Christian Formation

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Adult Forum (Currently Suspended)

The Adult Forum, focusing on various aspects of Christian faith, life and service takes place in the Parlor on Sunday mornings beginning at 10:30 AM, right after the 9:00 AM worship service. The format changes throughout the year, but often includes speakers from within the congregation and outside the parish, who engage us in such topics as spirituality, ethics, theology, liturgy, and social justice.

The Adult Forum also offers opportunities for parish members to share their stories as a way of getting to know one another better and build community.  It is an opportunity to equip our community for ministry and mission and to have the conversations we need to develop our parish work together. All are welcome to attend and suggest topics for future forums.

Bible Study

St. Peter’s offers an opportunity for Bible Study on Tuesdays at 6:00 PM. The group currently meets via Zoom. For more details, please contact the church office.

This group explores various books of the Bible and together selects what book to explore next. No advance preparation is necessary. No particular Bible translation or edition is required. We all bring our Bibles or use one of the many we have on hand in the church. We take turns reading a section, pausing for reflection, comment, and conversation, then move on to the next one. Conversation tends to be open, lively, thoughtful, and deeply felt — a wonderful way of engaging Scripture together. 

Men’s Group

On the first Saturday of the month a Men’s Group generally gathers for a fellowship breakfast, followed by Scripture study and prayer. Contact the Rector for additional details.

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Centering Prayer and Quiet Days

If you are looking for a way to enter into a deeper relationship with the Holy, a path that goes beyond rational thought into the heart of the silent Word, consider the practice of centering prayer. Enter into silent meditation to find a deeper relationship with your soul and with God. St. Peter’s does not currently have a centering prayer group, but a number of organizations offer information and resources to guide your practice, including Contemplative Outreach and the Contemplative Society.

At least twice a year, usually during Advent and Lent, a “quiet day” is scheduled for St. Peter’s members as well as those in the greater community.  Participants begin the day with worship followed by meditation reflections and periods of silence.  During the silence, participants are encouraged to find a quiet activity and engage in a spiritual practice that nourishes their spirit. A simple lunch is shared at noon.

Lenten Study

Rector’s Lenten Discussion Group, “Lives that Light Our Path.” Sunday afternoons at 4:00 PM during Lent (March 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29). Lael will lead conversations on people whose stories have the power to break through in critical, desperate, or unusual times. She has her own list of people whose lives, for her, really tell, and she’ll share those. But you, too, will be invited to tell the stories of lives that speak to you. 

Book Study

Periodically, and often initiated by recommendations by or from members of the community, an ad hoc group is formed to meet for several weeks to discuss a particular book. These discussions may be facilitated by a lay person or the clergy. The general public is also invited to participate in these discussions.  Recent books discussed include: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me;  Atul Gawande, Being Mortal; and Joan Chittister, In Search of Belief.

Spiritual Direction and Retreats

Spiritual direction is the practice of being with a trained spiritual director to guide one into a deepening relationship with the divine and to learn and grow spiritually. Spiritual direction is not psychology therapy. St. Peter’s supports those who seek to work with a trained spiritual director by providing contact information for spiritual directors available in the Midcoast.

Spiritual retreats: Many people are nourished by taking time away from the demands of daily life to attend to spiritual concerns through a day-long or multi-day retreat. Retreats are offered through the Diocese of Maine at regional monasteries and abbeys and retreat Centers.  Please speak with the Rector for guidance if you are contemplating a retreat.

Education for Ministry

St. Peter’s supports Education for Ministry (EFM), a unique certification program of experiential theological education for laity under the direction of The School of Theology of The University of the South (Sewanee).  Since its founding in 1975, this international program has helped more than 30,000 students discover the breadth and depth of the Christian tradition and bring it into conversation with their experiences of the world as they study, worship, and engage in theological reflection together.  Over the past twenty years, a substantial number of parishioners at St. Peter’s have participated as students and mentors in this four-year program. that includes: Year One: The Old Testament; Year Two: The New Testament, Year Three: Church History, and Year Four: Theological Choices.

Classes normally include students from several churches and different denominations. Currently St. Peter’s is not hosting EFM classes, but former mentors Jim Bowditch and Sarah Reynolds will be happy to visit with with interested persons to further discuss the EFM experience and identify available area groups.. It is also possible to participate through an online program HERE.

Gallery of the Spirit

Gallery of the Spirit – click here to learn how the Sanctuary Gallery of Spirit deepens spiritual growth.