Growing in Spirit
We are a safe place to seek, grow, question, and demonstrate who we are in Christ.
Classes and small groups offer opportunities to gather with others and talk about our understanding of God, Jesus, the Bible, religion, life, compassion, serving, loving and a myriad of other important topics in our lives.
Because we are a compassionate, connected community that is respectful of differences, you will find a range of views and beliefs about what it means to live as disciples of Jesus and invite people to share their journey.
Classes and small groups offer opportunities to gather with others and talk about our understanding of God, Jesus, the Bible, religion, life, compassion, serving, loving and a myriad of other important topics in our lives.
Because we are a compassionate, connected community that is respectful of differences, you will find a range of views and beliefs about what it means to live as disciples of Jesus and invite people to share their journey.
Classes & Study Groups
At Maple Grove we gather for Sunday school classes and weekday studies, some are long term and other classes are short term. These study groups offer people a place to dive into a topic and explore who God is and how God speaking to them in their lives. Please see our Upcoming Events and Full Calendar for our current groups and classes.
Current Classes and Study Groups
Sunday
The Kitchen Class
Date(s): Sunday Mornings
Time: 9:00 AM
Place: Maple Grove Fellowship Hall and Zoom
A hybrid class that engages in topical Christian conversation and book studies. Class time always includes time to share individual cares and concerns.
Date(s): Sunday Mornings
Time: 9:00 AM
Place: Maple Grove Fellowship Hall and Zoom
A hybrid class that engages in topical Christian conversation and book studies. Class time always includes time to share individual cares and concerns.
Failing, Falling, & Flying: Genesis Stories of Original Grace
A Sunday 11:15 AM Class Begins on January 7
While many Christians turn to Genesis as proof that we are born in “original sin,” Rev. Eric Elnes Ph.D. asserts that each of the major stories of Genesis’ first 11 chapters (commonly known as the Primordial History) directly contradict this claim. Put away your flannel-graphs because this study of Genesis is anything but one-dimensional! By examining the Primordial History in depth, we find a striking pattern: humanity is marked by “original sin” AND by “original blessing,” but DEFINED by neither. We are defined by “original grace.” Understanding the stories this way fundamentally reshapes popular Christian faith and practice.
Join Eric Smoot in the Youth Room (off Fellowship Hall) after worship, starting January 7, for this enlightening Darkwood Brew video/discussion series.
A Sunday 11:15 AM Class Begins on January 7
While many Christians turn to Genesis as proof that we are born in “original sin,” Rev. Eric Elnes Ph.D. asserts that each of the major stories of Genesis’ first 11 chapters (commonly known as the Primordial History) directly contradict this claim. Put away your flannel-graphs because this study of Genesis is anything but one-dimensional! By examining the Primordial History in depth, we find a striking pattern: humanity is marked by “original sin” AND by “original blessing,” but DEFINED by neither. We are defined by “original grace.” Understanding the stories this way fundamentally reshapes popular Christian faith and practice.
Join Eric Smoot in the Youth Room (off Fellowship Hall) after worship, starting January 7, for this enlightening Darkwood Brew video/discussion series.
Parenting with Hope
Date(s): September 11, September 25, October 2, October 16, November 6, November 20, December 4, December 18, January 8
Time: 11:15 AM
Place: Maple Grove Room 8
A support and learning group for parents of young children (age 9 & younger) Group guides are Xema Whitley and Nicole Lehman. We’ll be using a workbook called Parenting with Hope which offers suggestions to help parents “manage challenging behavior with consistency and confidence.” Feel free to come as often as you can, email Xema to be added to the parent contact list for updates.
Date(s): September 11, September 25, October 2, October 16, November 6, November 20, December 4, December 18, January 8
Time: 11:15 AM
Place: Maple Grove Room 8
A support and learning group for parents of young children (age 9 & younger) Group guides are Xema Whitley and Nicole Lehman. We’ll be using a workbook called Parenting with Hope which offers suggestions to help parents “manage challenging behavior with consistency and confidence.” Feel free to come as often as you can, email Xema to be added to the parent contact list for updates.
Monday
A Bible Study
Date(s): Monday Afternoons
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 PM
Place: Zoom, for now.
This Bible study uses Brian McLaren's book We Make The Road By Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation to guide our study. This book is organized around the traditional church year and provides an overview of the whole Bible.
Date(s): Monday Afternoons
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 PM
Place: Zoom, for now.
This Bible study uses Brian McLaren's book We Make The Road By Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation to guide our study. This book is organized around the traditional church year and provides an overview of the whole Bible.
A Course in Miracles (ACIM)
Date(s): Every Monday
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Place: Maple Grove Parlor
A Course In Miracles, is a complete self-study spiritual thought system. Its goal for you is "happiness and peace." The Course explains the basis for fear and guilt and how they can be overcome through miracles, which are defined as maximal "expressions of love." Miracles are defined as the shift in perception from fear to love.
