Adult Education
The Adult Education team led by Fred Carlson conducts class in the pews at St. Alban’s between the two Sunday services from 9:45 AM until 10:45 AM from September through May.
All are welcome to attend!
The Saint Alban’s Schedule for
September – December 2023
September 10, 17, 24 – Contemporary Challenges for Christians
A three-week primer to take what the scriptures tell us and apply it to a variety of complex issues raised by members of the congregation: Topics selected include When Friendships Cool, Social Media and the Deadly News Cycle, and Dealing with the Cults-Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons. Led by Jason Ingrassia of Saint Alban’s Adult Education team.
October 1, 8 – Colossians: Fighting the Heresies
Adult Ed team member Dottie Fleming leads two weeks on Paul’s Letter to the Colossians: an early church in the Greek world buffeted by pagan heresies.
October 15 – Song of Solomon: The True Love
Lawrence Silverstein leads one class on this often misunderstood book in the Old Testament.
October 22, 29 – Our Favorite Hymns: Theology of the Hymns and Their Origins
Deb presented terrific sessions on the hymns of Advent and Lent last year. This year we invite the congregation to share their favorite hymns, traditional and contemporary, with Deb and let her focus on the theology presented in these hymns as well as their distinctive histories. Presented by Saint Alban’s Music Director Deborah Silverstein.
November 5, 12, 19 – Women in the New Testament
These DVD lessons by Dr. Ken Bailey are accessible and lead to a compelling discussion on this topic. Dr. Bailey examines sets of New Testament scriptures that uphold women in congregational leadership and others that seem contradictory to that viewpoint. The two sets of scriptures do exist! Led by Craig Huntington of the Adult Ed team.
December 3, 10, 17 – Deepening Your Bible Reading
12/3 and 12/17 will feature “Using the Prayer Book Lectionary as a Guide to Daily Bible Reading” led by Adult Ed Coordinator Fred Carlson. 12/10 will feature Tim Lyon leading the class through a Gospel using such common tools as a concordance and familiar commentaries.
Saint Alban’s Additional Bible Studies 2023 – 2024
Saint Alban’s Women’s Ministry (SAW)
St. Alban’s Women (SAW) is a multi-generational group of Christian women who meet for Fellowship and Bible Study on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Our group includes young women, active mothers, empty nest mothers, and wise grandmothers. All of us love the Lord. We hold our Bible Study Meetings in person and virtually.
SAW Bible Study: SAW will begin meeting on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month in September, October, and November (1st Tuesday). See the calendar for more information. Call or text Kathy Pierce with any questions 724-516-9078.
Saint Alban’s Men’s Group (SAMs)
St. Alban’s Men’s Group (SAMs) meets every Friday morning from 7:30 am to 9 am for Bible study, breakfast, prayer, and fellowship at Dick’s Diner, Rt 22 Murrysville. If you wish to join us via cell phone connection for the discussion time let us know! We use Bible studies with an Anglican perspective by noted authors N.T. Wright, John Stott, Tim Keller, J.I. Packer, and others. Questions? Fred Carlson (412) 389-3289 or fred@carlsonstudio.com.
Prior Classes – WINTER/SPRING 2023
Joshua
Joshua picks up the story of the people of God upon the death of Moses and the entry of the Israelites into the land promised by the Lord to Abraham 600 years earlier. Besides key scripture sections, we will be treated to the exegesis of one of our experienced CBS leaders who recently covered this material. Class these three weeks led by Dottie Fleming.
The Kingdom of Heaven
The Kingdom of Heaven is one of the most glorious proclamations by Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament. As we examine these scriptures we become more and more courageous about living out our lives in this reality. Led by Fred Carlson
The Music and Hymns of Lent
Music Director Deb Silverstein with an overview of the history and theology of the hymns of the Lenten penitential season in the church years. Her Advent presentation was stunning and we know this series will be as powerful!
Women in the New Testament
These DVD lessons by Dr. Ken Bailey are accessible and lead to compelling discussions on this topic. Dr. Baley examines sets of New Testament scriptures that uphold women in congressional leadership and others that seem contradictory to that viewpoint. The two sets of scriptures do exist! Led by Craig Huntington and the Adult Ed team.
Lenten Program 2023
Lenten Soup Dinner and Study and Discussion of the movie “The Reluctant Convert” (the conversion of C.S. Lewis) for the 5 Thursdays in March. The program will include simple soup and bread meals and viewing/discussion segments.
The Last Sayings of Jesus
Fred Carlson leads this popular 360-degree look at the four Gospel accounts of the Crucifixion and points out the increasing layers of Truth shown in the texts: they are not contradictory, but beautifully unveil in sequence their greater detail and meaning.
The Examples of the Apostles
Adult Ed team member Lawrence Silverstein leads these two sessions on the scriptural record of the individual apostles, and their examples for us as bearers of the Gospel in our communities. Recognition Sunday (May 21) expresses our thankfulness for our team leaders and also our class attendees’ faithfulness in the Word.
Unique to the Gospel of Mark
Adult Ed team member Tim Lyon focuses us on aspects of Mark’s Gospel that are unique to that account of the Lord Jesus’ ministry on earth.
Rector’s Choice
Rev. Dr. David H. Grissom leads these two weeks on a select theme: TBA.
