Peace Notes Winter 2019/20 - Word of Peace Lutheran Church

Engaging the Whole Person through
Adult Faith Formation
By Deacon Lydia Svenulski, Director of Adult Ministry
Earlier this year, Word of Peace began transition of
understanding the programming we offer for adults as
Adult Education and instead began to understand it as
Adult Faith Formation. This transition was inspired by
various different avenues of research, and comes for a
desire for Word of Peace to recognize itself as a
learning community of faith where everyone is a
learner and a mentor. Over the past several decades,
many people involved in Christian education have
been moving forward with using words such as
formation, discipleship, mentoring, and practice instead
of education. You most likely recognize these words
that have been used at Word of Peace as well.
These words are considered process-oriented; they
are words that suggest the idea of learning as a journey
or pilgrimage. As Dr. Diana Butler Bass writes, “Too
often the word, ‘education,’ carries the connotation of
information or expertise. Adult formation does educate,
but it also engages the whole person—intellect,
passions, and spirit—in a process and practice of
Christian maturity. It seeks to form or shape a
meaningful way of being Christian and putting Christian
faith into practice in the world.”
At Word of Peace, we are continuing to work towards
providing a variety of opportunities for adults to
experience faith formation because we understand
that everyone experiences education, passion and
spirit differently. These include things such as Sunday
morning educational forums, Thursday morning Bible
studies, retreats, Topics on Tap, Christ in the Cinema,
and more.
Offering these different opportunities enables all of us
to experience formation in a way that helps us continue
to grow and develop faith that goes with us into our
daily lives.
Advent Spiritual Practices
Thursdays at 7 PM | December 5, 12 & 19 in the Brekke Room
The phrase “spiritual but not religious” seems to float around our everyday conversations more now
than ever. So, what is spirituality? Think of it as your connection to the things you consider meaningful
and holy. For many of us, that means praying, observing rituals, studying texts and attending religious
services. For others, it means nontraditional structures or notions of God.
Connecting with a higher power offers more than just hope. It strengthens our emotional health too.
Regular spiritual practice offers many proven health benefits, especially when it comes to our mental
health.
During the busy season of Advent, you are invited to slow down and come do spiritual practices. Each
week we will explore one of the following practices: prayer, music, and meditation. During our time
together, you are encouraged to participate with these practices in ways that fit your needs and
comfort.
For more information, contact Deacon Lydia Svenulski at
lsvenulski@wordofpeace.org or (763) 496-2421.
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