Adult education

An icon-writing class at St. John's Cathedral.

The Cathedral offers a variety of classes to draw you closer to God and enrich your Christian experience. These include workshops, Bible studies and regular program offerings. Offerings include:

On Sunday mornings, beginning Jan. 8:

► Dean’s Forum, 9 a.m. Ingram Lounge. On Sundays during Epiphany, Fr. Perry Smith and Theresa Johnson will lead a seven-week Dean’s Forum series on “Risk & Reinvention,” examining how bold action is often essential to living into our God-given potential.  Classes include:

  • Jan. 8 -  Father Perry on career reinvention and the value of healthy risk-taking.
  • Jan. 15 -  Pat Jamison and Tommy Thomas on weighing medical risks when faced with a cancer diagnosis.
  • Jan. 22 – Theresa Johnson will talk about risk-takers in the Bible.
  • Jan. 29 – Bill Carroll, candidate to the Diaconate and volunteer coordinator for Jacksonville’s Ready4Work ministry to ex-convicts, and the Rev. Perry Smith will discuss spiritual risk-taking and reinvention.
  • Feb. 5 – Victoria and Robert Freeman will discuss simple ways to reinvent ourselves for the good of the planet.
  • Feb. 12 – Pat Ellis will discuss risk and reinvention through global mission work on Feb. 12.
  • Feb. 19 – Father Perry will lead a class on end-of-life decisions and the risks involved in not making good choices before a crisis occurs.

► The Parables of Jesus, 9 a.m. Room 304. The Hon. Gerald and Marcia Tjoflat will lead this class, armed with research concerning the Jewish social, economic, and political atmosphere in which the parables were told. Class members will be able to put themselves in the shoes of the people listening to Jesus.

► Book Study, 10:15 a.m. Ingram Lounge. ”The Great Emergence; How Christianity is Changing and Why” by Phyllis Tickle.  The Center for Prayer & Spirituality presents this book group, led by Cathedral Executive Theresa Johnson, beginning Jan. 8 and running through Epiphany.

► Contemplative Prayer, 10:15 a.m. Room 301.  The Chapel of the Transfiguration (3rd floor Cathedral House) is open Sunday for prayer and meditation hosted by the Rev. Louise Hardman, deacon and director of the Center for Prayer & Spirituality.

► Mom’s Group, 10:15 a.m. Room 305 Moms of young children meet for conversation and support. Led by Lindsey Riggs.
 

Wednesday Suppers and Programs, beginning Jan. 4, 2012:
Supper begins at 5:15 p.m. ($5 donation suggested).  A variety of classes for all ages start between 5:45 and 6:30 p.m.  Choristers rehearsals and the Parenting Group runs from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Children’s Worship and activities are from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Other offerings include:

►Youth Group. Youth in grades 6-12 eat together and enjoy fellowship, music and the exploration of our faith together in Jesus.

► 6:30-8 p.m. The Wheel, Continued: Discerning Your Spiritual Gifts.
This course is a continuation of the Wheel class that began in the fall. (Newcomers are welcome!) From 6:30 to 7, Dean Kate will teach on the Epistles of Paul, and show a video from the “Living Your Strengths” series. From 7 to 8, small groups will discuss the book “Living Your Strengths,” which includes an on-line inventory each participant will take to determine his or her special gifts. Copies of the book, featuring an individual access code to allow each participant to take the Strengths Inventory online, are available in the Cathedral Book Store.

► 6:30 p.m. The Poetry of George Herbert.  The Center for Prayer & Spirituality presents a series on the poetry of Welsh-born English poet, George Herbert, 1593-1633, taught by distinguished lecturer Jay Wright. Herbert’s poems, his own dialogues with God, are imminently available to teach us how to pray. Inspired by scripture and the liturgy, they are not particularly hard to understand and in many ways are modern in their approach. Many have become hymns.

► 7-8 p.m. Basic A. Dean Kate will teach this course on the basics of Anglicanism, for new members and anyone wishing to know more about our faith and traditions.

Walking the Mourner’s Path is an 8 week Christ-centered bereavement and grief support program. Our purpose is to transform your grief into joyful living by offering the oustretched hand of Christ curing bereavement.  The cost for materials for the program is $75.  To register for an upcoming class or for more information, please contact Nancy Altman at 904-398-4135 or altmann@comcast.net.

Other classes offered:
► Yoga, Cummings Chapel, Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.  Free.

Institute for Christian Studies
St. John’s Cathedral hosts the  “Institute for Christian Studies” to empower lay ministry in parishes of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. The schedule of classes is here.