This fall we have the opportunity to offer two workshops throughout September and October. Workshops offer in-depth learning and practice beyond our gatherings, with experienced teachers guiding us to explore areas that help us go deeper into our life with God and one another. Both workshops will be Thursday nights from 7-8:30p starting on September 18 and ending on October 16. For information on each workshops content and guides see below or to register, click the workshop title.
Recovery from Distorted Images of God, Self and Others with Dale and Juanita Ryan
The biblical story, including what we see lived out in the life and teachings of Jesus, is this: God is love, we are loved, we are capable of loving others and we are called to a life of love. Participating in this story is, however, not always easy for us. Instead of welcoming the love of God, we sometimes find ourselves afraid that God is angry, distant, displeased, uncaring, or impatient. Instead of celebrating that we are loved, we sometimes fear that we are not lovable, not enough, or not measuring up. Instead of rejoicing in our calling to love others, we sometimes see other people through the distorting lens of our fears and judgments.
Our fears are generated in part by our ideas about God, about ourselves, and about others. But more significantly, our fears tend to form powerful images that are often connected to past wounds and traumatic experiences. These images often lie buried deep in us, hidden from our awareness. They can, however, distort our experience of God, of ourselves, and of others. And these distortions can cause ongoing emotional, spiritual, and relational suffering.
What we hope to do together in this five-week workshop is to take a close look at these dynamics. We will do this by looking separately at our distorted images of God, of ourselves, and of others – while exploring the interplay between these distortions.
This workshop is guided by Dale and Juanita Ryan. Until his retirement, Dale Ryan was a member of the faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary where he taught pastoral care classes about addiction, abuse and trauma. Currently Dr. Ryan is the executive director of the National Association for Christian Recovery, which he founded in 1990. He has earned a PhD (UCDavis, Biochemistry) and an M.Div. (Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN). Juanita Ryan is a mental health clinical nurse specialist. She has had a private counseling practice for over 35 years. Because she writes and speaks about spirituality and trauma, many of the people she works with are seeking help in these areas. To learn more about her you can visit her website.
Raising Kids With a Faith of Their Own While Working Out Your Own Faith with Karen Grant
Many of us grew up in one faith tradition or another, and some of us with no church background at all. We have ideas of what we don’t want our kids to hear or experience as it relates to God, church, or the Bible. Yet, we want our kids to know God and develop a faith in God. We just need some help.
This workshop will include a variety of contemporary voices, a little bit of paint, and group conversations, to explore how to talk about God, and to God, with kids. We’ll explore ways to celebrate Christmas and Easter that are meaningful for the whole family. We’ll learn ways of reading the Bible that are appropriate for kids of all ages. We’ll also talk about SBCC’s approach to communion and baptism. You’ll go home with some simple tools and reminders -created with your own family in mind- that can encourage a child’s faith journey.
While parents and guardians of kids of all ages are welcome, this workshop will be most useful for families raising kids through fifth grade.
This workshop is guided by Karen Grant, our Director of Kids and Families. Karen has served in a variety of children’s ministry settings over the past 18 years and has a B.A. in Bible & Ministry from Bethel University. She is also a freelance artist and has called SBCC home since 2019.
