This short, focused class is for couples who want the opportunity to practice communication skills. The class will meet on July 11, 18, 25, and August 1 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in Room 1 at the church.

Learning will involve practical tips and feedback while getting hands-on experience practicing communication skills in a group setting. You will learn ways to talk to each other, listen, and develop a better understanding of yourself and your partner.

Open to all couples, registration is required. Donations to the CTS Counseling Center will be accepted, but you are welcome regardless of your ability to pay. Referrals to therapists will be available if issues arise that are beyond the scope of the class or if couples want to continue their work after the class ends.

You can register with the form in Sunday’s Weekly News, or by contacting Melody Merida.

Family-Focused Group
Eight Mondays, begins March 7. Led by Laura Inniger and Cassie Nelson. Suggested donation: $50 per couple.

This group is for couples who want to look at the family they grew up in and find some perspective on how the events and experiences in their family impact what they bring to their current relationship.

The group will include exploring your family of origin and its history, parents’ and other family expectations, and ways your family handled emotions and conflict. This may also include coming-out stories for LGBT members of the group. This process will deepen partners’ understanding of each other. We’ll also look at what kind of family the couple has created or wants to create for themselves.

Emotionally-Focused Group
Six Fridays, begins March 11. Led by Laura Inniger and Aubrey Christman. If you’re planning to get married this year, this class is required! Suggested donation: $50 per couple.

This will be a hands-on group that will help partners become more emotionally intelligent with self-awareness, explore how anger and other emotions affect connection, and see how risk taking and vulnerability can enhance your bond as a couple.

The group will consider couple conflict scenarios, discuss emotional content in those situations, and deepen their understanding of how emotions function in their own relationship. Because this process involves being vulnerable with one’s partner, this group is for people who are considering a commitment ceremony/marriage or who are already in a committed relationship and who want to strengthen their trust and connection.

For more information about either of these classes, contact Melody Merida: (317) 722-0000 × 102 or mmerida@jesusmcc.org. To register, contact Melody or use the response form in Sunday’s Weekly News.

Are you feeling the pressure of financial worry? If so, you’re not alone — over 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.

Consider investing in Financial Peace University, a video class taught by financial expert Dave Ramsey. You’ll learn how to achieve financial goals by eliminating debt, saving for the future, and giving as never before. The class will begin in July. If you’d like to get an idea of what FPU can do for you, please join us June 6 or 13 in Room 2 after either Sunday service. There is no charge for the preview.

Brent Walsh, the class facilitator, will present a brief video and answer questions. If you need more info, email Brent via the church office.

It’s pretty amazing, really, that any of us are able to sustain relationships.  Yet we do.  Some of us enjoy long, meaningful, rich relationships full of love, life and aliveness.  Others of us live in cocoons where we protect our love from what we perceive as harmful forces — employers, churches, neighbors, families, and even our friends.  More of us, however, weave our way in and out of relationships seeking answers and understanding.  Searching.  Floundering.  Fearing.  Exploring.  Enjoying. Wondering. Am I meant to commit forever?  Is it possible to create life-long relationships?  Is there anyone sane out there to date?  If so, where are they?!

Join Michele O’Mara, LCSW on June 7, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm here at the church to learn some of the following important lessons about love and relationships:

• Understanding love and attraction.
• Identify the healthy stages of relationship development.
• Know your relationship vision and how to attract and keep the partner you desire.
• Develop how-to steps for your personal relationship success.

Registration
Cost is $30 per person, and scholarships are available.  To register, go to Michele O’Mara’s website, and register for Relationship Workshop 101.

If you need a scholarship, please contact Melody Merida.  This workshop is required for those who are planning weddings or Holy Unions at Jesus MCC!

It’s pretty amazing, really, that any of us are able to sustain relationships. Yet we do. Some of us enjoy long, meaningful, rich relationships full of love and life. Others of us live in cocoons where we protect our love from what we perceive as harmful forces such as employers, churches, neighbors, families, and our friends. No one knows our love exists. Yet it does. More of us, however, weave our way in and out of relationships seeking answers and understanding. Searching. Floundering. Fearing. Exploring. Enjoying. Wondering… Am I meant to settle down, to commit forever? Is it possible to create life-long relationships? Is there anyone sane out there to date? If so, where are they?

Join Michele O’Mara, LCSW, on January 19 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm here at the church to learn some of the following important lessons about love and relationships:

• Understand love and attraction and the impact of body chemistry on love,
• Identify the natural and healthy stages of relationship development,
• Know your personal relationship vision and how to attract and keep the partner you desire, and
• Develop basic how-to steps for your personal relationship success.

Registration
Cost is $30 per person, and partial scholarships are available. To register, go to Michele O’Mara’s website and register for Relationship Workshop 101.

If you need a scholarship, please see Melody Merida, or contact her at mmerida@jesusmcc.org or (317) 722-0000.

This workshop is required for those who are planning weddings or Holy Unions at Jesus MCC in 2008!

Are you partnered, or plan to get married some time this year? Are you single, but hope that a relationship will be in your future? Then this workshop is for you!

This workshop, Healthy Relationship for Gay Men and Lesbians, is an intensive, personalized four-hour class that will help you prepare for and create outstanding relationships. It will be presented by Michele O’Mara, LCSW, who specializes in counseling same-sex couples.

If you plan to get married in the next year, this workshop is strongly recommended! The workshop takes place Saturday, August 11, from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the church. Cost is $30 per person, and scholarships are available. Register with the form in Sunday’s bulletin, or online at Michele O’Mara’s website.

Discipleship Classes are for anyone who wants to put faith into practice in all areas of life—to learn to be a follower (disciple) of Jesus. New classes begin each calendar quarter. Third-quarter Discipleship Classes begin the week of July 8. If you’ve not taken any of the Discipleship Classes, we recommend beginning with 101: Building a Close Relationship with God. It’s a great foundation for the others.

Offered this quarter:

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Exciting new program begins in January.

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