GROWTH IN FAITH "...be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God- what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 Faith is a gift of God - but like all gifts, it needs to be nurtured and tended. Whether you are a seeker exploring spiritual traditions, or a long-time believer in Jesus Christ as Lord, or someone with a whole lot of questions about God, you are welcome to grow with us in this spiritual garden. Christ Church provides opportunities for adults and youth to study the Bible and contemporary spiritual books, learn about prayer, deepen our faith lives and recharge our batteries. Weekly Bible Studies Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. Childcare will be offered. Wednesday mornings at 9:30. There are no experts - everyone is welcome, all questions are valid, all views considered. Drop in as you can, or come every week. Study Groups Tuesday nights at 7:00 we will have a Book Study. The groups meet at Christ Church, 526 Amity Road in Bethany, Route 63. Lent at Christ Church WEDNESDAY EVENINGS,FEBRUARY 28TH - MARCH 28TH Lenten Supper at 6:15 Holy Eucharist and Healing Service at 7 p.m. Lenten Study at 7:30 Our theme this Lent is Mission and Ministry Through the Millenium Development Goals,a five-week study developed by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. It is intended, in the author’s words, "for us to reflect on God’s mission on earth and upon God’s calling to us to fulfill that mission, and to consider how the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) may related to mission and ministry." The study will be participatory, reflective, rooted in the Bible and our baptismal covenant, and will "challenge partici-pants to relate study and reflection to action in the name of Christ." We urge participants to get to know the excellent website of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation at www.e4gr.org. It is a font of MDG-related ideas and activity, with stories of what many churches are doing. The following books will be helpful supporting material, though we won’t specifically study them: Eradicating Global Poverty: A Christian Study Guide on the Millennium Development Goals (National Council of Churches, 2006) Friendship Press (1-800-889-5733 to order) $7.95 What One Person Can Do? Faith to Heal a Broken World, Sabina Alkire and Edmund Newell (Church Publishing, 2005) What Are the Millennium Development Goals? These eight goals to reduce worldwide poverty were adopted by the United Nations and its member-states. Eliminate Extreme Poverty Reduce Child Mortality Universal Primary Education Promote Gender Equality Improve Maternal Health Combat HIV/AIDS Environmental Sustainability Create Global Partnerships Each goal has specific and measurable objectives. The Episcopal Church has been among the most vocal in urging involvement in making these goals a reality, parti-cularly through the “One” Campaign, “What One Can Do.” Our Diocese has committed .07 of its annual budget to MDG-related projects – of which our Nambale Residential School is a great example! That hits six out of eight MDGs. For more information, check out www.e4gr.org or www.un.org/millenniumgoals. Alpha We offer this ten-week "Introduction to Christianity" with other area churches several times each year. It is a great way to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith - and to deepen that faith through experiences of God's love and power. The Alpha course is held at Christ Church, 526 Amity Road in Bethany, Route 63. Each evening begins with supper at 6:30, followed by a talk and discussion. We end at 8:45. Childcare and homework help are provided - put the little ones in pajamas and bring them along! Newcomer Class This class, offered periodically on a Saturday morning, covers the basics of the Christian faith, how it is lived out in the Episcopal Church, and the particulars of Christ Church. It invites newcomers to the community to consider membership and participation. Training For Ministry We try to support our leaders (that's most of the congregation) by offering training and support for the ministries people undertake. Whether it's how to teach Church School, or how to run an effective meeting, we want to respond to people's needs.