Adult | College | Youth | Children | Music | Open Circle (GLBT)
The Larry Bethune Sunday School Class
The pastor gives his class a background lesson based on his sermon scripture for the day. He offers brilliant insights and invites discussion. The usual comment after class: "I learned so much." This class offers an opportunity to prepare for worship with an in-depth study and class conversation about the lectionary text to be preached the following hour. This is also the place to ask questions about theology, church history, and Christian discipleship.
The Gladys Peterson Sunday School Class
Gladys, a former missionary and administrator for the American Baptist Churches of the U.S.A., has so much to offer her close-knit class. Hands down she is among the top teachers in all ABC churches everywhere. This class begins each Sunday with community building and sharing, followed by study of a Bible passage as it applies to everyday life and to our church. This provides a forum for discussing ideas and visions. Smyth and Helwys Formations material is used.
The Bill Cox Sunday School Class
What a good and spiritual teacher Bill is. Everybody enjoys his class, and Bill gets extra stars for being so dedicated and peaking the interest of his class in spiritual subjects. This class reads all the main passages specified by the lectionary and looks for common threads that run through them. The discussion-based class emphasizes the importance of understanding the scriptures and applying what is learned to daily life.
The Joe Bell Sunday School Class
Joe has a strong following of brainy iconoclasts who love his class because they talk about so many things and because "Joe knows everything." Joe, who calls his group the "Not All Who Wander Are Lost Class," says: "Somewhere we read that Christians are called to study with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. We attempt to respond to that and enlarge 'newspapers' to include novels, movies, non-fiction writings, documentaries, songs, and free-ranging discussion. We have spent the past year constructing an understanding of past and present conflicts between Christians and Moslems. We are currently studying Christianity and its offspring European Colonialism with its attendant horrors. Next we will take up Jesus' teachings as reflected in the writings of Geza Vermes and other Dead Sea Scrolls scholars."
Young at Heart Group
Most Young at Heart participants are members of University Baptist Church and are retired; however, any interested church members and guests are welcome to participate in the group’s activities. Activities are scheduled each month from September through May. These activities include day trips within Austin as well as travel outside of the city. Together the group plans in advance the nine-month itinerary and individual members rotate responsibilities for making arrangements for the various outings. By sharing these day trips together, members of the group generally experience a bounding of friendships and mutually caring relationships.