Adult Study Groups
Find community and grow in your spiritual walk through our adult discipleship groups.
See options below for in-person and hybrid (Zoom + in-person) meetings.
How to Find and Pay for Books
Study books are on 1) shelves in the main church entrance (Door #2) and 2) the GROW Connection Tables in the Gathering Area. Entrance shelves are available Mon-Th (9a-4p), Fri (9a-1p), Sun mornings.
To pay for books, mark your envelope as “Study Books” and place in the offering plate, office, black box on the shelves, or basket on the connections table. Make checks to St. Mark’s UMC with “study books” in the memo line. You can also pay online. On the online giving page, click the box under “How would you like to allocate your donation” and select Study Books from the dropdown menu.
Themed and Short-Term Studies
Short-term studies explore specific themes (e.g., discipleship topics, spiritual growth, social justice, Advent & Lenten seasons).
Living Room Guided Discussion – April 27, 10 AM
Sacred Pathways: Connecting with your Spiritual Life during Busy Seasons
April 27 | 10 AM | Speaker: Jennifer Cloud-Buckner | Cornerstone Commons
Do you feel like the stress you experience from a busy schedule keeps you from feeling more connected with your family, with the needs of others, and with your spiritual life? We will explore several topics related to this question with occasional guided discussions in 2025, the next being on April 27: “Sacred Pathways: Connecting with Your Spiritual Life during Busy Seasons.” Jennifer Cloud-Buckner will summarize the takeaways from Gary Thomas’s book Sacred Pathways: Nine Ways to Connect with God and will bring a quick self-assessment you can fill in to find your own spiritual temperament(s).
As always, Cornerstone Commons is open for The Living Room at 10 AM every Sunday for drop-in, informal gatherings and individual down time; his discussion will take place in a portion of the room, leaving plenty of space available to chat or read as desired. Each week you can find coffee, conversation, a resource cart of books and articles, and space to relax in The Living Room, temporarily meeting in Cornerstone Commons while we work to prepare a more permanent space.
We are continuing to offer guided discussions centered on topics requested by you! Email Jennifer C-B with your suggestions. Save the date for other upcoming events, open to everyone:
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- June 29 – reflections on Red Bird Mission with Jack Benson, plus resources on domestic mission trips
- July 20 & 27 – TED talk videos on parenting topics available (likely in Room J/K)
- August 10 – Mission Guatemala and resources on international missions with Amy Adams. What could it look like for your family summer vacation to be about making a difference in Guatemala or some other part of the world?
- September, date TBD: Speaker from local counseling office about dealing with stress in the family, in the midst of busy schedules.
Walking as a Spiritual Practice
Locations and dates vary for May-August – see below.
Gather for a short guided reflection and mindful walk at your own pace. Sign up to be added to the email list for any weather updates, location changes, or cancellations. Questions? Contact Jennifer Cloud-Buckner (grow@stmarkscarmel.org). Thanks to Kim, Karen, and Brian for leading in May/June; Jennifer C-B will return for July/Aug walks.
May-June at River Heritage Park, 11813 River Rd, Carmel
(not at Prather / River Road Park to avoid 126th & River Rd roundabout construction)
Tuesday May 20, 7:00pm – leader: Kim Moe
Tuesday June 3, 7:00pm – leader: Karen Wehman
Thursday, June 12, 9:00am – leader: Brian White
July at Central Park East Woods (Picnic Grove Parking Lot)
Thursday, July 24, 9:00am
Tuesday, July 29, 7:00pm
For July walks, meet Jennifer C-B at the Picnic Grove Parking lot at the Central Park East Woods in Carmel. (Google Maps link for exact location). If that location doesn’t work in your GPS / maps app, you can use 1235 Central Park Dr E Carmel, IN 46032 in your GPS, entering the park from Westfield Blvd, but take the first roundabout for the “Picnic Grove Parking.”
August Location TBD
Thursday, August 14, 9:00am
The August walk location is TBD, pending construction projects at nearby parks, so sign up for walk updates and guidance on walking the St. Mark’s courtyard labyrinth.
Weekday Study Groups
Our ongoing weekday morning studies gather on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during the school year.
Wednesday AM Study: Messy People
Wednesdays, April 16-May 21 | 9:30-11 AM
Every life gets messy at times. Sometimes our messes are literal, like a house that’s easier to condemn than to clean. But sometimes messes are intangible: illness, conflict, abuse, divorce, job loss, depression, bankruptcy. This 6-week study of life lessons from imperfect Biblical heroes looks at Rahab, the Prodigal Son, Josiah, Mary, David, and Daniel—all who were messy people like us but who God used in powerful ways. This study will help us learn to thrive, not just endure, in a messy life with God’s guidance and help… and to let God turn our messes into a masterpiece.
* Study will likely meet in Room J/K unless needing to be in Cornerstone Commons to accommodate the group size.
Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright
Early AM Men’s Study, 6:30-7:30 AM
Led by Pastor Brian White | Room B/C + Online | Books $9
Many Christians believe our future in heaven is all that really matters, but that’s not what the Bible teaches. Through six faith-inspiring sessions in the Surprised by Hope Participant Guide, premier Bible scholar N. T. Wright brings readers inside the Scriptures to grasp the full, breathtaking hope Jesus offers the world, and hope’s impact on our lives today. Jesus called his followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Our lives here and now are of tremendous consequence, and what we believe about the future has a direct impact on how we live in the present.
Thursday AM Study: Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst
Thursdays, March 27-April 3, April 17-May 8, no meeting Apr 10 | 10-11AM
Do you ever feel like your emotions are working against you—that you’re stuffing your feelings, exploding, or reacting somewhere in between? Unglued explores the emotional reactions that often lead to relationship breakdowns and personal turmoil. Lysa TerKeurst encourages readers to recognize and manage our “reaction triggers” by focusing on God’s grace and truth. Join this study for practical strategies to respond with self-control and wisdom, rather than reacting impulsively; to cultivate healthier relationships; and to find peace amidst emotional chaos. No meeting 4/10 for spring break.
Friday AM Study: How (NOT) to Read the Bible
Led by Jennifer Cloud-Buckner and Annessa Miller | Room B/C + Zoom | Books $13
Sunday Morning Small Groups & Classes
Cutting Edge
Reel Spirituality
Foundations and Friendships
The Living Room
New! After feedback from the Parent Connection Brunch and others who want different options during 10 AM on Sundays, we have begun testing a new concept called “The Living Room.” This informal, drop-in gathering is currently happening in Cornerstone Commons while we work to get a permanent place prepared.
If you don’t already have a Sunday class, you are welcome to head to Cornerstone Commons on Sundays at 10 AM. We hope this can be a space for informal connection and chatting around the tables, or where you can just BE, rest, refresh, read, listen to a podcast or have space to sit before or after your preferred worship service.
Our Family Ministry team has also staged a cart with parenting books and articles for use during The Living Room time, in case any parents would like to have some self-led discussions with each other while their kids and youth are occupied in their own peer activities. Cafe’ Conversations cards (conversation starters that have been on the cafe tables since August) will be moving down to Cornerstone Commons throughout February to become part of The Living Room.
As we grow into our 10 AM Education & Small Groups hour, we hope that it can become a time for everyone that feeds your soul with a sense of community and connection, spiritual insights, social interaction, or quiet reflection time. If you have feedback or questions about The Living Room or other 10 AM options, please contact Jennifer at grow@stmarkscarmel.org.
For more information on adult studies, please contact Jennifer Cloud-Buckner (grow@stmarkscarmel.org), St. Mark’s Adult Discipleship Coordinator.