Education Studies

It is the goal of the small group ministry ...

to be a faith-filled community where nobody stands alone.

Our vision is …

to provide a small group where each member of the congregation can be involved, ***and to provide for* the spiritual health *and vitality of the entire congregation.***

It’s about growing people not programs! Just as Jesus meets people where they are, small groups start where people are—not where the leader wants them to be. Small group leaders do not grow the group; God does that. Leaders listen, learn, and participate with the Holy Spirit, to create the optimum condition for people to grow.

Consider joining a small group, short term class, or group of fellowship today. You might get to know people in our congregation that you may never have gotten to know otherwise.

Take that leap in your faith. Call or e-mail the church at 715.386.3921 or hudsonumc@sbcglobal.net.

Small Group Studies

Adult Discussion Groups ...

WEDNESDAYS ... Beginning July 7th, 2010 ... 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

You are invited to "renew" your faith! Pastor Bruce will be leading a 5-week Bible study with a choice of two times to fit your schedule. Register either at 10:30 a.m. or at 6:30 p.m. and rediscover your faith. "Renewers" is based on the book, Heart of Christianity. It's a study for everyone, at any age and faith walk. If you are seeking to live passionately, register today on the sign-up sheet in the Narthex so we know how many people to plan for.

Sundays 9:45-10:30 a.m. in the conference room (No summer sessions)

We are discussing "Troublesome Bible Passages." You do not need to know the Bible to participate in the discussion. It helps to read the chapter in advance (about 5 pages), and you can come to any topics that interest you. Please check with Ruth Knapp at 715.381.0154 or one of the people with a "yellow flag" on their name tag to get a copy of next week's chapter.

Sundays 11-noon in the conference room (No summer sessions)

Enhance your Lenten experience. . . Join our discussion on the lectionary-based study book. Our group meets in the conference room Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Bring your coffee and join us!!

As the class grows in number, it is also growing in love and fellowship as we seek to better understand the way God calls us to be His ambassadors in today's world. We invite you to join us in the Conference Room of the church each Sunday at 11 a.m. Call Joyce Johnson 715.381.1195 for more information or just come!!

Wednesdays at 1 p.m., Wintergreen Library (No summer sessions)

You are invited to join Jeanne Diefenbach as facilitator. This is open to all. For more information, contact Jeanne at 715.386.8484.

Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. (No summer sessions)

For more information about the study being offered, please contact Wayne Sprecher at 715.386.5562.

Unity Circle ... First Tuesdays of each month, 7:00 p.m. (No summer sessions)

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010 ...

You are invited to join Unity Circle for the study, "Jesus and Prayer"

Women's Early Risers ... First Thursdays at 6:30 a.m., Hudson Bagel & Coffee Shop

The Early Risers Bible Study meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 a.m. at the Hudson Bagel Shop. Each month they use a theme/article from the Response Magazine (the magazine of UMW) for our discussion. If you are an early riser, or if you are willing to be an early riser once a month (or as your schedule allows), we would love to have you join us for coffee, discussion, fellowship and prayer.

Book Discussion Group, Third Sunday of every month, 6:30 p.m. Conference Room

Come for one particular book ... come when you can ... come every month.

What goes with ice tea, the beach, the boat, or the cabin?

Why ... it's a good book!

Sunday, September 19 ... Stones into Schools, by Greg Mortenson. This follow up to Three Cups of Tea delivers an update on Greg Mortenson's work of building schools, especially for women in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It also focuses on his personal tensions from fundraising and his passion for being in the countries he works so hard for.

Sunday, October 17 ... The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli ... set during the Vietnam War, this novel examines the addiction to that adrenaline rush sometimes experienced by those unlucky enough to fall prey to what James Hillman has called the "terrible love of war."

Sunday, November 21 ... Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain ... Twain's memoir details his days as a steamboat pilot. The book begins with a brief history of the river and continues with anecdotes of Twain's training as a steamboat pilot. He returns as a passenger on a steamboat and shares some stories that are most likely tall tales.

Sunday, December 19 ... Have a Little Faith by Mitch Alborn ... This is a book about life's purpose; about losing belief and finding it again; about the divine spark inside us all. It is one man's journey, but it is everyone's story.

Sunday, January 16 ... Day after Night by Anita Diamant ... Set in 1945, in the summer immediately following the end of World War II in Europe. This book tells the stories of four young Jewish women -- survivors of four different kinds of hell. They make their way to the land of Israel where they confront an uncertain future haunted by the past.

Sunday, February 20 ... Pearl of China by Anchee Min ... This book tells the story of one of the twentieth century greatest writers, Pearl S. Buck, from the perspective of the people she loved and of the land she called home.

Sunday, March 20 ... Short History of Women by Kate Walbert ... This book deals with complicated women living in complicated times, and if it is empathetic, it is also disturbing, as all moral conundrums are. It is a witty and assured testament to the women's movement and women writers, obscure and renowned.

Sunday, April 17 ... Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang ... When the author was six years old, Yang's family immigrated to America. She evocatively captures the challenges of adapting to a new place and a new language, and also gives voice to the dreams, wisdom and traditions passed down from her grandmother and shared by an entire community.

Sunday, May 15 ... Whistling Season by Ivan Doig ... This novel is a paean to a vanished way of life and the eccentric individuals and idiosyncratic institutions that made it fertile. This book is Ivan Doig at his evocative best.

For more information, contact ... Laura Whitney at 715.386.3891 or Nancy Briske at 715.386.6728.