EfM Group Starts in September!

The Education for Ministry (EfM) program will again meet as a wonderful joint group open to participants from both St. James' Parish, Lothian, and Christ Church, West River. EfM enables participants to dig deeper into the Christian faith by studying the Bible, Church history, and theological ideas, as well as reflecting on ways to connect our faith with our life experiences. EfM is a nondenominational program of the School of Theology at The University of the South, and is sponsored by the Diocese of Maryland. The registration fee is $375. For more information, please contact Shelly Collinson at nofrenchyvonne@hotmail.com.

EfM Group Starts in September

EfM will again meet as a wonderful joint group with students and mentors from both St. James’ Parish, Lothian and Christ Church, West River. This year, Education for Ministry (EfM) has new textbooks with color photos and charts that will be a great addition to the program and can be easily replaced as necessary.

EfM enables us to dig deeper into the Christian faith, studying the Bible, Church history, and theological ideas, as well as reflecting on connecting our faith with our life experiences. EfM is a nondenominational program of the School of Theology at The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, and is sponsored by the Diocese of Maryland.

To join the group, or for more information about EfM, please contact Marjie Mack (mmack3108@comcast.net) or Shelly Collinson (nofrenchyvonne@hotmail.com).

EFM at St. James’ and Christ Church

Education for Ministry (EfM) this year was a wonderful joint group with both St. James' Parish and Christ Church, West River, students and mentors. In addition to studying the Old and New Testaments, Old Church History, and Modern Theology, we ate together every week and supported each other in our daily lives.

EfM will begin again in the fall. For more information about EfM, please contact Marjie Mack at mmack3108@comcast.net.

St. James’ Parish EfM (Education for Ministry)

The St. James' Parish EfM (Education for Ministry) Group will be held this fall with the EfM Group from Christ Church, West River. We enjoy fellowship each week while we are also learning about the Bible and church history, as well as discussing how to apply what we learn about our faith in our lives. Despite having serious discussions, we also have a lot of fun. If you are interested in learning more about EfM, contact Marjie Mack at mmack3108@comcast.net and/or visit www.sewanee.edu/EFM.

EfM Registration for the 2011-2012 School Year

If you would like an opportunity to dig deeper into the Christian faith, study the Bible, Church history, and theological ideas, and reflect on connecting faith with life experiences, Education for Ministry (EfM) might be the way for you.

This program, originating from the University of the South, is lead by trained mentors and follows the academic year, meeting every week beginning in September and ending in May. At its core, EfM is a seminar group of 6-10 students and 1-2 mentors, who, together, review course materials and relate Scripture and Tradition to our lives by methods of Theological Reflection.

Now is the time to consider registering for the coming school year! EfM at St. James' meets on Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 7:30. There is a fee for tuition each year - scholarships are available. If you are interested or for more information, check the EfM website (www.sewanee.edu/EFM) or contact the mentors (Marjie Mack and Linda Stewart).

Education for Ministry (EfM) Alumni

EfM Alumni: How do you know when you have done your work well?

We are inviting all Education for Ministry (EfM) alumni to join this year’s EfM group for food and fellowship on Sunday evening, November 14th, when we will be discussing this question as our common lesson. Our group is asking ourselves what we are called to change and how the consequences of our actions will affect our friends, neighbors, families and the world. We want the benefit of your experience - both during EfM and after graduation, as we each choose one calling that seems most dominant in our lives right now and we each make a "journey chart."

We would love to have you join us! Please RSVP to Marjie Mack, and we’ll send you the material we’ll be using for the discussion.

EfM Registration

It is registration time for the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, and we hope you will consider joining us this fall. Our group meets on Sundays from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. downstairs in the Education Building. We have prayers, dinner, group discussion and reflection. It is an opportunity to dig deeper into the Christian faith, study the Bible, Church history and theological ideas, and reflect on connecting our faith with our life experiences. EfM offers an opportunity to discover how to discern and respond to our call to Christian service, whatever that may be for each individual, and it gives us a small group to support us on our journey. We register one year at a time, and the group meets from September through May. There is a fee for the program, and some scholarship help is available. The deadline for registration is August 9, and the first class will be September 6. Contact one of the group mentors for questions or more information: Linda Stewart (lstewart54@aol.com) or Marjie Mack (mmack3108@comcast.net).

EfM Graduation Recognition, May 31

Two Education for Ministry (EfM) participants - Jeanie Zseltvay and Beverly Breitman - will receive their graduation certificates for completing the EfM program on May 31st. Please join us in saying the following prayer as we wish them well and honor their perseverance and commitment to serving God and ministering to his people.

A Prayer of Self-Dedication (BCP, P. 832)
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

There will be an EfM table today at the coffee hour. For more information on EfM, contact Linda Stewart (lstewart54@aol.com) or Marjie Mack (mmack3108@comcast.net).