Calvary United Methodist Church, Normal,IL

Current/Ongoing Studies

>Tuesday Studies
Beth Moore Bible Study: The Patriarchs The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob by Beth Moore is full of twists and turns, ruin and redemption, revelation and mystery. This study of Genesis 12–50 keeps participants captivated by the God who stars in it! Throughout 10 weeks of exciting, engaging intrigue, participants will plunge into the heart of Genesis, to God’s remarkable pursuit of relationship and to the unfolding of His earthly plan: that through one nation—and ultimately, one man—all people on earth will be blessed. Many of the most profound and enduring concepts in the whole counsel of God’s Word are initiated in this marvelous book of beginnings. Meeting Dates: Tuesdays Meeting Times: 6:30 pm Meeting Location: Rooms L2/L4 Contact Person: Carolyn Brown Contact E-mail: BrownCL47(at)aol.com Contact Phone: 309-452-9303

Beth Moore Bible Study: Esther (Coming in January) Beth Moore’s newest Bible study is Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman. Esther may have been a queen, but her life was no fairy tale. An outsider, a foreigner, and an orphan, she found herself facing an evil plan to destroy her people. And you thought your life was hard! The Old Testament story of Esther is a profile in courage and contains many modern parallels for today's overloaded and stressed woman. You can share Esther’s destiny—even if your glass slipper no longer seems to fit.


Disciple I: Becoming Disciples Through Study Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study is the foundation of the Disciple Bible study program. Disciple affirms that the canon was formed as it is in order for God to speak to us. Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study gives equal time to both the Old and New Testament, emphasizing the wholeness of the Bible as the revelation of God. Disciple aims at transformation, not just information, and calls on persons to submit themselves to examination by Scripture. Disciple invites persons to bring their experiences and struggles to the Scripture. During the course of thirty-four weeks, groups will move through the biblical stories of Creation to the New Jerusalem. Meeting Dates: Tuesdays (Runs September 2008 - May 2009) Meeting Times: 6:30 pm Meeting Location: Conference Room Contact Person: Kaye Schroeder Contact E-mail: kaye.schroeder(at)frontiernet.net Contact Phone: 309-728-2979

Disciple IV: Under the Tree of Life Under the Tree of Life is a thirty-two-week study prepared for graduates of Becoming Disciples Through Study. The word “Under” in the title is meant to convey invitation, welcome, sheltering, security, and rest--home at last. Under the Tree of Life concentrates on the writings in the Old Testament – Ruth, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, and Daniel. New Testament Scriptures include the Gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John; James; Jude; and Revelation. Emphasis on the Psalms as Israel’s hymnbook and prayer book leads naturally to an emphasis on worship in the study. Present though the entire study is the sense of living toward completion, toward the climax of the message and the promise, extravagantly pictured in the Revelation. Meeting Dates: Tuesdays (Runs September 2008 - May 2009) Meeting Times: 6:30 pm Meeting Location: L3 Contact Person: Ralph Smith Contact E-mail: resmith(at)qmail.com Contact Phone: 309-829-2004

>Wednesday Studies
Women's Bible Study ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Question: Which letter is missing? Answer: The letter most feared by students and disliked by their parents. It's also the most needed letter for Wed. morning's women's Bible study where we will be celebrating: Firsts Flavor Faith Friendships Fruits of the Spirit Freedom and Forgiveness It will be a time of fellowship and fun in learning God's Word. All women are invited to take part in the weekly Women's Bible Study. Meeting Dates: Wednesdays Meeting Times: 9:30 am Meeting Location: Room 111 Contact Person: Dawn Williams Contact E-mail: cog_125(at)verizon.net Contact Phone: 309-268-0550

Better Together This small group studies a variety of topics. Through weekly meetings they seek to grow deeper in their relationship with Christ through study, prayer, support, and discussion. Better Together meets every Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Conference Room. Meeting Dates: Wednesdays Meeting Times: 6:30 pm Meeting Location: Conference Room Contact Person: Ruth Kraft Contact E-mail: 44Kraft(at)frontiernet.net Contact Phone: 309-728-2871

Growing Christians Reading a vatiety of books and studies, Growing Christians is the perfect group for anyone wanting to dig a little deeper in their faith. Members of the group are in all stages of their Christian walk, new members are always welcome. Meeting Dates: Wednesdays Meeting Times: 6:30 pm Meeting Location: Room L3 Contact Person: Nancy Allen Contact E-mail: nallen(at)growmark.com Contact Phone: 309-663-5037

Riding the Rapids Designed for those experiencing the joys and challenges of raising teenagers, Riding the Rapids offers support, prayer and encouragement. This is a growing group at Calvary, but there is always room for more. Guests and newcomers are welcome. Riding the Rapids is currently reading Family Squeeze by Phil Callaway. You’re in the “Middle Ages”–sandwiched between the “greatest generation” and the “gimme” generations, busily juggling both with no relief in sight. Children are driving, and parents are not. Money is tight and so are your favorite jeans. And things that never ached before are beginning to give you trouble! For every baby boomer who wonders if it’s possible to navigate the Middle Ages with grace and style, Phil Callaway offers plenty of hope and a little hilarity, too. Because there’s nothing like a smile to make wrinkles less noticeable. (From the back cover) Meeting Dates: Wednesdays Meeting Times: 6:30 pm Meeting Location: Room 110 Contact Person: Dave Moravec Contact E-mail: ddmoravec5(at)msn.com Contact Phone: 309-454-7780

>Thursday Studies
The Way of Blessedness The Way of Blessedness is a 9-week study using The Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The journey invites participants to discover Jesus' vision of the kingdom of God on earth, and to develop a personal "rule of life" that helps us reside in that kingdom. Everyone is welcome to participate in this new study as we learn about the Beatitudes and what they still mean to use today. Meeting Dates: Thursdays Meeting Times: 12 pm Meeting Location: Jamani Java Coffeehouse (map) Contact Person: Rev. Lori Harvey Contact E-mail: lorih(at)cumcnormal.org Contact Phone: 309-452-5413

Beth Moore Bible Study: The Patriarchs The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob by Beth Moore is full of twists and turns, ruin and redemption, revelation and mystery. This study of Genesis 12–50 keeps participants captivated by the God who stars in it! Throughout 10 weeks of exciting, engaging intrigue, participants will plunge into the heart of Genesis, to God’s remarkable pursuit of relationship and to the unfolding of His earthly plan: that through one nation—and ultimately, one man—all people on earth will be blessed. Many of the most profound and enduring concepts in the whole counsel of God’s Word are initiated in this marvelous book of beginnings. Meeting Dates: Thursdays Meeting Times: 9 am Meeting Location: Room 111 Contact Person: Carolyn Brown Contact E-mail: BrownCL47(at)aol.com Contact Phone: 309-452-9303