Spiritual Formation
SOTH is a community of people on a journey of Christian spiritual formation. This is a lifelong process of greater wholeness with God, with others, and with oneself. We see education as a key component of spiritual formation but believe it also encompasses aspects such as spiritual practices, service, worship, play, retreats, music, creation care, engagement with neighbors, justice, relationships, and experiences. Here you will find opportunities for all ages to explore, discover, and grow in faith. All with the goal of deepening our capacity to impact the world with God’s love.
This month, on our hearts are those whose lives have been impacted by disasters of the past and recently (hurricanes, fires & tornadoes). Let us focus on the blessings that we can share together. Be a part of putting together Hygiene Kits for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) as we reach out to those whose lives are disrupted and impacted by disasters both natural and human caused. Come explore how we together are “Making a Difference” through story, prayer practice, building hygiene kits and sharing dinner around the table. You are invited to contribute specific items for the kits and drop them off in the box in the Narthex: washcloths, wide-tooth combs, nail clipper, bar of soap (bath size in wrapper), toothbrush (in original packaging); Band-Aids® or other adhesive bandage strips.
Please RSVP online or on the signup sheet on the Worship Table so we have a count for dinner.
Sunday Morning Adult Spiritual Formation for Fall
The Difficult Words of Jesus
Join us beginning Sunday, September 17th following worship, for a 6 week study - “The Difficult Words of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to His Most Perplexing Teachings” by Amy-Jill Levine, Jewish New Testament Scholar. Jesus taught his disciples how to follow the Torah, God’s Word; he told them parables to help them discern questions of ethics and of human nature; he offered them beatitudes for comfort and encouragement. But sometimes Jesus spoke words that followers then and now have found difficult to understand let alone put into practice. Amy-Jill Levine shows how these difficult teachings would have sounded to the people who first heard them, how have they been understood over time, and how we might interpret them in the context of the Gospel of love and reconciliation. This study includes a short DVD led by Amy-Jill Levine, followed by discussion. Books will be available for purchase ($12) but not required to participate in the study.
September 17th – October 29th (skipping October 8)
Children's Ministry
Kids’ Connection is our Sunday School for children aged 4 – 4th grade, held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month, 9:30 – 10:30 am. This is a time for kids to learn Bible stories, develop relationships, and grow in God’s love. After kids are signed in by a parent in the narthex, they will go downstairs with one of their teachers just before worship starts. Parents will pick up kids downstairs in the children’s library and sign them out.
Current Study
“Growing in God's Love”
The Kids are excited to get started on our new lessons for September and October: Lessons from the early Church- the foundations of our Faith. We will explore parable as a teaching tool that Jesus used to help us learn, and think about, the lessons He wanted us to understand. Our sessions include a variety of media, Bible stories, and hands-on activities. We look forward to seeing all of our young friends “downstairs” in Sunday School.