First Steps Courses 2011
Over the last two years, we at IPC have dedicated ourselves to re-envisioning adult discipleship for the 21st century. After much prayer, study and hard work, our first new offerings have been unveiled: First Steps! These courses, each running between 5 and 9 weeks, are designed to form the foundation of a life of Christian maturity. Each weekly session consists of a brief spiritual formation exercise (learning new forms of prayer), a lecture-style presentation of course material, and time for small-group discussion. The courses are taught by a team of gifted leaders, each with a specialty in their area. No prior knowledge is expected, but even those with extensive knowledge of the subjects will find these courses very engaging.
The schedule for this year is:
First Steps into Spiritual Formation:
Prayer, Sacraments and the Life-Long Process of Transformation
May 1-29; 9:00 am, Jack Davis Room
This is where we put all the pieces of our previous courses together and examine the actual practices that shape our growth towards Christian maturity. If prayer has ever been a struggle, if you've taken on "spiritual disciplines" with marginal "success," if you've been intrigued by the idea of a spiritual director or simply seek a better understanding of how one goes about building a deeper connection to God, this is the course for you!
We will examine the practices that form the heart of the classical spiritual formation and gain some firsthand experience. Recommended reading will be from Martin Thornton's Christian Proficiency. Everyone is welcome (you don't have to have attended any of the other First Steps courses)! Questions, contact Pastor Kirk: kwinslow@irvinepres.org.