Our Fall Cultivate classes are kicking off and we’ve got learning and connecting opportunities on so many subjects: God’s will, the Book of Colossians, The Screwtape Letters, Immanuel Prayer and more!
To get a better idea of what a Cultivate class can be like, we asked Chris to tell us about the class she facilitated on the Lord’s Prayer. As a bonus, two of her students shared their final class exercise with us—we hope you find it encouraging!
Chris took students through a five week course on how the “Our Father” prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) can be a basis for Jesus’ command to love our enemies. But before this, Chris was a regular Cultivate student herself. She says, “The Cultivate classes were very helpful to me over the years in seeing the bigger picture of the Bible and as a companion to help me grow in faith and love.”
Cultivate classes were also part of the reason Chris signed up for our School of Everyday Mission (SEM) program. “What the Cultivate classes did was when my appetite for learning more and understanding that what we learn is not just for theologians but all people of faith.”
Chris took naturally to moving from student to facilitator. “I like to share my curiosity and excitement with others, which is why I like to facilitate classes. I learned many things about the Lord’s Prayer as I prepared each week and was grateful to share that with the class. I also enjoyed meeting others from Woodland who are at various places in their faith journey and hopefully I helped them grow in their love for Jesus.”
As a way to bring together everything they had learned during their five week course, students wrote their own versions of the Lord’s Prayer. Here, two of them share their thoughtful paraphrases.
Timothy:
My Ema, Abba, and Friend
Show us more of the amazing love and energy that you are.
Let your love pierce through this world
Build a kingdom of your love on earth just as it is in heaven.
And help us be the brick layers of this kingdom.
Give us the tools and energy we need to build this city of your love.
Forgive us, and help us forgive ourselves and others, when we stumble
Give us the strength to not be distracted by the things not aligned with your love.
Yes, Yes, Yes!
Aleyah:
My provider,
May the beauty of who you are be the center of my life.
Bring your desires into this world as they are in heaven.
I know you are faithful to provide me with exactly what I need each day.
Forgive me for when I fall short of your glory, and help me to forgive those who hurt me.
Keep me safe from my own desires and the desires of this world that are not of you.
My life is your temple
You lead with dignity.
For you are holy,
From now until eternity
Amen
We have a great lineup of Fall classes, and many talented facilitators, like Chris. We hope you’ll consider joining one! More information here.
