Education is one of the Four Foundations of Christ Church of the Ascension and for 2011 -12 we have several offerings for our Adults.

2011-12 Classes

CCA101 - New Comers Class

Wednesdays 6:30 – 8 PM; October 12 – November 16, 2011 (Teen Center)

Whether you are new to Christ Church, new to the Christian faith, a long-time Episcopalian, or simply interested in growing your knowledge of the church, these classes are for you!

Each class covers one of the Four Foundations of our church: Worship, Service, Giving, and Education. Please join us for some fun and enlightening classes. Childcare is provided. To register email Fr. Phil at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or call 602.840.8210.

Class One: Oct. 12

In this class we will get to know the Rector, get to know our campus with a tour and learn about the Episcopal traditions during a typical Sunday Service.

Class Two: Oct. 19

This class will explore the basics of Christianity and the Message of the Gospel. We will also learn about the history and development of the Christian Church and our place in that continuum. The history of the founding of Christ Church of the Ascension will also be covered.

Class Three: Oct. 26

We will delve into the specifics of the Episcopal Church and Parish Leadership Structures on both the Diocesan and National levels. This lesson includes explanation of Episcopal practices, the Church Calendar and more about what we believe.

Class Four: Nov. 2

We will look inward in this lesson and examine our own spiritual journey and growth. We will learn more about our prayer lives and how to navigate The Book of Common Prayer.

Class Five: Nov. 9

We will explore “in-reach”: how to get involved in the Christ Church family through classes, choir, the school, etc. We will also examine our call to “out-reach”: service in the community and the world.

Class Six: Nov. 16

The last meeting we celebrate with a closing dinner welcoming those who wish to become new members and explaining the options of Baptism, Confirmation and Reception.

Sunday Morning Adult Class (Youth Welcome!)

Fall:  Holy Living

9am Sundays in the Library

This 9 week class runs until Advent and will focus on issues related to living a life worthy of the sacrifice made for us by Jesus Christ.  We will use the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, and devotional classics from the Anglican tradition including Jeremy Taylor’s Holy Living and Holy Dying.  We will pay particular attention to the way in which our journey towards God consists in intentional living and consecrating our precious time on earth to building up the Kingdom of Heaven.  Questions raised may include:  What does it mean to be created in the image of God?  What does the way I use my time say about my faith?  How can I serve the Lord even in my everyday activities?  What does it mean to love my neighbor as myself?  No reading is required from week to week.  All age levels, including youth, are warmly welcome to attend.

Education for Ministry (EfM) is a program of theological education-at-a-distance of the School of Theology of the University of the South. Students sign up one year at a time for this four-year program. It covers the basics of the Old and New Testaments, church history, liturgy, and theology. Students meet once a week, in seminars under the guidance of trained mentors.

At Christ Church of the Ascension, the EfM class began in the fall of 2009 and is in the second year of the program.  Because active group discussion is vital to this program, the class size is limited to 12 so all may participate.  For the class year from September 2010 through May 2011, there may be one or two openings for EfM students who have completed the first year of the EfM program.  Please contact Duane Hoole if you are interested.

Why EfM?

Lay persons face the difficult and often subtle task of interpreting the richness of the church's faith in a complex and theologically diverse world.  EfM offers the kind of theological education which gives reason and historical context to ones faith and fosters spiritual growth.  As the emphasis on lay participation in the church has increased, EfM has come to play an important part by providing a program that develops an informed and knowledgeable laity.

The Scope of the Program

Participants in EfM study the entire sweep of the Christian tradition, from the earliest period to the present. Students learn the disciplines of biblical exegesis and interpretation, systematic theology, church history, ethics, liturgics and ascetical theology, which form the core of a seminary education.  The traditional content is not studied in a vacuum, however.  EfM creates small "communities of learning" where life events may be examined in the light of the materials being studied.  While the academic material is substantial, there is the added focus on life implications and understanding them in a theological context.  EfM provides adult Christians with a basic skill -- theological reflection, which sharpens the skills of personal and cultural assessment.

Women’s Bible Study

Thursdays @ 10 AM in the Teen Center beginning September 22
This is a lectionary-based Bible Study where we closely examine the Scripture readings that will be used in worship the coming Sunday. While a critical scholars’ approach to the texts begins our class, we always try to end by asking how the Biblical texts speak to us in our own lives and contemporary context. (Fr. Phil)