Adult Education Classes

Our adult Christian Education program offers a variety of classes designed to help you know God, understand the role of the church in the world, train as a disciple and feel yourself grow through fellowship and spiritual enrichment! (Please also check out our Small Groups for further Christian formation opportunities.)

Leonard Risch Winogora

Troubling Issues Series

In February we began a new UMC Troubling Issues Series. On February 19, Dr. Francesca Nuzzolese spoke and lead a discussion on her current research interest: "Children at Risk: trafficking and enslavement of children today." Dr. Don Brash, PUMC's resident theologian/adult education chairperson, moderated the discussion.

On March 18th the series continued with “Holocausts in Our Time."  This was a lecture conversation with Leonard Risch Winogora and Don Brash.  “The 20th century was supposed to be a period of progress, yet war, famine and genocide became more pronounced in this 100-year segment of history than human civilization has fully recognized,” says Winogora.  With undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago, he is a professor at Mercer County Community College and Burlington County College. He co-authored “Workload and Productivity Bargaining in Higher Education” and has written on such subjects as genocide in Africa in post-colonial societies, the application of the ethical reasoning of medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides in contemporary society, and the marketing of business ethics to the corporate class. He lives in Princeton with his wife, Robbie, and two daughters.

On May 6th, the Troubling Issues Series will continue with "Through Our Eyes," a short film documenting young gay Christian teenager's experiences growing up in the church. For additional information please visit the News Section and the New Room/Press Release page of this website.

The free lecture-discussions in the Troubling Issues series are also scheduled for September through May of the next academic year. 

Disciple Bible Study Offered, Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m.

In September we began Disciple IV: Under the Tree of Life. The class meets from 1-3 on Wednesday afternoons. Anna Gillette is leading the class.

Disciple:Under the Tree of Life is a thirty-two week study which 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. 

Sunday Morning Adult Education Classes

Newcomers are always welcome to join Sunday morning classes as their schedule permits. Classes are held at the church at 9:30 a.m. and precede the 11 a.m. worship service so that attenders can benefit from both experiences. For adults with children, nursery care and children's Sunday School is also available at 9:30 a.m., so that families can worship together at 11 a.m. Currently the following Sunday morning classes are offered:

The Heart of Our Faith 

Sundays at 9:15 a.m. for coffee and 9:30 a.m. class, Social Hall, Lower Level

The Heart of Our Faith Sunday school class has begun a series based on Jesus' famous and familiar Beatitudes, which are at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Our leader, the Reverend Donald Brash, promises new insights into each of the "Blessed are" statements by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.The class meets in the Social Hall, downstairs near the kitchen, for coffee at 9:15... class starts at 9:30. All are guaranteed a very warm welcome!

Contemporary Issues 

Sundays at 9:30 a.m., Church Library, Upper Level:
The Contemporary Issues  9:30 adult education class will be starting a new topic on Sunday May 12th  using "The Righteous Mind:  Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion" by Jonathan Haidt.  We will try to increase our understanding of how and why religion and politics can separate us from our fellow citizens. Please join us and pass the word to anyone you think might be interested. For more information and to place an order for the book that will be used for the series (about $18) contact Charles P. Please join us at 9:30 every Sunday in the Library.