Community, College, and Depth: Good Happenings this Fall

One of Quest's core values is community because we believe that not only do we need to be meeting as smaller groups in order to be church during the rest of the week, but also because God has wired us to be in relationships with others.  C-Groups encompass worship, prayer, study, and service but at their root, they are about forming deep relationships between each other and God.  This year we have a range of great topics being studied, everything from book studies about Christian discipleship to looking at food and theology to Bible studies.  September 28th is the launch date when we'll publish the brochure of various c-groups (which will also be online) and when you can jump in.

With the beginning of the school year our 17|23 college group will be meeting again.  If you're between the ages of 17 and 23 this is the group where we hope you'll find community with your peers, food for your soul (and body, occasionally), and a place to rest in God's presence.  College group meets every other Sunday night from 7-9pm, starting on Oct. 5th.  For the first semester the theme is Art Speaks.  We'll be talking about how faith, art, and culture intersect.  Each week we'll take a piece of art, be it an Eastern Orthodox icon, a piece of modern art, or a film, talk a bit about the details and history of the piece and then, as a group, ask how it nourishes or challenges our faith.

Finally, I'm very excited about what's in store for what we jokingly refer to as "q seminary" this fall.  Starting off in September is our first-ever faith and gender class which will begin on Sept. 22nd and run for three weeks.   That will be capped off on Oct. 10th and 11th by our annual learning conference where Lauren Winner, renowned speaker and author of Mudhouse Sabbath, will be giving two talks and some Q&A on the topics of Lessons from the Church Mothers & Gender and the Triune God.  Be sure to register ahead of time (seattlequest.org/lw).  The end of October (Oct. 30th & Nov. 6th) will see some of our SPU professors, Bo Lim and Eric Long, teaching on faith and evolution.  And as a lead-in to the Christmas season we'll be doing an experiential class on worship and the arts, taught by Christina Stockhouse and Matt Chism (Dec. 1st & 8th).