September – December 2022
Bible 101: For New Bible Readers & Experienced Bible Readers Alike
A three-week primer to de-mystify the experience of reading the Bible. For newbies and experienced readers who could all use a refresher on canonicity, translations, the authors, the books, and how to approach your personal Bible reading. There is an ‘Anglican Way’ of encountering the scriptures that will be covered. How was the lectionary cycle developed for daily reading and for Sunday lessons? What do “the Word of God” and “inspired by the Holy Spirit” mean? The course includes an easy-to-follow PowerPoint as well as handout examples and lessons. Led by Fred Carlson of Saint Alban’s Adult Education team-a past member of retired Archbishop Emeritus Robert W. Duncan’s Biblical Literacy Task Force.
The Short Epistles: 1 Peter and Jude
Adult Ed team member Tim Lyon leads two brief studies on 1 Peter and Jude to bookend the lessons on the Intertestamental Books presented by Rev. Grissom on the other Sundays in October.
The Intertestamental Books
These lessons will highlight the work that Rev. David H. Grissom did this past sabbatical period at Trinity School for Ministry. The sources and the widespread understanding in the Jewish world of these writings as lessons to teach the growing influential Greek culture between Malachi (ending the Hebrew scriptures) and Matthew (beginning the New Testament) make these “read for example of life and instruction of manners, but yet doth not apply them to establish any doctrine.” These writings, called the Apocrypha, have been selected for certain readings in our Sunday and daily lectionaries in the Anglican Church in North America due to their value in instruction. Led by Rev. Dr. David H. Grissom.
The Resurrection
A three-part DVD series produced by noted New Testament scholar Anglican N.T. Wright. Wright’s insights on the Resurrection accounts have had world-wide impact, especially in contrast with any other legendary accounts from other religious or mythological systems. Come be inspired that your ‘faith is not in vain.’ Presented by Craig Huntington of the adult ed team.
Advent Sundays
Special Advent Series: Presented in three parts.
The Ultimate Questions of Advent Part One (presented by Fred Carlson)
Happy New Year! Advent Hymnody and the Hymnal 1982 (presented by music director/choir director/organist Deborah Silverstein)
The Ultimate Questions of Advent Part Two (presented by Fred Carlson)
Bishop of Pittsburgh Alex Cameron’s Visitation/Reception
June 11, 2023
Confirmation classes are offered regularly prior to Bishop visits and Adult Reception is available. Contact us for more information
Adult Education starts September 10!
Please click the following link to see the current Booklet: SaintAlbansAdultEdBooklet2023-2024
Children's Christian Education
The Children’s Christian Education, under the direction of Diane Kaufmann and her team work with the children each Sunday morning at 9:30 AM in the church hall from September through May. Classes include studies for children from pre-school through college to build on a Christian foundation that each student can rely on to help them through their time away from home as young adults.
In addition to the Sunday classes, Diane and her team facilitate a yearly week of Vacation Bible School (VBS). Children from throughout the community come to learn in a fun and interactive environment. Stay tuned for this year’s dates!
Christian Education for Children at St. Alban’s
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Struggling to meet the needs of the children of St. Alban’s in an increasingly secular society, the goal of our Sunday School remains focused on helping all students, from pre-school through college, grow in faith and love of God’s Word. Classes meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM.
The Elementary class follows the Biblical-based curriculum What’s in the Bible? while exploring all 66 books of the Bible. Examining the Bible and dividing it into specific sections, the children study the Old Testament books of law, history, poetry, wisdom and the major and minor prophets, while considering the New Testament books of the Gospels, church history, the epistles, and prophesy. Sunday morning lessons consist of a children’s chapel service, video supplements, a morning snack, games, and crafts.
The Senior Class, under the tutelage of Kathy Pierce, Elaine Griesheimer, Jessica Sikora, Bob Birdseye, Fred Carlson, Anita Little, and Diane Kaufmann, explore a wide variety of curriculum materials, from internet resources produced by the Open Church, to current movies, to a complete DVD series based on the life of Jesus. We are so grateful to both our staff and parents who work hard to insure that our teens connect with God’s Word.
While education is the primary focus of the Sunday School, we also strive to provide opportunities for service and fellowship. Once a month the children of the Sunday School gather for a service project. This year the children enjoyed packing College Care Packages, making stationery sets for veterans at the Fisher House, sponsoring the Operation Christmas Child shoebox, organizing Project Hope, gathering warm outerwear and toiletries for the Blackburn Women’s Shelter, filling pretzel treat bags for residents at a local senior citizens facility, collecting donations for Heifer International, and stuffing Birthday Bags for Loaves and Fishes. The children’s offering each Sunday is used to support two children through Compassion International: Josiane from Brazil and Gurmesa from Ethiopia.
Whether gathering for fellowship during the annual inter-generational ice cream social, Share-Your-Heart Sunday, making pretzels during Lent, searching for eggs during the Love Sunday Easter Egg Hunt, competing in the Sunday School’s Who’s First quiz shows, enjoying the Recognition Sunday picnic, playing with friends at VBS, or celebrating Christmas with a birthday party for baby Jesus, the children of St. Alban’s experience fun and fellowship as an important part of the Sunday school program.
The staff encourages visitors and welcomes all parents who wish to bring their children to Sunday School for Christian education, fun, and fellowship! Please call the church office for more information.
Diane Kaufmann
Sunday School Director
