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.
Exploring Progressive Christianity
Date(s): Begins September 11
Time: 11:15 AM
Place: Maple Grove Youth Room
Discussions around a DVD based curriculum that deconstructs "traditional" Christianity to explore the historical context of the Bible, theology, and modern issues facing Christians today. There is no required reading outside of the class time. The class will watch segments of a video and then pause for discussion. Everyone is free to share their thoughts on the topic and discussion is the primary focus. Starting this September, we'll be using Living the Questions 2.0: An Introduction to Progressive Christianity. This series has 21 videos with numerous distinguished contributors such as; Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Yvette Flunder, James Forbes, Helen Prejean, Tex Sample, Emilie Townes, Winnie Varghese, Brian McLaren, and many more. We look forward to the opportunity to explore what Christianity means to each of us. Childcare offered during this class time.
Date(s): Begins September 11
Time: 11:15 AM
Place: Maple Grove Youth Room
Discussions around a DVD based curriculum that deconstructs "traditional" Christianity to explore the historical context of the Bible, theology, and modern issues facing Christians today. There is no required reading outside of the class time. The class will watch segments of a video and then pause for discussion. Everyone is free to share their thoughts on the topic and discussion is the primary focus. Starting this September, we'll be using Living the Questions 2.0: An Introduction to Progressive Christianity. This series has 21 videos with numerous distinguished contributors such as; Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Yvette Flunder, James Forbes, Helen Prejean, Tex Sample, Emilie Townes, Winnie Varghese, Brian McLaren, and many more. We look forward to the opportunity to explore what Christianity means to each of us. Childcare offered during this class time.
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.
Rediscovering Jesus: First Class in our Core Curriculum Series
Date(s): 6 Monday Evenings; October 17 - November 21
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Place: Maple Grove Parlor
“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
We know Jesus through our experience. As we read Freeing Jesus by Diana Bass, you will find yourself exploring along with her, how you have experienced Jesus. Will it be as friend, teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, Presence or a completely different experience? This book is a theological memoir that is easy to read and full of very honest personal experience, history, and theology. It leads us to fully open to the Universal Christ. Join us for discussion of how Jesus is experienced in your life. You are going to love this book and the authentic voice it gives to free YOU to experience the Jesus who walks the daily walk with you! Book: Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence.
Date(s): 6 Monday Evenings; October 17 - November 21
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Place: Maple Grove Parlor
“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15)
We know Jesus through our experience. As we read Freeing Jesus by Diana Bass, you will find yourself exploring along with her, how you have experienced Jesus. Will it be as friend, teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, Presence or a completely different experience? This book is a theological memoir that is easy to read and full of very honest personal experience, history, and theology. It leads us to fully open to the Universal Christ. Join us for discussion of how Jesus is experienced in your life. You are going to love this book and the authentic voice it gives to free YOU to experience the Jesus who walks the daily walk with you! Book: Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence.
A Course in Miracles (ACIM)
Date(s): Second and Fourth Monday of the Month
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): Second and Fourth Monday of the Month
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
Walk & Talk Group
Date(s): Every Thursday (weather permitting)
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Whetstone Rose Garden Shelter House Parking Lot
Using Walk & Talk: Walking Together with Scripture, the group begins with a scripture, and discussion questions for walkers to consider. In the event of rain or once the weather turns cold, Walk & Talk will be cancelled. To join, just show up.
Date(s): Every Thursday (weather permitting)
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Whetstone Rose Garden Shelter House Parking Lot
Using Walk & Talk: Walking Together with Scripture, the group begins with a scripture, and discussion questions for walkers to consider. In the event of rain or once the weather turns cold, Walk & Talk will be cancelled. To join, just show up.
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
