The Adult Confirmation Class - Lent 2010
Fr. Matthew Olver
7 - 8 pm | Wednesdays, Feb 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, April 7, 14 (no class on March 31)
If the Alpha class is to explore the kinds of questions that the Bible and the Christian faith pose to us, the Adult Confirmation Class is a place to dig more deeply into the heart of Church’s core teachings. For seven weeks, we will mine the richness of the Church’s teaching: God the Holy Trinity in the Apostles’ Creed, the Church’s worship life by looking at the sacraments and the resources for a personal devotional life, and the depth and vigor of the Anglican tradition. While this class is required for adults who wish to be baptized and/or Confirmed, or received into the Episcopal Church from the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Churches, it will be of tremendous benefit to anyone who wants to go deeper in their Christian faith.
The bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, The Right Reverend James M. Stanton will make his spring episcopal visitation to Church of the Incarnation on Sunday, April 11 at 9:00 AM in the Family Traditional Service (church). In addition to celebrating and preaching, Bishop Stanton will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to adults and youth who have been prepared, and also receive Christians who have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Churches.
Click here to download the registration form; email completed forms to Fr Matthew Olver.
| 6:55 - 7:25 | Talk | 7:25 - 7:30 | Questions |
| 7:30 - 7:50 | Small group conversation | 7:50 - 8:00 | Compline |
Feb 24: Introduction: Belief and Anglican Identity
a. A Word about what this class is not
b. A Word on Anglicanism
c. A Word about Belief - Credo
Required Reading:
“The Anglican Spirit” & “Scripture, Antiquity and Reason” in Michael Ramsey, The Anglican Spirit, ed by Dale D. Coleman (Seabury Classics/Church Publishing: New York 2004), pp 1-24.
For further exploration:
“Chapter 1—The Church in Britain Before 597” & “Chapter 2—The Conversion of England” in John R. H. Moorman, A History of the Church in England, third ed. (Morehouse, Harrisburg, 1980), pp 3-22.
Click here for the Session 1 handout.
Mar 03: I Believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord
Required Reading:
“Book II: What Christians Believe” in C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster: New York, 1996), pp 43-66.
For further exploration:
“An Initial Reflection on the Mystery of Jesus” in Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration (Doubleday: New York, 2007), pp 1-8.
Click here for the Session 2 handout.
Mar 10: I Believe in God the Father
Required Reading:
Christopher R. Seitz, “Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth” in Christopher Seitz, ed., Nicene Christianity: The Future for a New Ecumenism (Brazos: Grand Rapids, 2001), pp 19-34.
Mar 17: I Believe in God the Holy Spirit | One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
Required Reading:
“The Theology of the Church” in Michael Ramsey, The Anglican Spirit, ed by Dale D. Coleman (Seabury Classics/Church Publishing: New York 2004), pp 101-113.
For further exploration:
“The Doctrine of the Ministry (1973)”, Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission.
Mar 24: Liturgical Prayer, the Our Father & the Daily Office
Required Reading:
“The Book of Common Prayer” in Martin Thornton, English Spirituality: An Outline of Ascetical Theology According to the English Pastoral Tradition (Cowley: Cambridge, 1986), pp 257-281.
Apr 01: A Maunday Thursday liturgy - Thursday, at 7:00 PM
Apr 02: Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday - Friday, at 12 noon
Apr 03: The Great Vigil of Easter - Saturday, at 8:00 PM
Apr 07: Worship: The Sacraments
Arrive at 6:45 pm in the Flat
Required Reading:
--- “The Third Instruction,” St John Chrysostom from Baptismal Instructions (Paulist Press: New York, 1963), pp 56-65.
--- “Agreed Statement on Eucharistic Doctrine (1971),” Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission.
--- Dom Gregory Dix, The Shape of the Liturgy (Dacre Press: London, 1975), p 744 (“Was ever another command so obeyed…”).
For further exploration:
“Five Affirmations on the Eucharist as Sacrifice (6 January 1994),” Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation-USA.
Apr 14: Identity: Prayer Book and Anglicanism | Celebration of Holy Communion
Arrive at 6:45 pm in the Flat
Reading:
“Chapter 15 — What then is Anglicanism” in (The Rt Rev’d) Stephen Neill Anglicanism (Penguin: London, 1958), pp 417-434.
For further exploration:
“The World-wide church” in John R. H. Moorman, A History of the Church in England, third ed. (Morehouse, Harrisburg, 1980), pp 404-407.
