Adult Formation 

After the 10:00 service, we hold lectures and discussions on a variety of topics in our Parish Hall, accompanied by mid-morning snacks and good coffee.

Current Lectures: February 2025

February 2 | Centering Prayer as Individual Practice—Part I: Self & God (Alan Krema)

February 9 | Centering Prayer as Communal Practice—Part II: Self, World & God (Alan Krema)

Alan Krema is a student of Cynthia Bourgeault and has attended multiple Wisdom Schools since 2010. Alan has recently completed the Living School program at the Center for Action and Contemplation, founded by Fr. Richard Rohr. Alan has been a long-time centering prayer facilitator and serves as coordinator for Contemplative Outreach Chicago chapter.

Upcoming Lectures: Lent 2025

Lent 2025 Adult Forum: Entertaining Angels Unawares-The Spirit of Hospitality
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. - Hebrews 13: 2

The Christian season of Lent is a time set aside for self-examination, prayer, and the study of Scripture in community and individually. For four Sundays—March 9, March 16, March 23, and March 30—from 11:15am to 12:00pm in the Parish Hall, you are invited to engage these spiritual practices with your church community. The Rev. Wes Smedley, Interim Rector, will facilitate conversation. You are also invited to join one of the small groups led by SPR parishioners which will meet in person or by Zoom on different days of the week for four weeks. Registration with dates and times to choose from will be available soon.

The focus of this year’s Lent forum is the spirit of hospitality in Scripture, tradition, spirituality/theology, and practice. By the final session, you will have created your own “ethic of hospitality.” Handouts will be available for all participants with readings from Henri Nouwen, Cynthia Bourgeault, Richard Foster, The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Ethics, and a chapter called “Entertaining Angels Unawares—The Spirit of Hospitality” from the book Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life, by Marjorie J. Thompson. If you have any questions, please reach out to the church office or to the Interim Rector.

Selected Lectures: 2019-2020

May 2020 | Theology of Prophetic Dialogue | The Rev. Jaime Briceño | Part 1 | Parts 2 & 3 | Part 4

March 1, 2020 | Christian Moral Foundations for Community Healing | The Rev. Catherine Healy

January 5, 2020 | Responding to Climate Change | Jennifer Jeck

October 13, 2019 | Eat, Build, Love: Reading 1 Corinthians in Greek | Fran Spaltro

September 29, 2019 | How to Read the Letters of Paul | The Rev. Catherine Healy

Here's a sampling of past Adult Formation one-offs and series:

  • This City Is Killing Me, reading a text on the intersection of racism, public policy, and mental health in Chicago (part of a Small Group series)

  • Faith & Justice: How does our faith compel and inspire us to work for justice?

  • Reading Genesis Together, exploring the first book of the bible with experts in biblical studies, hermeneutics, and theology (part of a Small Group series)

  • Vision for SPR, roundtable discussions with the Vestry on our future

  • The Meaning of Advent, a Godly Play presentation for all ages

  • Death and Dying, from Theology to Practical Concerns

  • Responding to Hatred including learning about Islam, the refugee crisis, and how to work against racism.

  • What Is At Stake?, parishioners give talks about why they are part of a church and what difference it's made to them (part of a Small Group series).

  • Understanding Privilege, a continuation of our antiracism work, exploring how privilege works through expert lecturers and personal testimony.

For the current or upcoming Adult Formation series, check out Coming Up at SPR.