Adult Education

All Christian formation has in mind nothing less than bringing all aspects of one’s life into obedience and conformity to Jesus Christ. Therefore, the program of Adult Formation at Saint Patrick’s Church is designed to

  • Guide Christians into deeper intimacy with the triune God

  •  Help cultivate a life of holiness

  •  Teach disciples to cooperate with the transforming work of the Spirit in our common life

  • Enable participants to experience the abundant life that Jesus promised to his disciples.

We intend that course offerings will ground participants more deeply in the stories God tells about the world, and give them the spiritual tools to grow in faithfulness to Christ. Many of these patterns and practices are ancient and time-honored, precisely because they have served well in diverse times and places for the cultivation of Christian virtue.

Basics Practices: Hearing and Doing the Word. Christian disciples are entreated to continually “read, mark and inwardly digest” the Holy Scriptures, and these three classes are offered in single segments on a regular basis so that the people of Saint Patrick’s Church can become experienced in their practice. These courses will be offered multiple times per year.

  • Praying the Daily Office:It is of the highest importance for disciples to listen to the Lord and offer prayers to him, both alone and with others. The Daily Office guides us to do this while interacting with the Scriptures, and following the rhythms of the Christian Year. This session will cover how to use the BCP in Daily devotions, and various other options for the Daily Office. Various.

  • Lectio Divina: Reading Scripture to Feed Your Soul:Lectio Divina is method of reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture designed to help us feed deeply on the Word of God and hear the Holy Spirit speak into our lives. Various.

  • Centering Prayer:This is a form of Christian meditation whereby we learn to discipline our wayward thoughts, and focus on listening for the Lord as we meditate on a word of Scripture. Kyle Potter, Catechist.

Stories and Practices in the Christian Life. These single-session courses will generally be offered once or twice a year at different seasons.

  • The Incarnation of the Word: Spirituality of the Angelus: The central dogma of the Christian faith is the Incarnation of the Word: that the man Jesus Christ is God incarnate. What does the truth of the Incarnation mean for the way Christians see the world? How does the Angelus, a traditional commemoration of this reality, teach us the Faith and guide us in our devotion to the Lord? How does the Blessed Virgin Mary serve as a model for discipleship? Come and find out. Lee McLeod, Catechist.

  • Choosing Lenten Disciplines:Great Lent is a time of penance, in which we seek to cooperate with the Lord’s sanctifying work by putting to death the parts of our lives that keep us from knowing him more deeply, and learn to follow him more obediently. Some of us will take on fasts, while others will add disciplines. This course will cover matters of how to choose a fast, and practice Lenten disciplines. Revd. Peter Matthews, Rector.

  • Confession of Sin:How does God heal an afflicted conscience? How does he liven a dull one? “All may, some should, none must,” is the rule for auricular confession in Anglican Christianity. Whether offering our sins to God in private, or with the ministry of a priest, we all need to learn to examine our consciences, and make a good confession for the amendment of our lives. Revd Peter Matthews, Rector.

  • Understanding Spiritual Warfare:Saint Paul wrote that our fight is not “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” What does this mean for our lives as we confess sin, resist temptation, and demolish strongholds as we engage in Christian mission? Lee Purmort, Catechist.

  • Evangelism and the Practice of Christian Hospitality:How can we create hospitable space in our lives so that our friends and neighbors can experience the Christian gospel as truly “good news”? Kyle Potter, Catechist.

  • Habits of the Mind:In this course, participants will learn to cultivate Christian virtue by disciplining their thought lives, with the help of John Cassian’s Conferences. Kyle Potter, Catechist.

  • Forgiveness:The Lord taught his disciples to ask the Father to “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” What does Christian forgiveness look like? How does the Gospel call us to treat those who wrong us or wish us ill? How can we receive assurance of God’s forgiveness? Maggie Middleton.

  • Eucharistic Spirituality:The Christian rite of Holy Communion brings God’s past and future actions together for our salvation in the present. Learn how the Eucharistic Meal shapes us in mission and everyday relationships, with God and one another. Kyle Potter, Catechist.

