The Christian life is not static. It is a journey - a journey that involves learning and growing and being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. The Spiritual Formation Ministry Team at Saint Mark UMC put together a number of offerings in our adult education and spiritual formation program referred to as "Growing YOU". This program is for all adults in our church at every level of spiritual maturity. Its simple mission is to "lead people into a growing relationship with Christ by providing practical opportunities for spiritual growth." Many of the Spiritual Formation studies and other opportunities take place in a small group setting where there is more opportunity for discussion and the participants often discover that they develop close bonds with each other during their time together.
Our "Growing YOU" schedule of classes follows a “quarter” system. Each quarter, Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer we will offer new learning opportunities for you to select from, both long and short term. Are you growing as a disciple of Christ? Also we make good use of our Cyber Communications, Grapevine and Fruit of the Spirit, and the daily devotional of The Upper Room, and the South Carolina Conference site, to enhance our growing opportunities. The Spiritual Retreat provides another avenue for contemplation and growth. This summer we hope to hold our family retreat at Asbury Hills. Their website is here.
The mark of a maturing Christian is that he/she is intentional about finding ways to grow in faith and Christlikeness. You will discover many different opportunities to learn and grow through the variety of classes, workshops, and retreats that are offered at Saint Mark. In the panels below, you will find the small group study offerings for Winter and Spring 2010 that will assist you as you grow in faith and as Jesus' disciple. Later in the Summer we will again offer our longer Bible and Spiritual Formation classes. Learn more here. You WILL need to register to attend these studies.
For more information, please contact Marla Fuller at the church office (864) 882-2603.
"Practicing the Presence of God"
One of Jesus' sayings that we remember from childhood is the invitation he extended to Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, at their first encounter. While Simon and Andrew were on the job casting their nets into the lake, Jesus came up to them and said, "Come, follow me." Their response is astonishing. "At once" they dropped their nets and followed Jesus. They didn't ask questions or make excuses. Something about Jesus' invitation was so profoundly powerful that they didn't seem to hesitate.
God, through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is always at work in our lives, inviting us every day to follow Him into a life of devotion and discipleship. This is a not a once-in-a-lifetime decision that we make. It is a choice we make every day and every moment of our lives. The theme for the Spiritual Formation Ministry Team will be "Practicing the Presence of God". We will offer a wide variety of opportunities throughout the year for you to say "yes" to God's invitation to follow the way of Christ.