DISCOVERY/MEMBERSHIP 2008 CLASS SCHEDULE

Central Presbyterian Church

Discovery is a four-week class, held on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in Classroom A (lower level main church building). It is followed by a ten-week Membership class. Discovery doesn’t obligate an individual to pursue Membership, but Discovery is a prerequisite for Membership—Discovery is the “entry point” for all newcomers (non-members) of Central. (And if an individual chooses not to take the Membership class following Discovery, there are other options—an “Exploring Christianity” class, for one.)

The purpose of Discovery is for newcomers to “discover” what Central is about, for us at Central to get to know newcomers, and as a springboard either to Membership or Exploring Christianity (or to simply continuing to visit). Discovery is designed to help someone answer the question, “Do I want to explore membership in Central Presbyterian Church?” And the four classes, after the first introductory one, will be directed at these three questions:

• Am I a believer in Christ? (the gospel)
• What are the theological foundations of Central? (brief distinctives)
• Would Central be a good church home for me? (brief who-what-why-where-when-how of Central Church)

Discovery will be team-taught by Robbie Griggs and Bob Mark.

Membership will be eight weeks of more in-depth teaching on theological distinctives of Central, followed by two weeks for membership interviews and joining the church. Membership will be taught by Robbie Griggs.

Each Discovery class starts with a Friday evening dinner preceding the first Sunday morning class, and there will be a good bit of fellowship/discussion built in to the four weeks of Discovery; Membership will involve some discussion time during each class period. The Discovery class periods will also include a short personal testimony given by one of the people involved in the Discovery/Membership/Discipleship ministry.

The next sessions will be as follows:

Winter 2008 class

Friday night Discovery dinner—January 4
Discovery—Sunday mornings January 6, 13, 20, 27
Membership—Sunday mornings February 3, 10, 17, 24;
        March 2, 9, 16, 30; April 6, 13 (no class March 23—
        Easter)
Dinners for eight—February 16
Discipleship by Design presentation—Sunday March 30
Elder interviews for membership—Saturday morning April 5
Joining Sunday—April 13

Spring-Summer 2008 class

Friday night Discovery dinner—April 25
Discovery—Sunday mornings April 27; May 4, 11, 18
Membership—Sunday mornings June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29;
        July 13, 20, 27; August 3, 10 (no classes May 25—
        Memorial Day and July 6—July 4 holiday)
Dinners for eight—June 14
Discipleship by Design presentation—Sunday July 27
Elder interviews for membership—Saturday morning August 2
Joining Sunday—August 10

Fall 2008 class

Friday night Discovery dinner—September 5
Discovery—Sunday mornings September 7, 14, 21, 28
Membership—Sunday mornings October 5, 12, 19, 26;
        November 2, 9, 16, 23; December 7, 14 (no class
        November 30—Thanksgiving weekend)
Dinners for eight—October 18
Discipleship by Design presentation—November 23
Elder interviews for membership—Saturday morning
        December 6
Joining Sunday—December 14