Adult Learning

Beginning with Sunday mornings, AHUMC offers a number of different staff-led courses throughout the week. All of our courses are available for free to anyone who is interested. The only exception being that some courses do require the purchase of a book—and even that shouldn’t be an obstacle to participation as scholarship assistance is available. We hope you will consider joining at least one of the courses listed below.

If you have any questions or need any further information, please submit the form below

Common Space:
A Sunday Morning Dialogue

Join pastors Chris Estus, Ryan Jacobson, and Darrell Smith for a weekly dialogue and exploration of the biblical stories—both the ones you know and love, and the ones that seem to confound and confuse. This is not a lecture or a book study. There is no homework or assigned reading. This is an active and participatory conversation. We will get to know each other and learn together as we wrestle with the questions that exist on the tips of our tongues and in the depths of our hearts.

Signs and Wonders: A Beginner's Guide to the Miracles of Jesus

Pastor Donna Strieb will lead this exploration of the miracles of Jesus in their historical and theological context. For each miracle, we will discus not only how past witnesses would have understood the events, but also how today’s readers can draw meaning from Jesus’s words and actions. Using Amy-Jill Levine's book we will examine:

Giving Sight to the Blind: Metaphors of Understanding
Take up Your Pallet and Walk: On the Role of Caregivers
A Bleeding Woman and a Dead Girl: The Importance of Women’s Bodies
Walking on Water and Stilling the Storm: Ecological Readings of the Gospels
The Feeding of the 5,000 (or more): The Centrality of Bead
The Raising of Lazarus: Taking Death Seriously

The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right

Shalom is what God looks like.
Shalom is what God declared.
Shalom is when all people are treated equitably and have enough.
Shalom is when the image of God is recognized, protected, and cultivated in every single human.

Despite our anxious minds, divisions, and despite threats of violence, God’s vision of shalom remains: wholeness for a fragmented world. It is the vision set forth in the Garden and the restoration desired for every broken relationship. Shalom is the “very good” in the gospel.

Through careful exploration of the biblical text, particularly the first three chapters of Genesis, Rev. Ryan Jacobson will lead this study of Lisa Sharon Harper's work The Very Good Gospel. Together, we will discover what shalom can look like today.

Childcare is available by reservation.

Lunch is available for purchase from Chefs Colin Bryant and Kaitlin Workman of Mission Bell.

Common Space:
A Lunchtime Dialogue

Lunch is available for purchase from Chefs Colin Bryant and Kaitlin Workman of Mission Bell.

Community Yoga:
Flow & Restore

Whether you have practiced Yoga for years or are looking to try something new, join us for this free weekly hour with Black Swan-licensed instructor, Dave Williams. Beginning September 13, we will meet for 7 weeks of warm-up, restorative flow, and cool down in the CLC at AHUMC. The space is carpeted so please feel free to bring your own mat or towel and a water bottle.

Childcare is available by reservation and dinner is available for purchase from Chefs Colin Bryant and Kaitlin Workman of Mission Bell.

The Good and Beautiful God:
Falling in Love With the God Jesus Knows

We all have ideas that we tell ourselves about God. Some are true―but many are false. Those ideas can shape not only who we are, but how we live. In his book, The Good and Beautiful God, Theologian and author James Bryan Smith declares the most important thing about a person is what they think about God.

Senior Pastor Jason Adams and Outreach Pastor Janet Weatherston invite you to put your ideas to the test to see if they match up with what Jesus revealed about God. Together, we will journey through a process of spiritual formation that includes specific activities aimed at making the good and beautiful God real in our body and soul as well as our mind.

Childcare is available by reservation and dinner is available for purchase from Chefs Colin Bryant and Kaitlin Workman of Mission Bell.

Done With the Crying: Help and Healing for Parents of Estranged Adult Children

Rev. Linda Baumheckel will lead this dialogue that seeks to help parents break free from emotional pain—and move forward in their own lives.

