Learning Opportunities

Make Friends…
Connect with God…
Grow in your Faith…

Staff contact: Beth Palmer, Director of Adult Discipleship.


Understanding Good Friday

Sunday, March 24
1:30-3pm
at church: Social Hall
Sanctuary building
with Pastor April Blaine & Beth Palmer

There’s often a lot of confusion about what happens between Palm Sunday and Easter, especially with what happens on the cross: What does Jesus’s crucifixion mean for us today? How does God save us through the cross? What is salvation really all about?  How does the cross lead us to freedom and new life? What exactly does God accomplish through the death of Jesus? What were you taught, and how has it informed your life?

Join Pastor April Blaine and Beth Palmer, Director of Adult Discipleship, for conversation, Bible study, and a short video presentation by Lutheran pastor Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, entitled “Cross,” where she lays out various theologies of the atonement, with discussion to follow.

We invite contributions in any amount toward the Adult Discipleship ministry at Hilliard UMC. Your generosity helps us continue to offer classes such as this, and we’re humbled by and grateful for your donations.

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Praying with Your Eyes

Wednesday, March 27
6:30-7:30pm
at church: room 305
Facilitator: Stephanie Harrell

This is an opportunity to set aside an evening during Holy Week and explore a simple prayer practice called “Visio Divina,” where Stephanie will lead you through a series of steps inviting you to encounter the divine through artistic images. (You won’t be asked to create art, just look at art.)

Stephanie Harrell
Stephanie Harrell

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, just an openness to using a piece of art as a focal point for contemplative prayer and reflection. All materials provided; bring your own journal if you like, along with something to write with.

Here’s a great short explanation from The Upper Room.

We invite contributions in any amount toward the Adult Discipleship ministry at Hilliard UMC. Your generosity helps us continue to offer classes such as this, and we’re humbled by and grateful for your donations.

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indoor labyrinth prayer walk Maundy Thursday

Indoor Labyrinth Prayer Walk

Thursday, March 28
5:30-7pm & 8-9pm
Warehouse 839 Gym

Before & after 7pm Maundy Thursday worship in the Warehouse 839 worship space

We invite you to take a few minutes to yourself during Holy Week to connect with the God who loves you no matter what.

A prayer labyrinth is a walking path, often circular in form, used as a walking meditation. A typical labyrinth experience involves preparing yourself at the threshold, following the single path to the center (releasing); spending time in the center for as long as you like (receiving); following the same pathway from the center out, crossing the threshold (returning); and then responding to the experience.

There is no single right way to pray a labyrinth. Praying in whatever way helps you connect with God during the labyrinth encounter is the right way and serves as the best guide possible. Journaling before or after the walk may help provide focus and insights.

Volunteers will be available to provide guidance if you like.

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Midday Bible Discussion group Pastor Jon

Midday Bible Discussion

Meets weekly during Lent:
February 14 – March 27
12-1pm in person
Church office, room 6
Facilitated by Judy Scott & Pastor Jon Osmundson

Join Pastor Jon and others to encounter and discuss scripture. Learn a method of praying the scriptures called “lectio divina,” which just means “sacred reading.” It’s about slowing down and reading the same verses several times, listening for God’s word to us today.

Rev Jon Osmundson, Associate Pastor
Associate Pastor Jon Osmundson

No experience or preparation necessary! Just come willing to listen and share if you want to.

We invite contributions in any amount toward the Adult Discipleship ministry at Hilliard UMC. Your generosity helps us continue to offer opportunities such as this, and we’re humbled by and grateful for your donations.

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Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity & Generosity

5 Sunday mornings
through March 24
(skips March 3)
10:05-11:05am
in person, room 305
Sanctuary building
Facilitator: Scott Merillat

“Money has great power in our lives. Used wisely, it is one key to accomplishing our goals, providing for our needs, and fulfilling our life purpose. In recent years, many of us ignored the wisdom of the past when it came to managing and spending our money. Credit card debt soared, savings rates plummeted, and our home equity became something to be tapped into and spent rather than a source of security in retirement. We felt an insatiable desire for more. And we found ourselves spending tomorrow’s money today in order to have what we hoped would satisfy. The result of all of this was not greater happiness and satisfaction, but greater stress and anxiety.

