Adult Programs/Groups at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church

Adult Programs/Groups

Confirmation Class for Adults

An adult confirmation class if offered every year for those who would like to know more about the Episcopal Church and either may be received as a member (having been confirmed in another denomination) or confirmed or at times individuals desire to reaffirm their baptismal vows. The class offers an introduction to church history, Anglican theology and policy, worship in the Episcopal Church, Holy Scripture, the sacraments, prayer, and church membership. Confirmation is often celebrated on a Saturday in Easter season at the Cathedral Center.

The Healing Ministry of Jesus

The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is an ecumenical organization dedicated to the Christian healing ministry. Members meet together to study Scripture, especially the biblical stories of the healing miracles, as well as other books on Christian healing. Members also engage in healing prayer, often with the laying-on of hands.

James 5:14-16

14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Prayer of the Order of St. Luke

“Almighty God, who inspired Your
servant Luke the Physician to set
forth in the Gospel the love and
healing power of Your Son:
Graciously continue in Your Church
the love and power to heal, to the
praise and glory of Your Name,
through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen

Lenten Series

Parishioners join together over a potluck dinner for this Wednesday night series during Lent. In 2009 the focus of the Lenten Series was on “Prayer”. Weekly topics covered were:

“Prayer: Does it make any difference?” An introduction to prayer and why we pray.

“Prayer and the movement of energy”. Led by Greta Ronningen using gentle yoga poses and breathing techniques for prayer.

“Thomas Merton and Contemplative Prayer”.

“What is healing prayer?” (an introduction).

“Healing Prayer Service”. (led by the healing prayer ministry team).

In 2008 the topic of the Lenten Series was "Visits with Saints” where we learned about James the Greater, Hildegard von Bingen, Henri Nouwen, Dorothy Day and others from Rev. Stickney and a dynamic team of parish lecturers.

In 2007, the Lenten Series was a Course in Basic Christianity, led by our own Chris Soper, a dynamic professor of religion and politics at Pepperdine University. The series centered on key questions that face both the church and individual Christians, such as, “How do we know God?” and “How do we interpret the bible?”

2006’s Lenten Series centered on “Prayer” and featured a different program each week. “What is Prayer?” was led by Spiritual Director and Retreat Leader Judy Peace. Another evening Rev. Stickney provided a portable labyrinth for “Walking the Labyrinth”, and church members had an opportunity to pray and walk through it. Other subjects covered were “Centering Prayer” and the “The Anglican Rosary”. In past years, the Lenten Series has also examined “The Gospels’ Resurrection Narratives” and “Jesus in Film”.

Forums

bible study Adult education is an important part of the church’s ministry. St. Aidan’s main vehicle for adult education is the Forum, a Sunday morning series of presentations and discussions held after the 10:00 am worship service. Topics and leaders are selected well in advance for programs that either stand alone or form part of a series. Forum leaders often make a short presentation setting up the topic, and then encourage discussion among those present. The priest leads from time to time, but most frequently the leadership comes from members or special guests.

The forums are a wonderful opportunity for members of our community to hear presentations on current events, the life and work of the church, and how best to connect our faith to the world around us. Past topics have included a series on the Christian faith and Politics, with presentations by members of our church and faculty at Pepperdine University, and a series on the Nicene Creed. We have also hosted a series on Vocation where members of the community shared their own insights on how they see the connection between their work and religious lives.

Other presentations have featured church projects or ministries. Past Forum’s have reported on our youth Sierra Service Project and reviewed our ministries at the Malibu Labor Exchange, Dorcas House and the School on Wheels program.

Occasionally, guest speakers are invited to make a presentation within the Forum program. Some of those have included:

Christian Peacemaker Teams

Sis & Jerry Levin
www.cpt.org

Jerry and his wife, Sis Levin, are currently based in the Middle East (working at various times in Palestine/Israel, Iraq, and Jordan), where they are involved in projects promoting nonviolence as a means for creating a more stable peacemaking environment in the Holy Land and elsewhere. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) offers an organized, nonviolent alternative to war and other forms of lethal inter-group conflict. CPT provides organizational support to persons committed to faith-based nonviolent alternatives in situations where lethal conflict is an immediate reality or is supported by public policy.

