentrates on the Writings found in Ruth, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations and Daniel. The group will also look at the Gospel of John; the letters of I, II, and III John, and Revelation! This is not as intense an amount of reading as in Disciple 1; participants do not have to take Disciple 1 in order to take this class. Emphasis on the Psalms as Israel’s hymnbook and prayer book naturally leads to an emphasis on worship in the study. The sense of living toward completion, toward the climax of the message and the promises extravagantly pictured in the Revelation are present throughout this class. Students will examine the underlying theme of worship in the Book of Revelations, and watch the video, “Under the Tree of Life”, which provides an interactive, sensory experience; viewers will get the chance to participate by reading, singing, listening, praying, and lamenting, while being immersed in the words, images, colors, and music that triumphantly declare that the God who is at the beginning, is the God who is at the end. This class will meet Mondays starting September 15, from 7 to 9pm in the Wesley Room. The cost of the study book is approximately $32; couples may share this book. Pastor Lane will facilitate the group.

Tuesday Bible Studies:

“God for Grownups”: Ever wrestle with some of the Biblical stories, struggling to find meaning in them beyond a youngster's understanding? This is a survey course of both the Old and New Testaments, using Disciple I materials geared to help grown-ups experience new insights! Pastor Jennifer will lead this 34-week class on Tuesdays from 9:30 – 11:30am in the Wesley Room, beginning September 15. This class offers a great opportunity for your life to be impacted positively, and, If you have a young child to bring along to “God for Young’ins” (see below), to lead him/her into an appreciation for the faith stories that give us wisdom and guidance to live as Disciples of Christ throughout our lives. All participants will need their own copy of the Disciple I Study Guide and a modern version Study Bible, with annotations. Members covenant to daily Scripture reading and reflection, prayer time, and engagement in weekly group discussions. This is a 34-week commitment with some breaks interspersed in the schedule. It will basically use the Disciple I study guide, but will be more experiential; we aren’t sure at this time what the cost for this will be.

“God for Young’ins”, a companion class to “God for Grownups” is geared for kids ages 4 and older older (home-schoolers, preschoolers, grandchildren, neighbors, nieces, nephews, etc.), and will occur at the same time “God for Grownups” does, but meet in Room 117 (Kid’s Kingdom’s Art Center). Linda Stoker will lead this group, and the lessons will correspond with what the adults are learning, with simplified Bible studies, along with crafts and snacks! There is no cost for this group.

Create With Spirit: This art/craft group and Bible study began in June and has had a great response. We will meet on the 3rd Tuesday evening of the month, from 7 to 8:30pm in August (in the Wesley Room), and in September we will begin meeting the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays (same time and place). This group is geared for women and teen girls. We do an interactive Bible Study while working on a favorite personal craft project (knitting, rug-making, and scrap booking have been favorite projects so far!), or help to make felted and beaded Chrismon ornaments for the church’s Christmas tree. This could be a great place to make prayer shawls, knit baby hats for hospitals, help make banners for the Sanctuary, etc. Linda Stoker facilitates this group.

Wednesday Afternoon:

Upper Room Ladies: This group is geared for older women, and offers an on-going time for devotion, prayer, support, and socializing. The group meets from 2 to 3pm on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Wednesdays of the month on the 5th floor at Lakeview Village (9100 Park Street in Lenexa) in the multi-service room of the main high-rise entrance (off of Park Street). The women use “The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide” (available at church) for the basis of their studies, and also bring other readings and quotes, which spur discussions about a variety of topics. Bernie McNichols facilitates this group.

Wednesday Evenings:

Christianity 101 will meet for 6 weeks, from September 10-October 15, from 6:30 to 8pm Wednesday evenings in the Wesley Room. This will be led by the Pastoral staff, and incorporate some of the “Beginnings” curriculum, looking at some basic, yet complex Christian concepts. Some of the things the group will explore are basic Christian beliefs about: What is Sin? What is Salvation? Who is Jesus and What Did He Do? Can I Be Forgiven? What Happens When I Die? This class is intended for adults hungry for an intentional walk with God that encourages a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It targets inquirers, explorers, seekers, and new church members, and is designed to meet these adults where they currently are on their spiritual journeys. There is no cost for this class.

What it Means to be a United Methodist will be a 5-week course that will run from October 22 through November 19, and will meet from 6:30 to 8 pm in the Wesley Room. Participants will delve into more specifics about what we as United Methodists believe regarding our doctrine, history and sacraments. This uses a DVD format along with great discussion questions. Even life-long Methodists will find this informative! There is no cost for this class.