Utilizing Sheri McGregor's book, Done With The Crying, the latest research, and insight from more than 9,000 parents of estranged adult children, we will learn how to plan ahead, prepare for emotional triggers, and prevail over setbacks and pain.

In this encouraging and comprehensive 8-week dialogue, we will cover the phenomenon of estranged adult children from families who never expected a son or daughter to cut ties and walk away. Gain understanding and practical help while learning that hope can remain. We don't have to stay stalled, forever waiting. We can move past the disbelief and distress. Take charge. Reclaim ourselves and our lives.

Childcare is available by reservation during the meal and Wednesday evening courses and activities.

Each week, Chefs Colin Bryant and Kaitlin Workman will offer “specials” as well as the entire Mission Bell menu featuring both vegan and gluten-free options just in case you need to change things up😬.

Community Dinner

Join us for this time of connection and, hopefully, convenience—as we share the table together on Wednesday evenings. Whether you are going to one of our Wednesday evening courses, Taizé Worship, choir practice, or you just want someone else to do the cooking and cleaning, we hope to see you!

Childcare is available by reservation during the meal and Wednesday evening courses and activities.

YOPD Support Group

Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease occurs in people age 50 or younger and affects less than ten percent of the one million people with Parkinson’s in the U.S. Our group meets the third Saturday of each month in room the Seminar Room W100/101. Guest speakers are invited to share information about how to live healthier and more active lives on our journey with Parkinson’s. If you are interested in learning more, please join us.

Grief Support Group for Men

Facilitated by Celeste Miller, Bereavement Coordinator at Porter Loring Mortuary, this group of men 65 and older, invite you to join them for support and fellowship as you grieve the loss of your wife. This ongoing group will focus on the different characteristics grieving men share, including, coping with loneliness. It is a place to honor your wife while moving towards a renewed and meaningful life. For more information, call 210-227-8221.

Grief Support Group for Women

Facilitated by Darwin Huartson M.Div., BCC., this group is open to women 60 and older who have lost a husband and would like to join with other women in a journey of sharing, comfort and healing. “Women in Grief” will provide you a safe place to explore the roots of your grief, learn ways to express and cope with it, and move on to a more refreshed and renewed life when you are ready. For more information, call 210-227-8221.

Community Dinner

Join us for this time of connection and, hopefully, convenience—as we share the table together on Wednesday evenings.

Whether you are going to one of our Wednesday evening courses, Taizé Worship, choir practice, or you just want someone else to do the cooking and cleaning, we hope to see you!

Each week, Chefs Colin Bryant and Kaitlin Workman will offer a “special” dinner plate at $10 for adults and $5 for children. They will also offer the entire Mission Bell menu featuring both vegan and gluten-free options just in case you need to change things up😬.

Childcare is available by reservation during both the meal and Wednesday evening courses and activities.

Various groups meet at our church to help those seeking sobriety and recovery from alcoholism.

GROUP	DAY	TIME	LOCATION
12-Step Study	Tuesdays	7:30 p.m.	W100/101
Men's Big Book	Wednesdays	6:30 p.m.	W104
Women's Big Book	Wednesdays	6:30 p.m.	W100/101
Big Book	Saturdays	1 p.m.	W104

GROUP	DAY	TIME	LOCATION
ACADF	Thursdays	6:30 p.m.	W104

GROUP	DAY	TIME	LOCATION
Clarity Group	Sundays	5 p.m.	ZOOM

The Pioneer Group is a fellowship of men and women in or interested in 12-Step Recovery. The format is an open discussion and study of the Bible and Recovery literature.

GROUP	DAY	TIME	LOCATION
Pioneer @ AHUMC	Fridays	7:15 p.m.	W100/101 & ZOOM
Haven 4 Hope	Tuesdays	7:15 p.m.	1 Haven 4 Hope Way

Helping people learn to identify and manage negative thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors that can lead to emotional distress and related physical symptoms.

GROUP	DAY	TIME	LOCATION
Mental Health Self-Help	Tuesdays	10 a.m.	ZOOM

Sexaholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope to solve their common problem and help others to recover from addiction to lust, pornography and sexual acting out.

