The following is a list of the topics discussed in our "Journey in Faith" class.  It is geared for those adults who are interested in officially joining All Saints' through Baptism, Confirmation, Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows and Reception.

We meet at 7:00 pm in the Vicarage Living Room:

Meetings begin October 15th- Monday evening meetings from 7-9pm, we will not meet for the last Monday of the month

“What do you seek” 

            This session explores what the Catechumenate is all about. 

What are we expecting? 

What does the church expect of the Baptized Christian? 

We will share with one another our concept of God. 

What are our obstacles to faith? 

Faith timelines and personal stories. 

“The Christian community”

            What is the church? 

What does it mean when we say “Catholic and Apostolic” in the creed. 

The ministry of Laypersons, Bishops, Priests and Deacons.  (We will begin exploring the catechism)

“The Episcopal Church – what is it all about”    

                         A Church with Bishops. 

            Why is episcopacy important? 

What is “Apostolic Succession

When and why do we sit, stand or kneel and do all that other stuff

“The Liturgical year”

            Liturgy in time and space

            The liturgical calendar

            Saints days, Martyrs days, feasts and fasts 

“The Book of Common Prayer”      

            Explore parts of the Prayer book and create a “working knowledge” of it:

                        The Daily Office

                        The Eucharist

                        Marriage

                        Burial

                        Reconciliation

                        The Psalter

                        Historical Documents

“Christian Symbolism” (Including tour of sacristy)

            Vessels and vestments

            Tour of church and sacristy with Sheryl Diemer

            Symbols

“The Baptismal covenant”

            The Great Commission and Great Commandment

            Discuss the Baptismal Covenant

            Christian ministry – Time, talent, treasure and the tithe

            Christian priorities:  1. God, 2. Spouse, 3. Children, 4. Work, and 5 Ministry

“The Eucharist” 

            What is the “Real Presence”

            Eucharistic devotion and Benediction

            The Mass as Sacrifice

            What other church bodies believe about the Eucharist

“The other 5 sacraments”    

            Marriage – what is expected of Christians in marriage

            Ordination – The setting apart of ministers by Apostolic hands

            Reconciliation – All may, some should, none must

            Unction – The church’s teaching on healing

            Confirmation – Mature commitment to Christ

 “The New Testament”

            What is Canon and how did we get the canon

            The Gospels

            Acts and the early church

            The Pauline Epistles

            The Catholic Epistles

            Revelation – Christianity and eschatology 

 Holy Week

           Palm Sunday, Tenebrae, Tridiuum Sacrum, Maundy Thursday, 

           Good Friday, The Great Vigil of Easter  

 “The Old Testament”

            The Torah

            The Historical books

            The Prophets

            The Psalms and their special place in Anglican Spirituality 

“ The Church through the ages” 

            The Early Church- Persecution

            “The Blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the church”

            The Patristic era and the councils

            Basic heresies and how to spot them

            The Middle Ages and the Reformation

            The Anglican Reformation and the Catholic Revival 

“Mystagogy”

            Living out our Baptismal Covenant

            Ways of scripture study

            Spiritual Direction

“Ministries within the Church”

            Ushers, Altar guild, hospitality, DOK, and many others

            Spiritual gifts inventory/ Myers Briggs

            Cursillo

 “Ministries beyond the walls of the church”

            Social Action ministries

(Show Friendship House video)

 Gutsy Christianity – How Christ calls us to be bold witnesses”

            (Show PBS Bonheoffer docu-drama)

 “Everyday Spirituality”

            Show PBS series from early 1990’s

“Concluding dinner and discussion”

            sponsorship of next year’s Catechumenate”