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.
One Time Classes
SoulCollage® | Saturday, October 18, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Join certified SoulCollage® facilitator Saralise Ward and Heather Monkmeyer, as they lead us through this contemplative, playful, prayerful, and powerful SoulCollage® practice of listening, browsing, collecting and combining images...and then listening to your soul through the collage you create. No experience or art skills necessary.
This will be an extended card making time (browsing images, opening circle, card-making, individual processing…) with an added time of guided card reading and witnessing in small groups that will offer you new methods to use on your own as you continue to build your deck and interact with your cards.
We will also offer an optional opportunity to learn about the Companion Suit in our ongoing dive into the depths of the Soul Collage deck.
All supplies and materials will be provided along with hot coffee, cocoa, tea, and water. Bring your own water bottle/coffee mug and a snack to share if you are able. Lunch break when you need it - bring your own lunch (refrigeration available) or walk to one of the nearby restaurants.
The cost is $50. To inquire about scholarship funds, please email Saralise Ward at [email protected]
Registration by clicking HERE.
Join certified SoulCollage® facilitator Saralise Ward and Heather Monkmeyer, as they lead us through this contemplative, playful, prayerful, and powerful SoulCollage® practice of listening, browsing, collecting and combining images...and then listening to your soul through the collage you create. No experience or art skills necessary.
This will be an extended card making time (browsing images, opening circle, card-making, individual processing…) with an added time of guided card reading and witnessing in small groups that will offer you new methods to use on your own as you continue to build your deck and interact with your cards.
We will also offer an optional opportunity to learn about the Companion Suit in our ongoing dive into the depths of the Soul Collage deck.
All supplies and materials will be provided along with hot coffee, cocoa, tea, and water. Bring your own water bottle/coffee mug and a snack to share if you are able. Lunch break when you need it - bring your own lunch (refrigeration available) or walk to one of the nearby restaurants.
The cost is $50. To inquire about scholarship funds, please email Saralise Ward at [email protected]
Registration by clicking HERE.
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.
A Study of Origins: A Tuesday Evening 6-Week Class Begins January 14
Dates: Tuesdays January 14, 21, and 28 and February 4, 11, and 18, 2025
Time: 7:00-8:30 PM
Location: Zoom
Maple Grove United Methodist Church is offering a new series of classes on the Jewish, Greek, and Roman Origins of and Long-Term Trends in Christianities. The six classes will be conducted on Background notes and suggested research topics will be provided. There are no texts or required reading. Exchanging information and sharing points of view are highly desirable. We will explore such questions as what Jewish rituals, such as animal sacrifices, were adapted by early Christians? Was Paul a Hellenized Jew? and How did Rome conquer The Way as well as Judaea?
The class conveners will be Dr. Steve Millett and Dr. Rocki Strader. All interested people, whether church members or not, are most welcome to participate. For further information and to register, please contact Cathy Davis.
Time: 7:00-8:30 PM
Location: Zoom
Maple Grove United Methodist Church is offering a new series of classes on the Jewish, Greek, and Roman Origins of and Long-Term Trends in Christianities. The six classes will be conducted on Background notes and suggested research topics will be provided. There are no texts or required reading. Exchanging information and sharing points of view are highly desirable. We will explore such questions as what Jewish rituals, such as animal sacrifices, were adapted by early Christians? Was Paul a Hellenized Jew? and How did Rome conquer The Way as well as Judaea?
The class conveners will be Dr. Steve Millett and Dr. Rocki Strader. All interested people, whether church members or not, are most welcome to participate. For further information and to register, please contact Cathy Davis.
Sunday
The Kitchen Class
Date(s): Sunday School Class
Time: 9:00 - 9:45 AM
Location: Fellowship Hall
This class engages in topical Christian conversation and book studies. Starting Sunday, September 1, will continue with Your God is Too Small by J.B. Phillips. This book is a groundbreaking work of faith, which challenges the constraints of traditional religion. In his discussion of God, Phillips encourages Christians to redefine their understanding of a creator without labels or earthly constraints and instead search for a meaningful concept of God. Phillips explains that the trouble facing many of us today is that we have not found a God big enough for our modern needs.
Date(s): Sunday School Class
Time: 9:00 - 9:45 AM
Location: Fellowship Hall
This class engages in topical Christian conversation and book studies. Starting Sunday, September 1, will continue with Your God is Too Small by J.B. Phillips. This book is a groundbreaking work of faith, which challenges the constraints of traditional religion. In his discussion of God, Phillips encourages Christians to redefine their understanding of a creator without labels or earthly constraints and instead search for a meaningful concept of God. Phillips explains that the trouble facing many of us today is that we have not found a God big enough for our modern needs.
Exploring Progressive Christianity | 11:15 in the Youth Room
Dates(s): Sunday Beginning in January
Time: 11:15 AM
Location: Youth Room
Class leader, Eric Smoot, facilitates discussions exploring our Christian theology within the world we're in today. This class will begin with a video-based series from Christian scholars who offer insights and perspectives to help us live out our faith, and learn to build relationships across lines.
Dates(s): Sunday Beginning in January
Time: 11:15 AM
Location: Youth Room
Class leader, Eric Smoot, facilitates discussions exploring our Christian theology within the world we're in today. This class will begin with a video-based series from Christian scholars who offer insights and perspectives to help us live out our faith, and learn to build relationships across lines.
Parenting with Hope
Date(s): Sundays, twice a month
Time: 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Maple Grove Fellowship Hall
A support and learning group for parents of young children (age 9 & younger). Feel free to come as often as you can, email Xema to be added to the parent contact list for updates.
Date(s): Sundays, twice a month
Time: 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Maple Grove Fellowship Hall
A support and learning group for parents of young children (age 9 & younger). Feel free to come as often as you can, email Xema to be added to the parent contact list for updates.
Monday
An Afternoon Bible Exploration and Study
Date(s): Monday Afternoons starting January 13, 2025 and ongoing
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 PM
Place: Zoom
Using Rob Bell's book What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything we will take a deep look into actual passages to reveal the humanity behind the Scriptures. You cannot get to the holy without going through the human, Rob tells us. Email Cathy Davis if you would like to read this book, explore the Bible’s authentic transformative power and participate in this discussion.
Date(s): Monday Afternoons starting January 13, 2025 and ongoing
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 PM
Place: Zoom
Using Rob Bell's book What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything we will take a deep look into actual passages to reveal the humanity behind the Scriptures. You cannot get to the holy without going through the human, Rob tells us. Email Cathy Davis if you would like to read this book, explore the Bible’s authentic transformative power and participate in this discussion.
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
Morning Qi Gong at Maple Grove
Date(s): Thursday Mornings
Time: 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Location: Maple Grove Fellowship Hall
The Thursday morning Walk & Talk has ended for the season, however on Thursdays at 10 AM, join us in Fellowship Hall for Qi Gong and Talk. Begin with 20 minutes of Qi Gong practice, followed by a 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!
Date(s): Thursday Mornings
Time: 10:00 to 11:00 AM
Location: Maple Grove Fellowship Hall
The Thursday morning Walk & Talk has ended for the season, however on Thursdays at 10 AM, join us in Fellowship Hall for Qi Gong and Talk. Begin with 20 minutes of Qi Gong practice, followed by a 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!
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.
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.
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