GROUP	DAY	TIME	LOCATION
SA Group 1	Mondays	12 p.m.	W105
SA Group 2	Wednesdays	6:30 p.m.	W105
SA Group 3	Thursdays	12 p.m.	W105
SA Group 4	Fridays	12 p.m.	W105

GROUP	DAY	TIME	LOCATION
SLAA	Tuesdays	6:30 p.m.	W105

We think that the best thing we can do is have all of the answers.

But what would it look like if we were more interested in the questions?

Try using one of these phrases to tap into the curiousity and humility of the beginner's mind:

"I don't know. What do you think?"
"I value your insight and knowledge. Can you share more about that with me?"
"How are you feeling about this, right now?"
"I was thinking about [topic] and remembered it's something in which you are interested. Will you tell me a bit about it?"
"Do you have any suggestions for how I can learn more about that?"
"How would you approach this?"
"What was it like when [event] happened for you?"
"How can I help you?"

LEADERS:	Chris Estus, Ryan Jacobson, Darrell Smith
DAY:	Sundays - beginning Sept. 10
TIME:	11 a.m.
LOCATION:	W100 / 101

LEADER:	Donna Strieb
DAY:	Tuesdays - beginning Sept. 12
TIME:	10 a.m.
LOCATION:	W100 / 101

LEADER:	Ryan Jacobson
DAY:	Tuesdays - beginning Sept. 12
TIME:	12 p.m.
LOCATION:	AHUMC Parlor

LEADERS:	Chris Estus, Ryan Jacobson, Darrell Smith
DAY:	Wednesdays - resuming Sept. 13
TIME:	12 p.m.
LOCATION:	AHUMC Parlor

LEADER:	Dave Williams
DAY:	Wednesdays - beginning Sept. 13
TIME:	5:30 p.m.
LOCATION:	CLC

LEADERS:	Jason Adams and Janet Weatherston
DAY:	Wednesdays - beginning Sept. 13
TIME:	6:00 p.m.
LOCATION:	AHUMC Parlor

LEADER:	Linda Baumheckel
DAY:	Wednesdays - beginning Sept. 13
TIME:	6:30 p.m.
LOCATION:	E223 The Map Room

WEEKLY SPECIAL:	View Menu
DAY:	Wednesdays - beginning Sept. 13
TIME:	5 - 7 p.m.
LOCATION:	AHUMC Atrium

LEADER:	Jim Beach
DAY:	Thursdays
TIME:	10:30 a.m.
LOCATION:	S107 & W100/101

LEADER:	Ed Dickey
DAY:	3rd Thursdays
TIME:	9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
LOCATION:	W105

LEADER:	Diane Renz
DAY:	3rd Saturdays
TIME:	10 a.m.
LOCATION:	W100 / 101

LEADER:	Celeste Miller
DAY:	Mondays
TIME:	1 - 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION:	W100 / 101

LEADER:	Darwin Huartson
DAY:	Mondays
TIME:	10 - 11:30 a.m.
LOCATION:	W100 / 101

LEADER:	Martha Krenz, Barbara Steed
DAY:	Wednesdays
TIME:	9:30-11:30 a.m.
LOCATION:	W105

LEADER:	varies
DAY:	Thursdays
TIME:	10 a.m.
LOCATION:	W104

DAY:	Tuesdays
TIME:	6:30-8:15 p.m.
LOCATION:	Spring 2023 - University UMC

LEADER:	Darryl Richards
TIME:	9:45 a.m.
LOCATION:	E224

LEADER:	Suzy Brysacz
DAY:	Thursdays
TIME:	9:30-11:30 a.m.
LOCATION:	E223

LEADER:	Rev. Bob Price
TIME:	9:45 a.m.
LOCATION:	E223

LEADER:	Heather Miller
TIME:	9:45 a.m.
LOCATION:	E126

LEADER:	Carolyn Lay
TIME:	9:45 a.m.
LOCATION:	W100 / 101