The Heart That Grew Three Sizes
We don’t know why the Grinch hated Christmas. We just know he did. If we're being honest, there's probably something within the Christmas season celebration that awakens a Grinch within all of us. Maybe the gift we unwrap was all wrong, or memories that were supposed to be joyful never were. When everything seems wrong in the world, even joyful celebrations are much too loud. In this Advent study, Matt Rawle explores the faith themes in the Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! including, how did the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes come Christmas morning? How did Christmas save the Grinch? Could it be that the very thing we think we hate is the one thing that changes our lives? Children, youth and adults will explore this book during the Advent Season. 4 Sundays, December 1-22 102B
What do the names given to the Messiah tell us about who Jesus is and what he came to do?
What do the names given to the Messiah tell us about who Jesus is and what he came to do?
One of the most famous and loved Christmas Oratorios is Handel’s Messiah. This oratorio is best known for its stirring closing song, “The Hallelujah Chorus.” But another well known chorus is “For Unto Us A Child Is Born” based on the oracle of the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 9: 6 in which Isaiah states that this ruler will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Join Rev. Dan Thomas as each week we will explore and ponder the significance of one of these royal titles. How did Isaiah and his people understand them in their day? How did Jesus fulfill or not fulfill them. And most important, how do we understand them today and what are their implications for us as modern day disciples of Jesus? Participants handouts will be provided for each lesson, or if you prefer, you can purchase the book, Names For The Messiah by Walter Brueggemann.
4 Sundays, December 1-22 Led by Dan Thomas in Room 102A
New Testament 101
This class is designed as an introduction to the New Testament. No prior knowledge or expertise is needed to participate! Just bring a desire to explore this collection of texts and their central importance for Christian faith. We’ll explore the arrangement of the New Testament, its history and chronology, as well as the central theme that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. We’ll consider New Testament spirituality, the relationship between the church and the empire, and the way the early church worked through the difficult relationship between Jews and Gentiles – all of which have fascinating implications for us today.
This class is Part 2 in the four-year cycle of Old Testament 101, New Testament 101, Christian Beliefs 101, and Christian Spirituality 101.
Dates: 4 Sundays, from November 3rd - 24th
Location: Room 102B
Come explore the New Testament with us and deepen your understanding of its profound impact on our faith and lives today!
Power Point Slide Decks
“In Loco Parentis” and Spiritual Growth
How can we follow Jesus’ challenge to “welcome children” in our congregation and community? Join us for a 3-week exploration of childhood, caregiving, and spiritual growth.
– November 10th: Adam Diaz, director of wellness at Landon School and PhD candidate in childhood psychology, will present on “Understanding and Supporting Children and Families in Today’s Culture.”
– November 17th: Pastor Jen will lead a conversation exploring the changing culture of childhood and caregiving across generations. Adam Diaz will lead the Parent Breakout discussion.
– November 24th: A panel of parents and caregivers will focus on welcoming all children to church.
This class meets in Room 102A for 3 weeks, from November 10th – 24th.
Adam Diaz Slide Deck
Bible Project: Sermon on the Mount
The Bible Project team's videos about the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7 help us connect Jesus words with our daily lives. With a variety of teachers, this fall (Sept 15 - Oct 13) we'll dip into this collection of Jesus' most famous teachings in the Bible and see what we can discern about its meaning and purpose back then and here now. What are the poor in spirit? What about light and salt? What about turning the other cheek? And so much more! This course connects with the whole-church focus on the Sermon on the Mount in worship, Messy Church and Youth Ministry. Class will be held in the Library
Sept 15 -- Rachel Russell
Sept 22 -- Debbie Leavens
Sept 29 - Dan Thomas
Oct 8 -- Debbie Leavens
Oct 13 - Rachel Russell
Lewinsville Before and During the Civil War Cemetery Tour
As part of our celebration of the anniversary of Lewinsville’s founding (and in conjunction with Annabelle Spencer’s talk “Finding Sarah Ann: Lewinsville and the Underground Railroad” during the Christian Education hour), a tour focusing on the experiences during Lewinsville’s founding era of three groups affiliated with the congregation — European Americans born in Virginia, African-Americans enslaved by the first group, and relatively recent European American arrivals to Fairfax County from New York — will be available in the Lewinsville cemetery following the 11:00 service on Sun. 10/20. The tour is mostly self-guided through signs and QR codes; its creator, Cathy Saunders, will be on hand to answer questions. For those unable to attend in person, an online version is available at https://cwlewinsville.cesaunders.net.
Finding Sarah Ann: Lewinsville and the Underground Railroad
In January 1850, an enslaved woman named Sarah Ann, accompanied by her 7-year-old daughter Mary and “far advanced in pregnancy” with another child, escaped from Northern Virginia to upstate New York by hiding for 20 days under the false bottom of a produce wagon traveling north. They were aided in their escape by Lewinsville Presbyterian Church members Cyrus and Seth Osborne, who had hired Sarah Ann’s labor during the previous year. On Lewinsville’s Anniversary Sunday, George Mason University Ph.D. Candidate Annabelle Spencer will tell us about her research into Sarah Ann’s pursuit of freedom for herself and her children and their ties to other members of the Lewinsville community, enslaved and free.
Lewinsville Forum
The Lewinsville Forum is a discussion based Christian Education course that connects faith with current topics and public policy issues. Discussions will be led by Linton brooks, who served in the executive branch in republican administrations, and David Morrison, who had leadership in Democratic committees in Congress. The objective will not be to agree on specific policy positions, but to consider how our Christian faith should influence specific issues. Issues to be discussed will be drawn from the following list:
- The pros and cons of the current policy of military commitments, deployments and engagements as a tool of global leadership.
- The ethical issues underlying the Israel-Gaza conflict.
- How Christians should approach deeply divisive issues where genuine points of principle are involved, using the example of abortion.
- Issues raised by the General Assembly, especially (a) divesting from the fossil fuel industry and (b) strengthening provisions to ensure gender identity and sexual orientation issues do not prevent full participation and representation in church life and are supported by congregational leadership.
- The quality of our public discourse, hate speech, language.
- The ethics of busing immigrants to sanctuary cities.
The facilitators would welcome ideas for other topics, which can be provided to linton.brooks@cox.net. Class will be held in the 102 A