Learn
with Burke UMC
Intentional faith development is a core value at Burke.
We encourage everyone who attends BUMC to be intentionally seeking to know God better through Bible study, individual and group study, and spiritual conversation. We offer learning opportunities for everyone from our youngest to our older members.
This year's Sunday morning schedule includes worship at 9:30 AM with a Sunday School hour following, beginning at 10:30 AM. We hope this Dedicated Sunday School hour will allow for everyone- no matter your age- to have an opportunity to be a part of worship and be a part of a class in which you learn and grow your faith! We also have small groups throughout the week. Use the links below to find a class that works for you!
Adult Education:
We believe in learning and growing in our faith in community here at BUMC. We have a new round of adult education classes starting at different points throughout the year and would love for you to choose the one that fits your schedule/interests the best. Questions? Contact Rev. Evelyn Archer-Taminger for more details or to get connected with a group's leader.
Short Term Classes:
Intro to the New Testament
Are you looking for an opportunity to learn more about the New Testament? Whether you have read it in its entirety, or you have never studied scripture before, you are welcome in this class. This class will walk through all the books of the New Testament, and explore their major themes and historical contexts. Barry Burdett will teach this 6-week course beginning September 8, in the Upper Room.
✔️ Facilitated by Barry Burdett
📍Sundays at 10:30 AM, Upper Room
Just Faith Environment: Sacred Water
Burke UMC is offering the third session of Just Faith Environment this Fall! This session is entitled Sacred Water; Oceans and Ecosystems. This is an eight-week virtual program which dives into the biblical, justice-based, and scientific reasons why people of faith should take action to protect our ecosystems. While the folks who took the first two sessions of this program (Sacred Land and Sacred Air) are encouraged to finish the program through this third session, you can also sign up if you have not taken the first two sessions. The class will begin with an Orientation Session on September 10 at 7pm via Zoom.
✔️ Facilitated by Beth Ann Velo and Nanlee Edwards
📍Sundays at 7 PM, Zoom
Ongoing/Long Term Classes:
HOPE Small Group:
The HOPE Sunday Morning class will be continuing their study of Opening Israel's Scriptures by Dr. Ellen F. Davis. This is a hybrid class which utilizes both in-person and zoom learning. Participants can join the class by gathering in-person in the Discipleship Room, or they can log in using the Zoom link below. HOPE will continue their study of Opening Israel's Scriptures by Dr. Ellen F. Davis. This book is a collection of 36 essays on the Hebrew Bible, from Genesis to Chronicles, which gives powerful insight into the complexity and inexhaustibility of the Hebrew Scriptures as a theological source
✔️ Facilitated by Audrey Romasco, assisted by Frank Marlow
📍Sundays at 10:30 AM (gathering at 10:30 am, lesson starting at 10:45 am), Discipleship Room and online
GIFT Small Group:
The GIFT Sunday Morning Class will be studying "Everywhere is Jerusalem: Experiencing the Holy Then and Now by James C Howell". GIFT meets at 10:30am on Sundays in the Grace and Peace Room, starting September 8. Part travelogue, part Bible study, this book will take you on a spiritual journey to the places that are most important in our faith, and you’ll discover that the most important place of all is the place where you are, right now.
✔️ Facilitated by Ken Robison
📍 Sundays at 10:30 AM in The Grace and Peace Room
Women in Study (WIS):
Women in Study will kick off the school year with a pot luck at the church on September 19! Then, the class will meet on Thursdays via Zoom at 10am. Any woman interested in expanding their faith through studying the Bible is welcome! This fall, they will be studying Breaking the Code – Understanding the Book of Revelation by Bruce M. Metzger and David DaSilva.
✔️ Facilitated by Roz Hoagland
📍 Thursdays at 10 AM-11:30 am on Zoom
Men's Fellowship Group:
Starting 5 Sep, the Men's Fellowship group will be watching and discussing "Understanding the New Testament" via Amplify. This group meets each 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 7:30-9:00 pm both on Zoom and in the Covenant Room (hybrid meeting, feel free to attend in person or online)! This Fall course explores The New Testament as the canonical root of Christian history and theology and also as a paradox, because this single "book" is comprised of 27 different books by more than a dozen authors, each of whom has a different perspective and is responding to a different set of historical circumstances.
