Faith Formation
'Going to a church no more makes you a Christian than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger."
~ Rev. Corey
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The Christian faith is a practice. Like doctors who practice medicine, and lawyers who practice law, Christians practice the way of Jesus. The 'churchy' word we use is 'discipleship.' You come to see yourself as a disciple of Jesus. The word disciple, as used in the Bible, is best understood as 'learner.' Disciples learn to live as Jesus lived. You never master this, as life is always evolving, but you nonetheless strive to become more Christlike. As you take up this practice, your faith and spiritual life deepen as you grow into becoming more of who God intends you to be. This is why we call this 'faith formation' or 'spiritual formation.' It's a shaping process that shapes and forms us.
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Christian tradition offers us the resources to use in this journey: a life of prayer, community worship, sacred scripture, the practice of generosity, acts of service, relationships with others on the same journey. These are the six essentials. Yet there are many others spiritual practices that people find deeply meaningful: fasting, confession, keeping sabbath, solitude, hospitality, and more. The primary job of the church, so to speak, is to make disciples.
All of our events and opportunities are designed to support of this practice of spiritual formation.
A Bible Study helps us wrestle with the ancient scriptures.
A Retreat lets us experience different kinds of prayer, journaling, and spiritual friendships.
A Contemporary Issues class provides a chance to explore the intersection of faith and culture.
A Sermon Series on giving offers us time to reflect on our own generosity.
A Church Supper allows us to build relationships and make new friends.
A Volunteer opportunity is a chance to serve those in need.
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These spiritual formation events and opportunities are generally free and open to all, regardless of what you believe or even if you aren't sure what you believe. Occasionally, some larger events have a cost, or you may be asked to purchase a certain book for a Book Group, but we always do our best to keep things as affordable as possible.
If you have any questions at all, please reach to Rev. Corey here.