Church of the
GOOD SHEPHERD/
IMMANUEL ST. JAMES CHAPEL

Christian formation follows two very important tracks: education and spiritual evolution. More often than not, Christian formation is heavy on the education side and lighter on the spiritual evolution end of development. At Good Shepherd, we attempt to balance these two important pillars of our Christian being.

 

Most Christians are familiar with Sunday School. Sunday School is vital to Christian formation. As a matter of fact, it is ill advised to attempt the Christian spiritual way without first being grounded in Christian traditions and scripture. Therefore the educational pillar of Christian formation is the one that passes along the stories, myths, legends, and sayings that ground our faith in the human experience and how humans experienced God. To attempt walking the spiritual path without this pillar is like trying to hike with only the use of one leg.

 

Spiritual evolution is fed by our grounding in the scripture and traditions of our faith. It is an exploration of the mystical dimension contained in the stories, myths, legends, and sacraments of our shared experience. Simply put, as one spiritually evolves one moves from believing to becoming, or to use St. Paul’s words, “…put on…Christ.” (Romans 14) While education focuses on the external Christ as revealed through Jesus, spiritual evolution seeks to awaken the internal Christ. (cf. Galatians 3:27-29)

 

Sadly, at this time, Sunday School is not active at Good Shepherd. However, we are eager to share our traditions and scripture and look forward to the time when this program will be re-energized.

 

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