St. Bart’s Adult Formation
Overview
The Adult Formation Committee at St. Bart’s endeavors to support and coordinate opportunities for intellectual and spiritual growth in the company of others as part of an open and inviting Christian community. To those ends:
We Encourage
Overview
The Adult Formation Committee at St. Bart’s endeavors to support and coordinate opportunities for intellectual and spiritual growth in the company of others as part of an open and inviting Christian community. To those ends:
We Encourage
- Reflection on the Life of the Spirit and Christian responsibility in the world
- Discussion of issues of import to members of the congregation, friends, and visitors
- Book-of-Two-Months Club
- Liturgical Season Guided Discussions
- Study Groups
- With other parish committees (e.g., Pastoral Care, Community Outreach, Fellowship) as well as diocesan and interfaith groups of common spirit
For more information on these programs, please refer to posted announcements or contact members of the Adult Education Committee: Penni Groves; Dan Hudkins; or, Elizabeth Ring.
2026 Offerings
The year has started with so many opportunities for discourse. More news to follow on future offerings.
The year has started with so many opportunities for discourse. More news to follow on future offerings.
"Faithful Conversations" Returned for Meaningful Discernment
An opportunity to join with others for discussion and prayer in these challenging times, Faithful Conversations with Rev. Vicki Smith and Dennis Fitzgibbons returned in February and March with reflections based on the book For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional. We are grateful for Vicki's and Dennis's time and guidance of our thoughtful discussions.
Diplomacy on Ice: Climate science, glaciers, and effecting change on the global level
A Talk by Dr. Susana Hancock on March 8th
St. Bart's Climate Action Committee welcomed Dr. Susana Hancock back to St. Bart's to speak on Sunday, March 8 at 4 pm. Susana, familiar to many at St. Bart's, is an Arctic and glaciers researcher who specializes in science diplomacy and climate policy. Susana shared some of her recent icy adventures (ranging from an attempt to ski to the North Pole to climbing the high-altitude glaciers along the Colombian Equator) and how she brings her research to world leaders and into international decision-making spheres to drive urgency and ambition in global climate action. Click here to view the recording.
A Talk by Dr. Susana Hancock on March 8th
St. Bart's Climate Action Committee welcomed Dr. Susana Hancock back to St. Bart's to speak on Sunday, March 8 at 4 pm. Susana, familiar to many at St. Bart's, is an Arctic and glaciers researcher who specializes in science diplomacy and climate policy. Susana shared some of her recent icy adventures (ranging from an attempt to ski to the North Pole to climbing the high-altitude glaciers along the Colombian Equator) and how she brings her research to world leaders and into international decision-making spheres to drive urgency and ambition in global climate action. Click here to view the recording.
Weekly Bible Study
We meet every Wednesday at 10 AM in the upstairs meeting room. We have been reading Judges - the stories of the early days of God's people in God's promised land. We read one chapter each week and draw on the wisdom of those around the table. Please bring a Bible with you or borrow one of the many Bibles we have here at church. You do not need to attend every week in order to participate in the study.
We meet every Wednesday at 10 AM in the upstairs meeting room. We have been reading Judges - the stories of the early days of God's people in God's promised land. We read one chapter each week and draw on the wisdom of those around the table. Please bring a Bible with you or borrow one of the many Bibles we have here at church. You do not need to attend every week in order to participate in the study.
Overview of Activities 2023-2026
Lenten Series February-March 2026
Our midweek Evening Prayer service at 5:30pm was followed by an Adult Formation forum at 6:15pm entitled "Living Water: Baptism as a way of life." For the past few years, the Adult Formation Committee has focused our Lent programming on the foundations of our faith. We continued by offering a class this year that looked at our sacrament of baptism and how the covenants made at our baptism form the ways we live our lives, not just the ways we think about faith.
Book of Two Months Club for January/February 2026
In January and February we read "White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in America Christianity" by Robert P. Jones. Drawing on history, public opinion surveys, and personal experience, "White Too Long" presents a provocative examination of the unholy relationship between American Christianity and white supremacy, and issues an urgent call for white Christians to reckon with this legacy for the sake of themselves and the nation.
Rev. Amanda led us in discussion via Zoom in January and February. Next book to be announced.
Our midweek Evening Prayer service at 5:30pm was followed by an Adult Formation forum at 6:15pm entitled "Living Water: Baptism as a way of life." For the past few years, the Adult Formation Committee has focused our Lent programming on the foundations of our faith. We continued by offering a class this year that looked at our sacrament of baptism and how the covenants made at our baptism form the ways we live our lives, not just the ways we think about faith.
Book of Two Months Club for January/February 2026
In January and February we read "White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in America Christianity" by Robert P. Jones. Drawing on history, public opinion surveys, and personal experience, "White Too Long" presents a provocative examination of the unholy relationship between American Christianity and white supremacy, and issues an urgent call for white Christians to reckon with this legacy for the sake of themselves and the nation.
Rev. Amanda led us in discussion via Zoom in January and February. Next book to be announced.
