Adult Formation
A Summer-Long Retreat: AN INVITATION TO LOVE, a retreat in real life on the Great Commandment
Jesus’ Great Commandment to each Christian was and is to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 27:37-40)
Doesn’t it seem increasingly true that the first part of this passage is relatively easy in comparison to the second? Do you think – or hope – we’re given a pass on either part just because – in our opinion – so many of our neighbors are thinking and acting so very WRONG? Hmmm…
Please consider joining a group of your fellow parishioners as together we attempt to find a bit of spiritual renewal and strength over the summer. We will be following a set of readings and meditations in An Invitation to Love by William Barry, SJ who was one of the most experienced and best-loved spiritual directors of our time.
“An Invitation to Love provides a practical and adaptable sequence of prayer sessions on the great commandment of the Christian faith: to love God and love our neighbor. All other aspects of a healthy and hopeful life grow from our practices of love. When we experience God’s love for us, we can respond with a growing love for God. Loving God will transform us into people who can love our neighbors, too, whoever they are. The voice that speaks in these pages so personally and warmly is that of William A. Barry, SJ, who for decades has gently accompanied people in their prayer. His understanding of Scripture, expertise in nurturing spiritual growth, and joyful confidence in God’s desire for our friendship prepares a welcoming and walkable path to conversation with God and renewal in our hearts.” – Amazon.com
Meetings will be on Thursdays from 6:30-7:30pm on Zoom and run through September 10, 2026. We look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions, please contact Pat.
Great Wednesdays at St. John’s
For the Fall, we will be studying the Parables of Jesus in the Gospels during six Great Wednesday classes from September 30 to November. Great Wednesday begins at 5:30 pm with a simple Eucharist in the Church and continues with simple supper and Bible Study in the undercroft. St. Andrew’s Guild will supply the first supper on September 30 and we ask participants to volunteer to bring food or help with set up and clean up on each following session. You can use this online sign up sheet: https://forms.gle/Cw1rKyQ7QBK6YLz4A or sign up in the undercroft or simply email the Rector.
One Book, One Church
Looking for your next book to read? The Reverend suggests “The Scandal of the Kingdom: How the Parables of Jesus Revolutionized Life with God” by Dallas Willard.
A major new work by Dallas Willard, the highly anticipated follow-up to his seminal work The Divine Conspiracy. In this groundbreaking book based on teachings he delivered to a church community, Willard delves into the transformative power of Jesus’s parables, revealing how they show us how to live right now in the kingdom of God.
Drawing from his extensive teachings on spiritual formation, Willard illuminates the timeless wisdom contained within each parable, revealing their profound relevance to contemporary life. With clarity and depth, he guides readers through the subversive messages embedded within these seemingly simple stories, urging us to break free from the grip of worldly values and embrace the radical teachings of Jesus.
The Scandal of the Kingdom is not just a book–it’s a call to action. Willard challenges readers to move beyond passive acceptance of comfortable dogmas and instead to actively engage with the values of the kingdom of God. He reminds us that the kingdom is not some distant future destination but a present reality, beckoning us, as the parables of Jesus did, to live with a new purpose and intentionality in the here and now.
Through insightful analysis and practical wisdom, Willard empowers readers to transform their lives and communities by embodying the radical love, compassion, and justice exemplified in Jesus’s parables. This book is a beacon of hope for Christians seeking to deepen their faith and live more authentically in accordance with the teachings of Christ. Willard empowers us to:
Become more passionate about living the gospel in the full scope of Jesus’s vision for us
Better share the faith of Jesus with those disillusioned with Christianity
Unlock the excitement of living in the upside-down kingdom of God
Share the gospel of Jesus in the way he did
A significant new resource for Christians worldwide, this book offers a road map for spiritual growth and renewal in an increasingly complex and challenging world. With its profound insights and transformative message, it is destined to leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of believers everywhere.
(Description of book taken from Thriftbooks.com)
Special Programming Presented by St. John’s
The Gospel of Mark – March 29, 2026
Fifty Years After the Vietnam War – November 11, 2025
Prisms of Faith: Moving Beyond Tolerance to Deep Engagement – March 16, 2025
The Harlem Renaissance at 100 – November 11, 2022