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) arose from a call in 1984 for Christians to devote the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war. Enlisting the whole church in an organized, nonviolent alternative to war, today CPT places violence-reduction teams in crisis situations and militarized areas around the world at the invitation of local peace and human rights workers. CPT embraces the vision of unarmed intervention waged by committed peacemakers ready to risk injury and death in bold attempts to transform lethal conflict through the nonviolent power of God’s truth and love.

Jerry is working as a full time volunteer with CPT. Its West Bank base is in Hebron. Sis, a CPT reservist, has also been working as a volunteer at Bethlehem based Holy Land Trust teaching teachers how to teach peace.

Jerry was Cable News Network (CNN) Middle East Bureau Chief Lebanon in 1984, when he was kidnapped by extremists and became the first of the so-called forgotten American hostages. Dr. Lucille (Sis) Levin, an internationally known peace educator and certified professional mediator, attracted international attention in the mid 1980s in connection with her successful nonviolent reconciliation focused effort to create conditions by which Jerry was able to escape from his captors.

School on Wheels (S.O.W.)

Agnes Stevens, Founder and Executive Director
www.schoolonwheels.org

A former Mary Knoll Sister, Agnes spent forty years teaching primary school in the inner-cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles before retiring in Malibu. A book she read about the plight of homeless children inspired her to start School on Wheels, which became a non—profit enterprise in 1993. Beginning with only two volunteers, the organization has expanded to encompass homeless children from Ventura to Downtown Los Angeles and now has over 800 volunteers.

St. Aidan’s also may conduct a Forum on a particular book, article or event. In the past there has been a presentation on Karl Rahner’s essays on prayer and one on Mel Gibson's “The Passion of the Christ”, with joint participation by our local rabbi.

Prison Ministry

I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me." Matthew 25:36

A Jubilee Ministry of The Episcopal Church

Prism PRISM provides chaplain services to the county facilities, including Twin Towers Correctional Facility, Men's Central Jail, CRDF (adult women's jail facility), Pitchess Detention Center, Juvenile Halls and County hospitals. Our expanding outreach includes the California State Prison System.

Episcopal Chaplains provide personal spiritual support to the incarcerated and their families, as well as serving the sick and the dying in county hospitals. This ministry includes:

Individual pastoral care and spiritual guidance, including crisis counseling
Support for family members of the incarcerated
Facilitating Bible classes, liturgical training, conducting guided meditations, and spiritual direction
Providing Eucharist celebrations and/or conducting Communion services
Bringing spiritual retreats and pastoral visits to state prison facilities
Emphasis on Episcopal family support
Providing a pastoral presence and counseling during end-of-life journey

The pastoral care for those suffering in our jails, prisons, juvenile halls and hospitals remains at the center of this ministry of presence. Prism's vision is to develop the Episcopal Chaplaincy Program into a more effective model for Restorative Justice and they are currently developing support programs for:

Families of the incarcerated
Victims of crime
Re-entry guidance and support for parolees
Juvenile justice

Contact:
Dennis Gibbs
Director
dgibbs@ladiocese.org
213.482.2040, ext. 256

Volunteers from St. Aidan’s work with the young adults at local Youth Prism camps.

Centering Prayer

This group meets each Wednesday at 7:30 pm to practice this powerful meditative form of prayer and discuss the next Sundays’ readings.

Centering prayer prepares us for the opening of our mind and heart to God whom we know by faith within us. The root of the prayer is interior silence and facilitates a movement from more active modes of prayer into a receptive prayer of resting in God. It is drawn from ancient practices of the Christian contemplative heritage. Those in our group have found that the time we spend in silence together creates a feeling of peace and closeness which continues on into our everyday lives. Come and join us and discover for yourself the benefits of Christian meditation.

Newcomers Class

At St. Aidan’s the clergy and vestry warmly welcome those who are new to the congregation with an invitation to a Sunday brunch – an initial opportunity to get to know one another. Newcomers are then invited to participate in a class in which an introduction to the Episcopal Church and St. Aidan’s specifically is offered. Membership is discussed and as visitors decide to formally join the church, they are encouraged to participate in one or more of our groups and/or ministries.




