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First Presbyterian Church of Asheville
     Claimed by the Triune God, we worship only God
          and are called by the Holy Spirit
               to share the boundary breaking love of Christ
                    in our life together, in the heart of Asheville,
                         and in the whole world.

Click here for more inforLentmation on Special Opportunities for Lent

 

ONGOING SUNDAY CLASSES

“Coffee Talk”  (Widman Room 1st Floor)             

“Coffee Talk” hour offers our younger members/visitors (college age-30’s) a time to gather for fellowship and intentional conversation.  All young folks are invited to this exciting  opportunity for exploring ways to grow spiritually and build community.   Facilitators:  Eula & Alex Pence.

 

 “Young Adults at Heart”  (Marguerite Morgan Room 2nd Floor)           

The 30's 40's & beyond is a class to help young and growing families support each other.  Topics for discussion this month include; balancing marriage and family, simplifying the holidays, less stressful celebrations. Come share your input and experiences.  Arrive late, leave early, make yourself at home!

 

 “Come As You Are”           (Room 202)

 Weekly studies are selected from “The Thoughtful Christian; Faithful Living in a Complex World” an online curriculum created by writers from a variety of denominational affiliations.  This month, we will be joining the “Peace with Justice in the Holy Land” class. 

 

 First Bible Class                 (Room 112)

 This class has met consistently for over 100 years.  Participants study the Bible using “The Present Word” quarterly and occasionally help out with an unfunded ministry or an unfunded need. 

 

SPECIAL SUNDAY CLASSES

 

March 7, 14, 21 & 28    

 

The Practice of Forgiveness (Room 214)                

“Forgiveness is the key to the entire Christian agenda.” (Lewis Smedes)  Lent is a season of forgiveness, a special time of accepting God’s forgiveness of us and forgiving one another.  Forgiveness is a difficult Christian discipline which has to be learned and practiced daily in the same way we learn and master a craft or a sport.  The church is quick to preach and teach the necessity of forgiveness of our wrongdoers but slow to instruct us what forgiveness really is and especially how to practice it.  The  purposes of this course are to guide us in understanding the true meanings of forgiveness and to teach us how to practice it in concrete ways.  We always have a choice to forgive or not to forgive those who have hurt us, but at least we will know the significance of the decision we make and why.

The class will be taught by Dr. Earl Thompson; Earl has taught forgiveness in education and church settings for over 15 years, is an ordained UCC pastor and was a marriage and family therapist for 20 years.

 

“Gifts of Healing”, Dare We Believe the Promise?  (Room 203)               

Dr Bill Ogden and Gene Keil will lead this class in the study of spiritual healing. We invite you to join us in the affirmations and the questions about this gift that is promised to the church in the Scriptures. Together the class will search the Scriptures, the history of healing, and our own experiences of faith. We expect the class to be challenging and lively.

Dr. Ogden is a practicing orthopedic surgeon with 30 years experience. He is currently on the staff of the Asheville VA hospital.  Gene Keil is a retired UCC pastor.

 

  

WEEKLY CLASSES

 Time Out for Everyone
Thursday Mornings 10:15-12:00pm 
(Widman Room)
The Time Out group is intentional about deepening relationships, being supportive of one another in all of life’s circumstances and sharing prayer requests.  No advanced preparation is expected.  Nursery care for young children is available at 10:00am. Contact Nancy McNeill for questions or more information.  

 

Lay Institute: Special Lenten Study
Monday evening class, 6:30-8:00pm   
February 22 – March 29     (Room 202)
"The Biblical Texts of Handel’s  Messiah”  During the Lenten season join us to study the portions of the Messiah which speak to us in Lent.  Study books ($20.00) are available for purchase.  Call the church to order a book and register for the class. No prior study is required.
The Lay Institute offers intentional study with an expectation of consistent attendance and outside class reading in preparation for each class.

Beginning February 24 - Wednesday Nights - 6:15-7:15

First Witnesses to Jesus’ Death and Resurrection   
This begins a special five week study of the four gospel accounts of Jesus’ last days led by Dr. David Kaylor, retired Professor of New Testament – Davidson College.  Paul, Mark, Matthew, Luke & John provide us with earliest testimony to events surrounding Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem.  They reveal the early church’s ways of understanding how the otherwise tragic execution of Jesus came to be seen as God’s way of bringing salvation and wholeness of life to a world in need of both.  

Following a presentation each week by Dr. Kaylor,  we will dismiss to small groups to further discuss and explore the gospel accounts. 

Optional study materials for supplemental reading are available— $13.00 To purchase a copy of “Hosanna a  Spiritual Journey Through Holy Week”—Call the church office or complete a registration form in the foyer.

 

MONTHLY CLASSES

Hungry Readers Book Discussion Group    (Widman Room) 

Hungry Readers Book Group meets Thursday March 18 at 6:30pm in the Widman Room. This month the group will be discussing the historic novel A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell.  Set in Italy during the final months of WWII, the book is about the true story of a network of Italian citizens who save the lives of forty three thousand Jews.  Anyone is invited to come be a part of the discussion contact Nancy McNeill for questions or more information.

 

Joshua: A Journey of Faith Mar 18, Apr. 15  Thursday 3:00- 4:00pm (Fellowship Hall) 

The Presbyterian Women are studying Joshua for 2009-2010 and invite anyone interested to join this challenging opportunity.        Led by Rev. Jerry Beavers

 

 

 

Sunday morning classes    

         coming in April....

 

Inquirer's Class information on the Presbyterian Church and particularly on First Church of Asheville.     

Visitors and New  Members are encouraged to participate.

 

A book discussion of John Calvin  - Reformer for the 21st Century by William Stacy Johnson led by Bill Hoyt.  Call the church if you would like to order a book, cost $12.00.

 

Continuation of Just Neighbors and Technology for all Generations led by the senior high youth.