Scott Merillat
Scott Merillat

Using DVD discussion-starter clips by United Methodist Pastor Adam Hamilton, “Enough is an invitation to rediscover the Bible’s wisdom when it comes to prudent financial practices. In these pages are found the keys to experiencing contentment, overcoming fear, and discovering joy through simplicity and generosity. This book could change your life, by changing your relationship with money.”

No homework, just come for discussion of Rev. Hamilton’s ideas presented on DVD.

We invite contributions in any amount toward the Adult Discipleship ministry at Hilliard UMC. Your generosity helps us continue to offer classes such as this, and we’re humbled by and grateful for your donations.

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Romans 8 Bible Study

5 Wednesday evenings
through March 20
6:30-7:30pm
in person, room 306/308
Sanctuary building
Facilitator: Pastor April

Join Pastor April for a Bible study diving into Romans Chapter 8 and its invitation to a life guided by the Holy Spirit. This is the chapter that Warehouse 839 is named for, and it speaks to the “No Matter What” love of God.

Reverend April Blaine, Lead Pastor
Pastor April Blaine

No need for prior Bible experience, and everyone is welcome!

We invite contributions in any amount toward the Adult Discipleship ministry at Hilliard UMC. Your generosity helps us continue to offer classes such as this.

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Exploring Racism Book Group:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

Thursday, April 18
7pm at church
Sanctuary building
Parlor (room 206)

Join the Exploring Racism Book Group for a discussion of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson. This fictional novel is inspired by the true and historical blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service. The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story about the power of literacy over hatred. Learn more at Kim Michele Richardson — THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK.  Read the book on your own and join Orpha Belardo and Amy Bashforth for a discussion at 7pm on April 18 in the parlor (main level, Sanctuary building).

Get your own copy – here’s a link to buy the book from Bookshop ($15.80 paperback) – we like organizations that support local bookstores! The library probably has copies, too.

Facilitators: Amy Rae Bashforth & Orpha Belardo.

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Centering Prayer Reboot

2nd Mondays through
May 2024
6:30-7:30pm
Sanctuary building
Parlor (rm 206, accessible)

Please use the playground door to enter the building rather than the social hall door, so as not to disrupt the AA meeting happening in the social hall 6-7pm.

Ginny Fisher
Ginny Fisher

Ginny Fisher will facilitate a monthly group for Centering Prayer practice November 2023 through May 2024. Expect an opening grounding/centering activity, an abbreviated Centering Prayer practice (10-15 minutes), and then some conversation around what you’ve been noticing and experiencing in your practice, what fruits have you seen, what has been going well or not, etc., for 30-40 minutes. She may provide a topic or experience based on previous conversations and questions.

If you’re interested in practicing Centering Prayer in community, whether you have little experience or are a long-time practitioner, this opportunity is for you. You’re welcome to come for just the first part or the entire hour.

Sign up below so we know how many to expect, or you’re also welcome to just show up as your schedule allows.

We invite contributions in any amount toward the Adult Discipleship ministry at Hilliard UMC. Your generosity helps us continue to offer opportunities such as this, and we’re humbled by and grateful for your donations.

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Enneagram Classes

Hilliard UMC is a hub for learning about the Enneagram, a powerful tool for self-discovery and growth. Click or tap the image for more details, along with resources for beginners.

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Enneagram
Click or tap image for details & signup links

Walk to Emmaus, Christian spiritual growth retreat

Walk to Emmaus

A Weekend Spiritual Retreat
Next Women’s Walk: April 18-21
Applications close mid-to-late March

The Greater Columbus Walk to Emmaus community hosts weekend spiritual retreats for adults a few times a year at the Church of the Purple Door (Grove City UMC). It’s an inclusive community, so we’re happy to support their work.

If you’ve never taken a spiritual retreat as an adult, we can’t recommend it highly enough!

Several members of the Hilliard UMC community have attended a walk as a pilgrim or served on a leadership team. Any of these folks would be happy to talk with you about this wonderful experience: Max & April Andrick (she’s the HUMC staff contact and serves on the Emmaus leadership team), as well as Virginia Blasingame, Lisa Haney, Melissa Landon, or Beth Palmer.

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deeper waters innovative courageous leaders

Deeper Waters

Innovative & Courageous Leaders

January – November 2024

The 2024 cohort has been formed, and applications are closed.

