KELLY WEST
Karen Chilstrom (left), Carey Henderson, Ann Wall, Audrey Alpers and Bess Sommer pray together during a meeting of the mothers of young children support group at St. Martin Evangelical Lutheran Church in Aus- tin, Texas.
Other creative faith formation ideas at St. Martin
• Evening vacation Bible school: The five-session Bible school at St. Martin Evangelical Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas, meets from 5 to 8:15 p.m. with dinner, worship, then a separate adult class while children meet. Classes could be intergenerational, but at St. Martin many frequent volun-
teers get to enjoy a break and attend adult sessions. This past summer, while young people explored faith lessons in a biblical marketplace (pop-up tents with such themes as woodworking or sewing, often led by senior members of the congregation), adults discussed what it means to blaspheme against the Spirit and tried their hand at spiritual drumming. “Try starting with preschool parents,” advised member Candice Combs,
who coordinated the adult Bible school. “Find a leader who likes to teach and wants to connect with other parents. Focus on material that can be done in five evening sessions, gives people time to talk, and acknowledges that faith doesn’t always have pat answers.” • Spiritual discernment classes: Adults at St. Martin use a 26-week “Compan- ions in Christ” (Upper Room Ministries) process. “What’s surprising is how much leadership training and group discernment comes out of it,” Combs said. “I came away with this unbelievable sense of ... fellowship—not corny, small- talk fellowship, but ‘I know what you’ve been through and what you’re strug- gling with’ fellowship.”
22 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org KELLY WEST
Carey Henderson (left) and Karen Chilstrom talk during a meeting of the mothers of young children sup- port group at St. Martin. Since the group’s formation four years ago, it has expanded to include women of all ages.
education persist, but not effectively. Church leaders have tried to “fix”
the problems of Sunday school and older “church-based” models with new curriculum, new resources, new facilities and new schedules. Yet many of us are frustrated. No matter what we do, it doesn’t work the way we would like.
Faith formation today What if we were to begin again
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