Welcome from Adult Formation Ministries

Welcome to St. Paul’s: a community where we worship, serve, and grow together. Below you will find information about our Adult Formation ministries. We use the word “formation” to name the fact that what we do when we engage our Christian faith isn’t simply an intellectual exercise, but a daily practice—one that takes place over a lifetime. We are formed into whom we are called to be as we study, pray, and live out our faith together. 

The Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista
Associate Rector
javier@stpaulscary.org 
919-467-1477, ext. 12

 


Important Links

 


2023 Fall Forums: The Path to Beloved Community 

Sundays, 10:15-11:00 a.m. in the St. Paul’s Chapel

Knowing our past, understanding our present and working together toward the future are all crucial steps to building a community where all are equally valued. What has the church’s role been in this and what can it be? Join the Adult Formation Committee and Racial Justice Planning Group in September and October as we host a series of prophetic voices who will help set us on the path to Beloved Community.

September 17 
A screening of the short film “Segregated by Design,” and a discussion on local affordable housing

September 24
A discussion with Edna Ballentine, a member of St. Ambrose and participant in the Greensboro sit-ins

October 1
A presentation by Angela Thorpe, the new executive director at the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

October 8
A presentation by the Rev. Lindsey Ardrey, the new diocesan canon missioner for reparations and restitution ministry

October 15 (No Forum)
Ministry Fair

October 22
A presentation by the Rev. Brooks Graebner, the diocesan historiographer

October 29
A presentation by the Fair Housing Project

 

Past Sunday Forum Series

2023 Easter Forums: The Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles contains an account of the early church community: their first attempts at life together. It’s a story marked by bold witness as well as internal struggle. How does their experience reflect ours? What might their witness have to teach us about what it means to be the church today?

April 23 | Pentecost (Acts 1-4)
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

April 30 | Called to Serve (Acts 5-7)
with the Rev. George Adamik

May 7 | Conversion (Acts 8-10)
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

May 14 | Communal Discernment in Practice (Acts 11-15)
with the Rev. George Adamik

May 21 | ONE Wake Listening Session
with Mary Kintz and Christina Myers, ONE Wake Core Team co-chairs

May 28 | Feast of Pentecost (No Forum)

2023 Lenten Forum Series: Faith and Leadership

February 26 | Leadership at St. Paul’s
with the Rev. George Adamik

March 5 | Faithful Leadership in the Church and the World (Forum and Guest Preacher)
with the Rev. Nathan Kirkpatrick, priest and consultant, Saison Consulting 

March 12 | Leadership in Scripture
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

March 19 | Leadership in the Liturgy
with the Rev. J. Carr Holland

March 26 | Leadership in Interfaith Dialogue
with Rabbi Raachel Jurovics, PhD, Rabbi-in-Residence, Episcopal Diocese of NC

2023 Winter Forum Series: The Gospel of Matthew

January 8 | The Gospel of Matthew: An Overview
with the Rev. George Adamik

January 15 | MLK Weekend: Nurturing Beloved Community
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

January 22 | Matthew: Introduction and the Holy Family
with the Rev. George Adamik

January 29 | Matthew: The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

February 5 | Matthew: The Beatitudes
with the Rev. George Adamik

February 12 | Matthew: Healings, Signs, and Sayings
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

February 19 | Matthew: Jesus’ Trial, Death, and Resurrection
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

Advent Forum Series: Joyful is the Dark (2022)

December 4 | Light & Darkness in Scripture
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

December 11 | St. John of the Cross and the Dark Night of the Soul 
with the Rev. George Adamik

December 18 | Joy and Sorrow in Advent
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

Fall Forums: The Symbols of the Faith (2022)

September 18 | WATER 
“And darkness covered the face of the deep…” (Gen 1:2)
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

September 25 – Ministry Fair (No Forum)

October 2 | BREAD 
“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn 6:35)
with the Rev. George Adamik

October 9 | WINE
“But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.” (Jn 5:38)
with the Rev. George Adamik

October 16 | OIL 
“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Ps 23:5)
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

October 23 | FIRE 
“Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them…” (Acts 2:3)
with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

October 30 | Confirmation Sunday and Bishop’s Forum
with the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves

November 6 | Annual Meeting 
No Forum

November 13 | Rector’s Forum: Leadership at St. Paul’s 
with the Rev. George Adamik

November 20 | Resilience: Childhood Trauma, Prevention, and Hope 
with the St. Paul’s Resilience Ministry


Selected recordings from past forums:

Easter 2022
Gun Violence in North Carolina with Sara Smith, Organizing Director, North Carolinians Against Gun Violence

Lent 2022
Scripture and Midrash: “What is his name, what shall I say to them?” (Ex 3:13) with Rabbi Raachel Jurovics, PhD, Rabbi-in-Residence, Episcopal Diocese of NC
Scripture and Illustration: the Psalms with the Rev. Canon Earnest Graham
Scripture and Poetry with the Rev. Javier Almendarez-Bautista

Winter 2022
The Daily Office with the Rev. George Adamik
Praying the Psalms with the Rev. Alice Graham Grant
The Lord’s Prayer with the Rev. Javier Almendarez-Bautista

Seek and You Will Find:
A Conversation with Rhonda Mawhood Lee with the Rev. Javier Almendarez-Bautista & the Rev. Rhonda Mawhood Lee, Ph.D.