			Adult Programs/Groups Confirmation Class for Adults Sacrament of Confirmation An adult confirmation class if offered every year for those who would like to know more about the Episcopal Church and either may be received as a member (having been confirmed in another denomination) or confirmed or at times individuals desire to reaffirm their baptismal vows. The class offers an introduction to church history, Anglican theology and policy, worship in the Episcopal Church, Holy Scripture, the sacraments, prayer, and church membership. Confirmation is often celebrated on a Saturday in Easter season at the Cathedral Center. back to top The Healing Ministry of Jesus The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is an ecumenical organization dedicated to the Christian healing ministry. Members meet together to study Scripture, especially the biblical stories of the healing miracles, as well as other books on Christian healing. Members also engage in healing prayer, often with the laying-on of hands. James 5:14-16 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Prayer of the Order of St. Luke “Almighty God, who inspired Your servant Luke the Physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of Your Son: Graciously continue in Your Church the love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of Your Name, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen Lenten Series Parishioners join together over a potluck dinner for this Wednesday night series during Lent. In 2009 the focus of the Lenten Series was on “Prayer”. Weekly topics covered were: “Prayer: Does it make any difference?” An introduction to prayer and why we pray. “Prayer and the movement of energy”. Led by Greta Ronningen using gentle yoga poses and breathing techniques for prayer. “Thomas Merton and Contemplative Prayer”. “What is healing prayer?” (an introduction). “Healing Prayer Service”. (led by the healing prayer ministry team). In 2008 the topic of the Lenten Series was "Visits with Saints” where we learned about James the Greater, Hildegard von Bingen, Henri Nouwen, Dorothy Day and others from Rev. Stickney and a dynamic team of parish lecturers. In 2007, the Lenten Series was a Course in Basic Christianity, led by our own Chris Soper, a dynamic professor of religion and politics at Pepperdine University. The series centered on key questions that face both the church and individual Christians, such as, “How do we know God?” and “How do we interpret the bible?” 2006’s Lenten Series centered on “Prayer” and featured a different program each week. “What is Prayer?” was led by Spiritual Director and Retreat Leader Judy Peace. Another evening Rev. Stickney provided a portable labyrinth for “Walking the Labyrinth”, and church members had an opportunity to pray and walk through it. Other subjects covered were “Centering Prayer” and the “The Anglican Rosary”. In past years, the Lenten Series has also examined “The Gospels’ Resurrection Narratives” and “Jesus in Film”. back to top Forums Adult education is an important part of the church’s ministry. St. Aidan’s main vehicle for adult education is the Forum, a Sunday morning series of presentations and discussions held after the 10:00 am worship service. Topics and leaders are selected well in advance for programs that either stand alone or form part of a series. Forum leaders often make a short presentation setting up the topic, and then encourage discussion among those present. The priest leads from time to time, but most frequently the leadership comes from members or special guests. The forums are a wonderful opportunity for members of our community to hear presentations on current events, the life and work of the church, and how best to connect our faith to the world around us. Past topics have included a series on the Christian faith and Politics, with presentations by members of our church and faculty at Pepperdine University, and a series on the Nicene Creed. We have also hosted a series on Vocation where members of the community shared their own insights on how they see the connection between their work and religious lives. Other presentations have featured church projects or ministries. Past Forum’s have reported on our youth Sierra Service Project and reviewed our ministries at the Malibu Labor Exchange, Dorcas House and the School on Wheels program. Occasionally, guest speakers are invited to make a presentation within the Forum program. Some of those have included: Christian Peacemaker Teams Sis & Jerry Levin www.cpt.org Jerry and his wife, Sis Levin, are currently based in the Middle East (working at various times in Palestine/Israel, Iraq, and Jordan), where they are involved in projects promoting nonviolence as a means for creating a more stable peacemaking environment in the Holy Land and elsewhere. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) offers an organized, nonviolent alternative to war and other forms of lethal inter-group conflict. CPT provides organizational support to persons committed to faith-based nonviolent alternatives in situations where lethal conflict is an immediate reality or is supported by public policy. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) arose from a call in 1984 for Christians to devote the same discipline and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war. Enlisting the whole church in an organized, nonviolent alternative to war, today CPT places violence-reduction teams in crisis situations and militarized areas around the world at the invitation of local peace and human rights workers. CPT embraces the vision of unarmed intervention waged by committed peacemakers ready to risk injury and death in bold attempts to transform lethal conflict through the nonviolent power of God’s truth and love. Jerry is working as a full time volunteer with CPT. Its West Bank base is in Hebron. Sis, a CPT reservist, has also been working as a volunteer at Bethlehem based Holy Land Trust teaching teachers how to teach peace. Jerry was Cable News Network (CNN) Middle East Bureau Chief Lebanon in 1984, when he was kidnapped by extremists and became the first of the so-called forgotten American hostages. Dr. Lucille (Sis) Levin, an internationally known peace educator and certified professional mediator, attracted international attention in the mid 1980s in connection with her successful nonviolent reconciliation focused effort to create conditions by which Jerry was able to escape from his captors. School on Wheels (S.O.W.) Agnes Stevens, Founder and Executive Director www.schoolonwheels.org A former Mary Knoll Sister, Agnes spent forty years teaching primary school in the inner-cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles before retiring in Malibu. A book she read about the plight of homeless children inspired her to start School on Wheels, which became a non—profit enterprise in 1993. Beginning with only two volunteers, the organization has expanded to encompass homeless children from Ventura to Downtown Los Angeles and now has over 800 volunteers. St. Aidan’s also may conduct a Forum on a particular book, article or event. In the past there has been a presentation on Karl Rahner’s essays on prayer and one on Mel Gibson's “The Passion of the Christ”, with joint participation by our local rabbi. Prison Ministry I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me." Matthew 25:36 A Jubilee Ministry of The Episcopal Church PRISM provides chaplain services to the county facilities, including Twin Towers Correctional Facility, Men's Central Jail, CRDF (adult women's jail facility), Pitchess Detention Center, Juvenile Halls and County hospitals. Our expanding outreach includes the California State Prison System. Episcopal Chaplains provide personal spiritual support to the incarcerated and their families, as well as serving the sick and the dying in county hospitals. This ministry includes: Individual pastoral care and spiritual guidance, including crisis counseling Support for family members of the incarcerated Facilitating Bible classes, liturgical training, conducting guided meditations, and spiritual direction Providing Eucharist celebrations and/or conducting Communion services Bringing spiritual retreats and pastoral visits to state prison facilities Emphasis on Episcopal family support Providing a pastoral presence and counseling during end-of-life journey The pastoral care for those suffering in our jails, prisons, juvenile halls and hospitals remains at the center of this ministry of presence. Prism's vision is to develop the Episcopal Chaplaincy Program into a more effective model for Restorative Justice and they are currently developing support programs for: Families of the incarcerated Victims of crime Re-entry guidance and support for parolees Juvenile justice Contact: Dennis Gibbs Director dgibbs@ladiocese.org 213.482.2040, ext. 256 Volunteers from St. Aidan’s work with the young adults at local Youth Prism camps. back to top Centering Prayer This group meets each Wednesday at 7:30 pm to practice this powerful meditative form of prayer and discuss the next Sundays’ readings. Centering prayer prepares us for the opening of our mind and heart to God whom we know by faith within us. The root of the prayer is interior silence and facilitates a movement from more active modes of prayer into a receptive prayer of resting in God. It is drawn from ancient practices of the Christian contemplative heritage. Those in our group have found that the time we spend in silence together creates a feeling of peace and closeness which continues on into our everyday lives. Come and join us and discover for yourself the benefits of Christian meditation. back to top Newcomers Class At St. Aidan’s the clergy and vestry warmly welcome those who are new to the congregation with an invitation to a Sunday brunch – an initial opportunity to get to know one another. Newcomers are then invited to participate in a class in which an introduction to the Episcopal Church and St. Aidan’s specifically is offered. Membership is discussed and as visitors decide to formally join the church, they are encouraged to participate in one or more of our groups and/or ministries.
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