Starting February 5th, the Thursday morning Bible study group of Women Studying Together will begin a study of Ecclesiastes. The author, who calls himself Teacher, has examined everything 'under the sun' in a search for the meaning of life. We experience his frustration as he explains his quest in an often skeptical, disillusioned rhetoric. Along the way he examines many modern attempts to find life's meaning and offers a conclusion worthy of our exploration.

There is no book to buy, just bring your Bible and join us. We meet from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Discussion is 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 would like additional information, please contact Jenny Masterson by e-mail at

jennybobm@comcast.net or call 678-591-0800.

The Library Book Club will meet on Monday, February 9^th, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in room F145 (located on the 1^st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center) to discuss the book James by Percival Everett with a discussion led by Amy Burk. James, a brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, is told from the enslaved Jim's point of view.

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. 

Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made author Percival Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before.

Everyone is invited to participate in a Lenten study, based on the book Taste and See:  Discovering God Among Butchers, Bakers, & Fresh Food Makers by Margaret Feinberg, beginning Sunday, February22nd. The study, led by Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles, will meet on Sundays, February 22nd through March 29th, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center.

Taste and See will be a different type of Lenten study – it will be one about feasting and “discovering God among butchers, bakers, and fresh food makers.” We will discuss where we can find God and that we are all invited to “Taste and See” that God is good. We will also sample some of the dishes that the author discusses!

The cost of the class is $20 is per person to cover the cost of the book and food samples. Childcare will be available by request. To register and for more information, please contact Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org, or call 770-476-3776, ext. 128.

Join us for a new small group class opportunity that will discuss the first five hundred years of Christianity.  Beginning Tuesday, February 24th, and Wednesday, February 25th, this class will meet twice each week for 20 weeks and participants may attend either class. Classes will be held on:

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

The subject matter will be based on Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years, a series of 20 lectures by Paula Fredriksen, Professor of Scripture Emerita at Boston University and Professor Emerita of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  Dr. Fredriksen, and author of numerous books and a widely sought-after speaker, is a worldwide recognized scholar of early Christianity.  A former Catholic, Fredriksen converted to Judaism several years ago.

The class, led by Pete Fleming, will consist of 20 fifty-minute lectures by Dr. Fredriksen which will follow her latest book. Participants are not required to purchase the book, but they may wish to. Classes will be augmented with weekly summaries of the material plus optional additional readings and bibliographies.

If you would like to participate in this new study or have questions, please contact Pete Fleming by e-mail at lfleming3832@att.net or Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org. Please let them know which day of the week you will most likely be attending the class so that classroom space can be planned for.

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.

Have you ever had a topic that you simply wanted to talk about with others at church but there doesn’t seem to be a class or group to focus on that one thing? Then Simply Something is just the place to be. Join Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles and Rev. Dr. C. Kay Fuino on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center, for Simply Something, a discussion place to bring up all things theological, biblical, social, Methodist, or simply on your mind about life in today’s world.

Simply Something will begin with prayer and a short devotion, followed by discussion about a variety of topics chosen by the group. Join us with your list of topics to plan for our future time together. Bring your coffee, tea or water, and your open mind to learn from each other.

For more information, please contact Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles, Associate Pastor, by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org or 770-476-3776, ext. 128.