St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Adult Catechesis
"Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."
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Adult Catechesis (or Instruction) falls under three basic categories: Inquiry, Catechumenate, and Baptismal Living. Below you can see more information about what these terms mean and where you might fit in at St. John's.
Inquiry
"God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:26-27).
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An inquirer may be someone with no church experience and isn't sure about Christianity or the existence of God. They might be a Christian in search of a congregation to call home. Inquiry is an open-ended period that allows individuals or families to ask questions and begin to become more involved in congregational life at St. John's. There is no commitment in becoming an "inquirer." This is a time to ask our pastor and other members of the congregation questions and get to know us. Inquiry sessions include educational, social, and service opportunities being carried out by our congregation. Here are our current inquiry opportunities:
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Sunday
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Sunday School at 10 am
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Divine Service at 11 am
Friday
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Not-Sure-Yet at 1:30 pm (located at The Clarksburg Mission, 312 N 4th St, Clarksburg, WV 26301). This is a class at The Mission that discusses questions related to Christianity in general and differences between Christian denominations. No question is off limits and all are welcome!
Unless otherwise noted, all inquiry sessions are located at St. John's Lutheran, 721 Hall St, Bridgeport, WV 26330
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To schedule your own inquiry visit with Pastor Lacey, please click the button below!
Catechumenate
"They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
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An individual in the catechumenate at St. John's has had their initial questions about Christianity answered and is interested in becoming a member of the congregation. During this period, adults will learn more specifically about what is believed and taught at St. John's and will have the opportunity to compare this teaching with the Scriptures. Each adult in the catechumenate works through a resource titled, Didache (Greek for "teaching"). This is an opportunity to go over the basics of the Christian faith expressed at St. John's and will be of benefit whether it is new or familiar. Currently, catechumenate sessions are conducted by appointment only.
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Click here for more information about the resource used for catechumenate at St. John's.
Baptismal Living
“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Rom. 6:4).
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Baptismal Living involves all baptized members of St. John's and includes all opportunities at St. John's to learn God's Word and serve our neighbor. Whether it is Sunday Worship, special prayer services throughout the week, Bible class, or a service project, these are opportunities for us to live the life we have been given by God in Holy Baptism.
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Beyond the volunteer opportunities within our congregation, St. John's also offers many opportunities to serve others through the St. John's Lutheran Life Enrichment Center. You can see SJLEC events on the calendar below.
Click here for more information on our Life Enrichment Center!