We'll meet next on 26 September (4th Thursday). In October, we'll meet on the 10th and on the 24th (the 2nd and 4th Thursdays). We'll return to our normal schedule (1st and 3rd Thursdays) in November.
✔️ Facilitated by Tom Jaeger
📍 Meets each 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 7:30-9:00 pm both on Zoom and in the Covenant Room (hybrid meeting, feel free to attend in person or online!)
Tuesday Morning Small Group:
The Tuesday Morning Small Group meets on Tuesday at 10 AM on Zoom, starting September 10. This Fall, they will be studying "Context: Putting Scripture in its Place" by Josh Scott. Context looks at verses we know by heart but may not know the people, places, and times that give them meaning. Josh Scott delves into these well-known Scripture verses, exploring their true meanings by examining them in their original biblical context. Through this process, he unveils fresh and enlightening interpretations that are often missed when these Scriptures are taken out of context. Contact Kathy Nash for the zoom link.
✔️ Facilitated by Kathy Nash
📍 Tuesdays at 10 AM on Zoom, link will be emailed to participants
Parent Fellowship:
Parents Fellowship is a conversation-based group of parents of Pre K and school age children. Each week, parents meet to discuss the themes brought up during the worship service, as well as check in with one another. No home reading is required. Parents Fellowship meets at 10:30am on Sundays in The Covenant Room. Visitors welcome!
✔️ Facilitated by Rev. Jason Snow
📍 Sundays at 10:30 am in The Covenant Room
Disciple 2:
The Disciple curriculum will be returning to BUMC this Fall! Starting September 30, leader Mike Sawin will be leading this 24-week class on Mondays at 7 pm in the Discipleship Room. Disciple: Into the Word Into the World is the second study in the four-phase Disciple program and is prepared for those who are graduates of Disciple: Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study.
This study proclaims the transforming power of Scripture while teaching Bible study skills that take participants deeper into the Scripture. The importance of keeping Bible study related to witness is reinforced while participants are encouraged to practice spiritual disciplines arising out of Scripture for the purpose of changing habits and transforming lives. The study also emphasizes the rhythm of coming to God and going for God, of being in the Word and in the world individually and corporately. This study understands the growing Christian as under discipline in community and in ministry to the world. Disciple: Into the Word Into the World approaches all experiences of life as opportunities for faithful witness and service.
✔️ Facilitated by Mike Sawin
📍 Mondays at 7 pm in The Discipleship Room
LEARN Livestreams:
November 7, 2021: Nevertheless She Preached
We were so grateful to Rev. Dr. Margaret Kutz for her wonderful book talk highlighting two influential women in the Methodist movement on November 7, 2021. If you missed the event, you can check out the video livestream! There are some buffering issues, but hopefully that won't hinder your ability to watch and learn with us. Keep an eye out for more LEARN events coming soon!
February 27, 2022: Sacred Voices
Author and poet Sherri Waas Shunfenthal gave a presentation on a collection of poetry she wrote called "Sacred Voices: Women of Genesis Speak". Her poems are written from these ancient women's points of view, and her words reflect their joy, their pain, and their relationship with the Lord. Sherri, a Jewish woman herself, examines these women's stories with reverence and care.
More Opportunities to LEARN:
AMPLIFY
SAFE SANCTUARIES
Amplify is a digital platform you can subscribe to for FREE! It is full of video teaching, conversation, and devotionals from Methodist & Wesleyan teachers for all ages. One member said it was her new NETFLIX!
You can use the Burke UMC Access Code, which is WHBLZG.
Burke United Methodist takes seriously the responsibility of protecting all of God's children. All of our staff and volunteers are trained using our Safe Sanctuaries policy.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Learning can happen in community and individually. If you are looking for ways to dive into your faith and expand on certain topics you're interested in, there are some courses and resources that can help guide your learning.
Have questions about our LEARN ministries? Reach out to Rev. Evelyn Archer-Taminger!