A new small group class, utilizing Bart Ehrman’s New Insights into the New Testament Seminar for 2025, will be offered at the church on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings beginning July 7th and 8th. This class, led by Pete Fleming, features videos of ten New Testament scholars’ lectures on various aspects of the Historical Jesus Quest. Classes will meet twice weekly for ten weeks beginning July 7th and 8th:

• Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.;
• Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:15 p.m.

Participants may attend either class.

Video presenters include Amy-Jill Levine, Dale Allison, Elaine Pagels, Paula Fredriksen and others. Each class will view one 40-minute lecture, followed by a time of discussion. Participants are encouraged to read E.P. Sanders’s book, The Historical Figure of Jesus, which presents the basic outlines of the Historical Jesus scholarship. The book can be purchased for under $10.

Please contact Pete Fleming by e-mail at lfleming3832@att.net or Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org to register and also letting them know which day you will attend. Once the size of each class has been determined, participants will be notified of the classroom location.

Our Thursday morning Women Studying Together study group will begin a “Names of God” study on Thursday, July 16th. Names in the ancient world carried for more significance than they do in the modern world. It was often thought that the name described the essential nature and character of a person. God revealed himself to people in various ways, often with a different facet of his character as part of the name. Why so many? Why not just the word 'God'?

How does my relationship change with the people who know my name, what about my nickname? Will knowing more about God's names and titles help my relationship with Him? That is the purpose of the study—not just to know, but to grow toward our awesome God who has revealed his name to us.

The “Names of God” study begins Thursday, July 16th, with an anticipated completion date of August 20th. Women Studying Together meets from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center.

There is no book to buy, just bring your Bible and join us. There will be assigned Scripture readings for each class, and a discussion of the name/title revealed in that section. Discussion will be led by Jenny Masterson.  As we study, we ask questions, search for answers, share our stories, laugh and pray together. We welcome all women. If you have any questions, please contact Jenny by e-mail at jennybobm@comcast.net.

The Men Studying Together group meets for Bible/book studies on Thursday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. This study is led by Rev. Terry Tippens. The group is currently studying the Gospel of Matthew.

All are welcome to join us, any time, and every class time will allow for individual input and group discussion. Please contact Tracy Brinker by e-mail at tbrinker@duluthumc.org or at 770-476-3776 for more information.

The Library Book Club will meet on Monday, July 20th, at 10:00 a.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center, to discuss The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a WWII historical fiction novel about a young woman, Yona, who was kidnapped as a child and raised in the forests of Eastern Europe, learning to survive off the land. After her kidnapper dies, she encounters Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis and uses her wilderness skills to help them survive, while they teach her about love and community, all while she grapples with her past and identity. The story is inspired by true accounts of Jewish partisans and survival groups during the war.