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).

Churchwide Advent Study

This Advent season, as our worship services explore “The Gift of Being Present,” we offer several opportunities to go more deeply into this theme by reading and discussing the book Right Here Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness by Amy Oden. See below for weekday study group signups and info on the Sunday Foundations & Friendships class. 

Followers Made: an intensive 6-month spiritual experience

Beginning 2024

Have you been feeling God calling you to make some kind of spiritual change in your life? Perhaps in your breakthrough prayer time, you’ve been feeling nudged to change your habits, to nurture the fruit of the spirit in your life, to find some spiritual accountability, to answer a new calling, or to build your character to love all others the way Jesus did. If so, Pastor Karla has been praying for you! If this message speaks to you, may it serve to plant a seed in your heart and mind in the coming months before the invitations begin for the 2024 Followers Made course—a digital discipleship experience.

Followers Made intensive 6-month spiritual experience

The Wired Word: Weekly emails for personal study 

Join the 70+ other St. Mark’s folks who receive this thought-provoking devotional.

St. Mark’s subscribes to The Wired Word, a weekly devotional for personal study and small group discussions. Topics are wide-ranging and directly relate scriptures to timely news stories. Recent topics have included remembrances of notable figures, generosity, corruption, forgiveness, neighborliness, prayer, and environmentalism. The email goes out on Thursdays or Fridays weekly. To be added to the list, email Jennifer Cloud-Buckner (grow@stmarkscarmel.org).

Weekday Study Groups

Our ongoing weekday morning studies gather on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during the school year. 

Advent Study: Right Here Right Now

Wednesdays, November 29-December 20 | 9:30-11 AM
Led by Lydia Fourman and Joan Dunn | Books $12
 

Along with our “The Gift of Being Present” worship series, this study offers a refreshing break to slow down and mindfully experience God’s presence during the holiday rush of errands, to-do’s, events, and appointments. Author Amy Oden describes the roots of Christian mindfulness in Jesus’s teachings and provides step-by-step instructions to continue this historical practice in our modern Christian life. Living in God’s presenceright here, right now—deepens our faith and transforms our lives toward mercy, justice, love, and abundant life.

Wednesday 9:30 AM Study Sign Up

Thursday AM Study: Advent Study: Right Here Right Now

Thursdays, November 30-December 21 | 10:00-11 AM
Led by Judy Woempner | Books $12
 

Along with our “The Gift of Being Present” worship series, this study offers a refreshing break to slow down and mindfully experience God’s presence during the holiday rush of errands, to-do’s, events, and appointments. Author Amy Oden describes the roots of Christian mindfulness in Jesus’s teachings and provides step-by-step instructions to continue this historical practice in our modern Christian life. Living in God’s presenceright here, right now—deepens our faith and transforms our lives toward mercy, justice, love, and abundant life.

Thursday 9:30 AM Study Sign Up

Friday AM Study

Advent Study: Right Here Right Now

Fridays, November 17, December 1-15 (no mtg 11/26) | 9:30-11 AM
Led by Robin Spyker and various class members  | Books $12
 

Along with our “The Gift of Being Present” worship series, this study offers a refreshing break to slow down and mindfully experience God’s presence during the holiday rush of errands, to-do’s, events, and appointments. Author Amy Oden describes the roots of Christian mindfulness in Jesus’s teachings and provides step-by-step instructions to continue this historical practice in our modern Christian life. Living in God’s presenceright here, right now—deepens our faith and transforms our lives toward mercy, justice, love, and abundant life.

Childcare is available if requested >72 hours ahead.

Friday 9:30 AM Study Sign Up

Sunday Morning Study Groups

Cutting Edge

9:30 AM, Hybrid (Room G/H and Zoom) This group reads and discusses the Bible following the Revised Common Lectionary, a 3-year cycle of reading through scripture. The Word comes alive through the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Contact facilitator Steve Click (sclick52@gmail.com) for Zoom connection information or join in Room G/H.

Foundations and Friendships

9:40 AM, (Room J/K)  F&F’s shares and discusses Christian themes through books, The Wired Word devotionals, and Bible studies. For Advent 2023, the class will read Right Here Right Now and welcomes all visitors who’d like to join in this churchwide Advent study. Advent study meetings will be Sundays, 11/19, 12/3-12/17 (no meeting 11/26).  Doug Brown (dthbrown@gmail.com), Kathy DeaKyne, and Todd Snow facilitate.  

Reel Spirituality

11:00 AM, Hybrid (Room G/H and Zoom) Everyone is welcome to “the movie class” for Christian themes and heartfelt topics through various films. The class is gathering in homes or individually watching movies and then using Zoom and Room G/H on Sundays to discuss. Lydia and Terry Fourman facilitate (email Jennifer – grow@stmarkscarmel.org for Zoom link). 

New Option

11:00 AM
Do you need a space to gather at 11:00 AM? Maybe you are waiting on your students in Confirmation class or Kidz Church, maybe you attended the Current service at 9:40 AM and want to stick around, or maybe you just want to get to know others better and haven’t found a Sunday class or Grow Group yet. Sign up below if you are interested in participating in a new potential informal 11:00 AM discussion space. 

For more information on adult studies, please contact Jennifer Cloud-Buckner (grow@stmarkscarmel.org), St. Mark’s Adult Discipleship Coordinator.