Advent Series 2025: Music in the Church
Our music director, Dr. Christina Scott Edelen, and St. Bart’s member, Dr. Maria Guarino, led an Advent conversation series on music in the church after the Wednesday evening Advent service to learn some of the fascinating history of music in the Church, and to reflect on what it has to say to us in our Advent journeys today.
During Lent 2025, Reverend Amanda led us in a group discussion of the Nicene Creed.
Our music director, Dr. Christina Scott Edelen, and St. Bart’s member, Dr. Maria Guarino, led an Advent conversation series on music in the church after the Wednesday evening Advent service to learn some of the fascinating history of music in the Church, and to reflect on what it has to say to us in our Advent journeys today.
During Lent 2025, Reverend Amanda led us in a group discussion of the Nicene Creed.
Book of Two Months Club
We sponsor and promote volunteer-led* discussion of selected books in the support of the goal of intellectual and spiritual growth and ethical responsibility. Any parishioner may volunteer and lead a group discussing an approved book over a two-month period (including at least two meetings, in-person or on-line). Recent selections:
Study Groups
We sponsor and promote volunteer-led* discussion of selected books in the support of the goal of intellectual and spiritual growth and ethical responsibility. Any parishioner may volunteer and lead a group discussing an approved book over a two-month period (including at least two meetings, in-person or on-line). Recent selections:
- "Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility" edited by Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua.
- The Serviceberry--Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, ny Robin Wall Kimmerer.
- The Church Cracked Open, by Stephanie Spellers.
- The Great Transition, by Maine author Nick Fuller Googins.
- The Greatest Prayer: Rediscovering the Revolutionary Message of the Lord’s Prayer, by noted Jesus scholar John Dominic Crossan. Dr. Crossan (who just turned 90!) joined our conversation via Zoom.
- Eve Isn’t Evil: Feminist Readings in the Bible to Upend Our Assumptions by the Rev. Dr. Julie Faith Parker. Rev. Dr. Parker is currently Visiting Scholar at Union Theological Seminary and Biblical Scholar ion Residence at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. She joined the second session on Zoom.
- Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Franciscan Friar and Ecumenical spiritual teacher, Richard Rohr.
Study Groups
- Sacred Ground—an Episcopal Church program addressing racial inequity, the church’s history, and our responsibility as members a community of faith.
- Indigenous Justice Book Study Series—a seven-month program coordinated throughout Province 1 of the Episcopal Church (all the dioceses of New England), consisting of four online book discussion meetings and related local activities focusing on the history of white settler-Indian relations in the U.S. and the role of the churches in the history of inequity and in subsequent efforts at Truth and Reconciliation.
- Episcopal Church Province 1 Indigenous Relations Book Group: January and March, 2024
Special Seminars hosted by Pastoral Care Committee--recordings available below
Presentation: Local Resources for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia
Families and friends caring for loved ones with dementia were invited to a special presentation at St. Bart's on May 21st on local support resources. The presentation was led by Lori Campbell, MA, LSW. Lori is a licensed social worker and a Family Caregiver Resource Specialist in Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Family Caregiver Support Program. To view the recorded presentation, click here: https://c.themediacdn.com/link/http/W5s3f9/i2dTOCjscNQ/miN7zusgPdk_1
Presentation: The Challenges and Gifts Unique to Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia
Dr. Susan Wehry’s presentation on the Challenges and Gifts Unique to Dementia Caregivers. St. Bart’s was honored to have hosted Dr. Wehry, who is a compassionate advocate and a dynamic speaker. To view the recorded presentation, click here:
https://c.themediacdn.com/link/http/W5s3f9/i2dTOCjscNQ/OnxlzFsghfp_1
*All activities of the staff and volunteers of St. Bart’s are governed by the “Safe Church Policy” adopted by the Vestry on June 14, 2023, or as amended thereafter.
Presentation: Local Resources for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia
Families and friends caring for loved ones with dementia were invited to a special presentation at St. Bart's on May 21st on local support resources. The presentation was led by Lori Campbell, MA, LSW. Lori is a licensed social worker and a Family Caregiver Resource Specialist in Southern Maine Agency on Aging’s Family Caregiver Support Program. To view the recorded presentation, click here: https://c.themediacdn.com/link/http/W5s3f9/i2dTOCjscNQ/miN7zusgPdk_1
Presentation: The Challenges and Gifts Unique to Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia
Dr. Susan Wehry’s presentation on the Challenges and Gifts Unique to Dementia Caregivers. St. Bart’s was honored to have hosted Dr. Wehry, who is a compassionate advocate and a dynamic speaker. To view the recorded presentation, click here:
https://c.themediacdn.com/link/http/W5s3f9/i2dTOCjscNQ/OnxlzFsghfp_1
*All activities of the staff and volunteers of St. Bart’s are governed by the “Safe Church Policy” adopted by the Vestry on June 14, 2023, or as amended thereafter.
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396 Gilman Road, Yarmouth, Maine, 04096
Church Office Phone: (207) 846-9244 Office email: [email protected] St Bart’s is a parish of the Diocese of Maine, of the Episcopal Church, a province of the Anglican Communion. |
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