Adult Formation
St. Brendan's holds two weekly bible studies (one "lite" study and one more in depth) as well as weekly study about being a "Modern Episcopalian". The second Tuesday of each month we host an online Zoom webinar on a social justice topic. We also periodically offer adult formation opportunities after the 10 am Sunday service and at other times throughout the year (such as special Lenten series). Read more about our weekly study groups and check out these recordings of some of the speakers we have featured below.
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Weekly Adult Formation
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Modern Episcopalians (Mondays 11:00AM-12:15PM via Zoom): This is an open, come-when-you-can group of inquirers (newcomers and seasoned Episcopalians) seeking to learn and understand the great joys and wonders of life in the Episcopal Church (from prayer and liturgy to church government and social ethos and beyond).The group discusses a practice, belief, concept or two about the Episcopal Church each meeting using The Episcopal Handbook as a guide. (Currently and temporarily, it is exploring The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, the historically defining doctrinal statements of the Church of England.)
Bible Study LITE (2 Groups: Mondays 1:00-2:15PM and Tuesdays 6:00-7:15PM via Zoom): These are come-when-you-can, facilitated-discussion, audio-visual gatherings for people not too familiar with the Bible who want to learn about the Scripture and discover its relevance for life in today's world. This year we are exploring the entire New Testament, from Matthew to Revelation.
Bible Study ADVANCED (Tuesdays from 11:00AM-12:15PM via Zoom): The group decides which book of the Bible (including Apocrypha) it will study. The discussions are robust, somewhat scholarly and detailed; participants are encouraged to refer to Commentaries and researched opinions to enhance the depth of the Scriptural study.
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View Past Formation Series and Webinars Below
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AFTER THE CIVIL WAR:
AMERICA’S FAILURE TO MAKE BLACK LIVES MATTER
Originally presented on August 13-14, 2020 by Michael Waseleski this two part series, “AFTER THE CIVIL WAR; AMERICA’S FAILURE TO MAKE BLACK LIVES MATTER”challenges what we know about slavery and expand our understanding of its legacy in the United States. St. Brendan’s has made a commitment to support the Black Lives Matter movement and to that end we have made this series available at no charge.
This six-week interactive series was facilitated by several Episcopal priests and laypersons who are well versed in the Episcopal way of life, especially the practical aspects of it, during Lent 2018. The series included a little lecture, lots of discussions, some PowerPoint, sharing stories, perhaps a film, a bit of singing, hand-outs, take-a-ways and a whole lot more. Click here to watch the videos of the lectures.
On Sunday, August 12, 2018, St. Brendan's welcomed Wasiullah Mohamed, executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, to give Brendan's an overview on Islam and insights into the experience of being a Muslim in modern-day America as well as answer questions. Click here to watch a recording of the discussion.
This June, in response to the death of George Floyd and many other Black women and men, Saint Brendan’s posted a banner outside our church that stated, “St. Brendan’s Believes Black Lives Matter.” In a series of Zoom webinars, we seek to articulate for our members and for the general public the beliefs of the Episcopal Church and St. Brendan's on issues such as systemic racism and racial inequity.