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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Offered this quarter:

• Discipleship 101: Building a Close Relationship with God. Sundays at 7:30 pm with instructors Tom Chittenden and Peg Kiser beginning July 8, Thursdays at 7:00 pm with instructor Melody Merida beginning July 12, and Tuesdays at 6:30 pm with instructor Kay Olry beginning July 10. The Tuesday session is for couples only. No prerequisites.

This course is for all who want to deepen their faith and their understanding of the demands of following Jesus. Content of this class includes reflecting on our spiritual journey to date, examining the concepts of salvation and discipleship, and learning and practicing communicating with God. This course (along with Discipleship 102) is a prerequisite for higher-level courses.

• Discipleship 102: Thriving in Christian Community. Thursdays at 7:00 pm with instructor Jeff Miner beginning July 12, and Mondays at 7:00 pm with instructor Kammie Monarch beginning July 16. Prerequisite: Discipleship 101.

This course explores what it means to be part of a church community. Concepts covered include the body concept, spiritual gifts and service, generous living, appropriate expectations of a church, resolving conflict at church, the purpose of worship, and building friendship networks.

• Spiritual Principles for Successful Dating. Mondays at 7:00 pm beginning July 9, with instructor Deb Doty. No prerequisites.

Are you single? Do you sometimes experience enormous frustration with the challenges of being single—especially when it comes to dating and seeking the right spouse? Successful relationships begin well before they are formed; they begin with each person laying a solid foundation to guide dating and the early months of a new relationship. Topics covered include: key dating mistakes, strategies for choosing the right spouse, hormones and judgment, how soon to have sex, and when to move in together.

• Great Stories of the Bible. Mondays at 7:00 pm beginning July 9, with instructor David Wene. No prerequisites.

The Bible is chock-full of amazing characters—heroes and heroines, kings and queens, prophets and villains—whose stories all teach us lessons about God. This class brings alive a selection of these great stories. If you’re new to the Bible, this course is an introduction to some of the major Old Testament stories and characters, but it can also be a great “refresher” if it’s been a while since you’ve been in Sunday School.

• Exploring the Sermon on the Mount. Wednesdays at 7:00 pm beginning July 11, with instructor John Rumple. Prerequisites: Discipleship 101 and 102.

Jesus’ sermon has been called “the charter of the Kingdom” because of its important instruction on discipleship. This course provides a verse-by-verse analysis of the sermon with emphasis on application in the lives of Christians today. A few of the topics discussed are: spiritual maturity, divorce, retribution, hypocrisy, and being a focused disciple. The class will also look at differing interpretations of the sermon and how some words in the original language can impact interpretation.

About the Discipleship Classes
The foremost goal of Jesus MCC is to “make disciples”. That’s Bible jargon for encouraging ourselves and others to follow the teachings of Jesus, consistently and authentically, in every part of our lives. Our Discipleship Classes help accomplish this. These classes are a way to dig deep into Jesus’ teachings, to grow your soul, and to make friendships at church.

For all classes
Registration is required. Homework will be assigned. Registrants covenant to attend every week they are not out of town or ill. $10 registration fee; scholarships are available. To enroll, fill in the form in the bulletin and drop it in the offering, or in the basket at the info desk.

Jesus made it clear throughout his ministry that even a child can understand and apply his teachings. Following that example, we’re excited to launch a discipleship program for youth in grades 6 to 12.

Youth Discipleship 101 is a 6 month program of classes and activities designed to teach youth about our church and how to build a relationship with God.

Classes will cover the following topics:

• Worship Services,
• Church/Denominational History,
• Community Service and Church Ministry Teams,
• Prayer, and
• Scripture.

Each month you’ll attend 2 sessions, a class and an activity. The “class” session will take place the second Sunday of the month following the 10:45 service. Each session will be held at the home of a different member of the church and will include lunch. Anticipated length of each session is 2 hours, after which you’ll come back to the church for pick up. The “activity” session will occur the last Saturday or Sunday of the month—and we have some great activities planned.

To register, please use the form in Sunday’s bulletin or contact Pastor Tammy Mills: (317) 722-0000 or email her.

Class begins January 14, register by January 7. Parent or guardian must attend the first session. Students must promise to attend all sessions unless ill or out of town. $10 fee is due at the first class, and scholarships are available.