  • Trinitarian Spirituality:Christians confess their faith in the blessed and undivided Trinity because this is how God has revealed God’s own self in the course of Christian living. This seminar will not only discuss the rationale for faith and trust in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but the understanding of Christian life that proceeds from that revelation. Kyle Potter, Catechist.

  • Christian Theology of Worship:What is Christian worship for? What does it mean to worship the triune God well? Why is the worship life of Saint Patrick’s Church so different from other Christian congregations?

  • Benedictine Spirituality:For 1500 years, Christian have been guided by the Rule of Saint Benedict, the cornerstone of Western Christian Monasticism. Many in the life of Saint Patrick’s Church draw encouragement and challenge from its influence. Discover why Christians have learned so much from this father in the faith. Bryan Sherwood, Prior.

  • The Ministry of the Holy Spirit:Who is the third Person of the Holy and Blessed Trinity? What is his place in the life of the Trinity and the Christian Church? Come and learn about the biblical conception of the fruits of the Spirit, the gifts, and how they fit in the life of our congregation. Instructor TBA.

  • The Communion of Saints:The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we are compassed about continually by a great cloud of those who have borne witness to the faith and who, in fellowship with the angels and archangels, form with us “the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven”. This course is designed to help us understand the role of the “heroes of the Faith” in our own lives, and how by meditating on their faithfulness we are better able to follow their examples of what life looks like “when God is in charge.” Lee McLeod, Prior and Catechist.

  • The Cross of Christ:The Christian Church is the community of the Crucified and Risen Lord. But how does the death of one man two thousand years ago save us? This two-session course will explore the different ways the Cross of Christ is understood to save and heal us, and how it shapes our lives together and directs our witness to the world. Matt Purmort, Catechist.

Seminars. Other multi-session courses will be scheduled at different times of the year as appropriate.

  •  Anglican Christianity: Are you new to the Anglican stream of the Christian tradition? Are you wondering what the Church teaches about different matters? Want to learn more about why we do things the way we do? Join us for six sessions that cover the basics of life with Saint Patrick’s Church. (6 Sessions)

    1. A Church both Catholic and Reformed: the History of the Anglican Church

    2. Professing the Faith of the Undivided Church: Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition

    3. Praying our Faith: Christian Liturgy

    4. Bread of Heaven, Cup of Salvation: The Sacramental Life

    5. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Monastic Resources for Formation

    6. Making Room: Hospitality, Celtic Mission, and the Four Practices

  • The Father Heart of God:One of the things that keeps people from finding joy in Christ and growing deeply in him is not having a deep revelation of the Father’s unfathomable love and delight in his children. Spiritual growth only happens as we entrust ourselves more and more fully to God. But what if deep down we do not feel or believe God is trustworthy? What if we find ourselves feeling like God is never really pleased with us and doesn’t really delight in us and so no matter how hard we try to please God we are never good enough for him? God has something different and better for us. He wants to birth in our hearts a vision for Him as Abba, Father (Romans 8:15), and to root and ground us in his eternal and unchanging love (Eph. 3:14-18). He wants us to know him as the Father who delights in us, wants us and who loves – only because we belong to him. If you would like to refresh your vision of God and begin to let him root you and ground you in his love, then be sure and attend this seminar. Revd. Peter Matthews, Rector.

  • How to Disciple Your Children: How does one go about raising kids to be disciples of Jesus Christ? Does the scripture give any wisdom on this question? What are some practical things parents can do to influence their kids to follow Christ?

    1. The Call to Disciple Our Children: Parents as Primary Disciplers

    2. The Profound Power of Modeling: More is Caught is Taught

    3. All the Time Teaching: Quantity Time, Not Quality Time

    4. Family Discipleship Practices and Habits: Simple Tools

  • Christian Marriage:This four-week gathering will examine Biblical and Christian teaching regarding Christian marriage. The assumption of the class is that God intends Christian marriage to be a means of Christian formation and to express the life of his Kingdom. The class will combine Biblical teaching and practical training in how to have a Kingdom focused marriage. Both married and non-married persons are welcome.