Date(s): Every Monday
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Place: Maple Grove Parlor
A Course In Miracles, is a complete self-study spiritual thought system. Its goal for you is "happiness and peace." The Course explains the basis for fear and guilt and how they can be overcome through miracles, which are defined as maximal "expressions of love." Miracles are defined as the shift in perception from fear to love.
Thursday
Thursday Morning Qi Gong at Maple Grove
The Thursday morning Walk & Talk has ended for the season, however on Thursdays at 10 AM, there will be a Qi Gong and Talk. Come join us for 15 minutes of Qi Gong video practice, followed by a scripture reading, reflection prompts and conversation. Qi Gong and the discussion starter are both gentle and inviting for physical and spiritual health. (No prior experience or special clothing needed.) Coming together for these two practices, are good for your relational health! We hope to see you there!
The Thursday morning Walk & Talk has ended for the season, however on Thursdays at 10 AM, there will be a Qi Gong and Talk. Come join us for 15 minutes of Qi Gong video practice, followed by a scripture reading, reflection prompts and conversation. Qi Gong and the discussion starter are both gentle and inviting for physical and spiritual health. (No prior experience or special clothing needed.) Coming together for these two practices, are good for your relational health! We hope to see you there!
Friday
The Adult Bible Study
Date(s): Friday Afternoons
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Maple Grove Parlor
Using the Standard Lesson Quarterly® (SQL) participants are invited to join in this richly resourced adult Bible study based on the International Sunday School Lessons (ISSL)/Uniform Series. SLQ offers reliable scripture exposition, culturally relevant examples, and timely discussion questions engage to give the Bible lesson meaning in everyday lives. The Fall series is titled God’s Exceptional Choice. Lesson books provided.
Date(s): Friday Afternoons
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Maple Grove Parlor
Using the Standard Lesson Quarterly® (SQL) participants are invited to join in this richly resourced adult Bible study based on the International Sunday School Lessons (ISSL)/Uniform Series. SLQ offers reliable scripture exposition, culturally relevant examples, and timely discussion questions engage to give the Bible lesson meaning in everyday lives. The Fall series is titled God’s Exceptional Choice. Lesson books provided.
Small Groups
Our Small Groups help people connect to God in a deeper way through building committed community that faithfully offers safe space to share life with one other. Our Small Groups provide a place to practice listening to one another, caring for one another, encouraging one another, loving one another, and show up when it’s not convenient.
When done well, small groups are pure gifts for us. They are not meant to spiritually burden us, rather, to lighten our load.
No matter your age, we’d love to connect you with a Maple Grove Small Group! We even have Small Groups meeting that include their small children.
‘Why are Small Groups important,’ you may ask. We asked members of current small groups to answer this very question. Here are a few responses:
“Small group has been a safe space for me to connect with others and "process" the big and little things going on in our lives, in particular, each of our own faith journeys.” – Jonathan
“Maple Grove small groups are awesome! My husband and I joined a Small Group shortly after we joined the church and it has been such a blessing in our lives. We have made wonderful new friendships and the support of our Small Group has been invaluable to us as we navigate today's turbulent and isolating times. The spiritual discussions we've had with our Small Group have helped strengthen our faith and we look forward to more fellowship.” – Kendra
“I see our small group as primarily a place of friendship. I had been a part of the Maple Grove Community for years, but until we started our Small Group, I had not built friendships that were more than exchanging niceties for a few minutes after Sunday Worship. But starting a Small Group has been like planting a garden: we just chose a time and a place and made the decision to plant ourselves in the presence of the same people week after week. In no time, friendships grew. In the welcome warmth of a friend's home, we enjoyed honest and caring discussions about our lives and about our faith. And now I feel like we are all interconnected, genuinely caring for one another, sustaining each other in our growth, and providing a place of belonging for us all.” - Tani
When done well, small groups are pure gifts for us. They are not meant to spiritually burden us, rather, to lighten our load.
No matter your age, we’d love to connect you with a Maple Grove Small Group! We even have Small Groups meeting that include their small children.
‘Why are Small Groups important,’ you may ask. We asked members of current small groups to answer this very question. Here are a few responses:
“Small group has been a safe space for me to connect with others and "process" the big and little things going on in our lives, in particular, each of our own faith journeys.” – Jonathan
“Maple Grove small groups are awesome! My husband and I joined a Small Group shortly after we joined the church and it has been such a blessing in our lives. We have made wonderful new friendships and the support of our Small Group has been invaluable to us as we navigate today's turbulent and isolating times. The spiritual discussions we've had with our Small Group have helped strengthen our faith and we look forward to more fellowship.” – Kendra
“I see our small group as primarily a place of friendship. I had been a part of the Maple Grove Community for years, but until we started our Small Group, I had not built friendships that were more than exchanging niceties for a few minutes after Sunday Worship. But starting a Small Group has been like planting a garden: we just chose a time and a place and made the decision to plant ourselves in the presence of the same people week after week. In no time, friendships grew. In the welcome warmth of a friend's home, we enjoyed honest and caring discussions about our lives and about our faith. And now I feel like we are all interconnected, genuinely caring for one another, sustaining each other in our growth, and providing a place of belonging for us all.” - Tani