Advent 2021
The Song of Zechariah with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista
The Song of Mary with the Rev. Javier Almendárez-Bautista

Fall 2021
Episcopal 102: What does it mean to belong to the Episcopal Church? with the Rev. George Adamik

Spring 2021
Family Promise: Helping Families Find Safe, Affordable, Permanent Housing with Carey Phelps, Development & Volunteer Manager, Family Promise

Lent 2021
The Liturgical Year in the Jewish Tradition with Rabbi Ariel Edery, Beth Shalom, Wake County

Fall 2020
Anxiety in the Midst of the Pandemic with Phillip M. Bass, MDiv, ThM, MA, LCMHC, NCC
Resilience – Childhood Trauma/Prevention/Hope with St. Paul’s Resilience Ministry
Faithful Citizenship: Where Do We Go From Here with the Rev. Javier Almendarez-Bautista & Aleta McClenney

These and other recordings are available on St. Paul’s YouTube channel.


Adult Formation Ministries

Morning Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer contains the Daily Office, a set of prayer services with monastic roots that help the average person enter into the practice of prayer in daily life. St. Paul’s offers Morning Prayer over Facebook Live every Monday through Friday at 8:00 a.m. The service is short (usually about 20 minutes) and it is led by clergy and lay people alike. Anyone is welcome to join in this rhythm of prayer, and the services remain available for viewing if you cannot join at 8:00 a.m.
Contact: The Rev. George Adamik, George.Adamik@stpaulscary.org
Cursillo
Cursillo Cursillo is a three-day weekend of Christian refreshment and renewal, sometimes called a short course in Christian living or “Christian Boot Camp.” Bishop Curry said, “Through the Cursillo experience and community countless men and women have come to know our Lord more deeply and profoundly. Through the ministry of the Cursillo community lives have been transformed and disciples of Jesus both formed and renewed. This is a sacred and holy ministry for which I truly give God thanks and praise.” The North Carolina Cursillo website is www.nccursillo.org.
Contact: The Rev. Candy Snively, Candy.Snively@att.net
 
Daytime Book Group
Daytime Book Group The Daytime Book Group is open to those who are interested in reading and discussing literature. We alternate reading fiction and non-fiction each month. Many, but not all, of our selections have spiritual/religious themes. The group meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 12:00 noon to 1:30.
Contact:  Joyce Loughlin, loughlin1@mindspring.com

Daytime Book Group’s News:

Daytime Book Group

The Women’s Study Group has changed it’s name to Daytime Book Group, to be more inclusive. They meet the second Tuesday of each month at noon via Zoom.

Women’s Study Group (July 13)

The Women’s Study Group will meet again via zoom at noon on Tuesday, July 13, to discuss this marvelous book, Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times, by our own Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

Women’s Study Group (first part of 2021)

The Women’s Study Group will continue meeting on each second Tuesday at Noon via Zoom during the first part 2021. They usually alternate between fiction and non-fiction and read a wide variety of books of interest to women.

Adult Formation News

Movie Night!

Hey, Movie Lovers!

You are invited to join us each month for Movie Night, a discussion of recent and not-so-recent movies, hosted by Fr. Javier, Tad Richard, and Neil McClenney.

This month, we’ll be discussing the film, Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street…

Online Evening Prayer and Conversation – Wednesdays

The Adult Formation Committee and the Racial Justice Planning Group are teaming up to offer conversations and evening prayer on Wednesday evenings from 7 – 8 p.m. starting October 4, 2023, on Zoom. Please sign up in advance so that we can send the Zoom link and share any brief readings ahead of time. Email Aleta […]

Fall 2023 Formation Series: The Path to Beloved Community

Knowing our past, understanding our present and working together toward the future are all crucial steps to building a community where all are equally valued. What has the church’s role been in this and what can it be? Join the Adult Formation Committee and Racial Justice Planning Group in September and October as we host a series of prophetic voices who will help set us on the Path to Beloved Community.

Racial Justice Summer Book Groups – Next Session August 27, 2023

The Racial Justice Planning Group at St. Paul’s is offering three different selections for our summer reading series including biography, fiction and history. Feel free to join us for one, some or all, and to bring a friend! We will have one 90-minute, in-person discussion group for each book on Sunday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the church.

Adult Formation – Summer Reading for August, 2023

As the final summer offering of 2023, Adult Formation will be offering a six week reading/discussion opportunity based on “Wholehearted Faith,” the exceptional final work of Rachel Held Evans.  The first meeting will be Wednesday evening, August 2, from 7 – 8 p.m. on Zoom. Register for the group by emailing Gerri Batchelor at gerrikairos@gmail.com. […]