But we invite you to keep us in mind for 2025!

It’s an extraordinary time to be a human. With everything we are facing collectively and individually, more than ever, the world needs innovative and courageous leaders who can meet this moment with a

  • Capacity to hold complexity and ambiguity
  • Compassionate, non-anxious presence
  • Commitment to pursuing the most humane and loving path forward

Even if you don’t hold a leadership position in your organization, all of us can be leaders simply because we can influence others in important, life-giving ways!

How do we continue to evolve into the leaders that are needed in this season?

Research consistently points to the critical work leaders must do that is PERSONAL and SPIRITUAL in nature. This includes engaging in practices that increase their awareness and ability to be present to self and others, help them reflect and make meaning, widen their capacity to hold complex thoughts and emotions, and point them toward the greater good. Leaders who are also cultivating self-compassion and love as central values that guide the way they live are the same leaders building healthy, thriving, and innovative organizations that employees and customers want to be connected to.

As leaders ourselves, we’ve experienced the kind of growth, healing, and transformation that can come when we are doing robust personal and spiritual work. We’ve seen what can happen when this kind of transformation happens in communities of people, willing to do this work together.

We want to create that kind of space right here in central Ohio.

Are you ready to dive deeper into this kind of work?

You are invited to apply to be a part of the next cohort of DEEPER WATERS: Innovative and Courageous Leaders.

This cohort will launch in January 2024 for 10 months of collective work.

As we do our work, we will engage and explore

  • An Innovative Leadership Model
  • Resources for cultivating deeper self-awareness, including the Enneagram
  • Tools for understanding and navigating our social location and its implications for social justice work in our organizations
  • Models for nurturing healthy, authentic communities
  • Daily meditative and reflective practices

Engagement in Deeper Waters will include:

  • Monthly in-person teaching sessions on Sunday afternoons at Hilliard UMC
  • Monthly in-person/online small group sessions
  • Two in-person overnight retreats
  • All books and curriculum
  • Online learning platform that includes readings, videos, and podcasts to guide your learning
  • One-to-one session with one of the facilitators

Cost: $1500

This includes your food and expenses for the two retreats, as well as all books, curriculum, and group sessions.

Deeper Waters leadership team, Dan Mushalko, April Blaine, Beth Palmer, Nikki Buskirk
L to R: Dan Mushalko, April Blaine, Beth Palmer, Nikki Buskirk

Facilitators

Rev. April Blaine
Lead Pastor, Hilliard UMC
Adjunct Professor, Methodist Theological School in Ohio

Nikki Buskirk
Director of Middle Grades Ministry, Hilliard UMC

Dan Mushalko
Vice President, Innovative Leadership Institute

Beth Palmer
Director of Adult Discipleship, Hilliard UMC

Testimonials

Deeper Waters was everything I didn’t know I needed. What made it a transformative experience for me was witnessing God showing up at various points along the way, often during moments when the group was being vulnerable with one another. It ended up feeling like a journey that goes beyond the curriculum description.” (Mike Boyers)

“As someone who has been privileged enough to be a part of this group for two years, it is hard to articulate the impact it has had on my life and what a great catalyst that it has been. This experience really opened me up. It broadened my perspectives. I was able to grow so much in my self knowledge with the tools that were taught and the conversations that we had. In my adult life, it helped me in getting more comfortable being uncomfortable. I’m coming to acceptance that I don’t control most things, and learning to flow with it. If you’re thinking about doing it, I can wholeheartedly say, take the leap. See where it leads. This experience has been one of the most meaningful in my life and I feel pretty confident saying it probably will be for you too.” (Emily Clark)

“I’m amazed how often I’ve found connections in random, everyday things and can then explore further because of my experience in Deeper Waters: increased self-awareness, connections with community, and deconstruction are just some of them.” (Stephanie Harrell)

“Deeper Waters has made a major difference in my life: self love, spiritual growth, working with others, growing together…” (Louann Liming)

Watch Video Testimonials

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Foundational Classes

We regularly offer foundational classes to help ground your spiritual life and practice. Stay tuned to this page for details and signup links, as each class is offered.

  • Knowing Yourself, an introduction to the Enneagram, a powerful tool for self-discovery and growth.
  • Engaging the Bible, an opportunity to learn how to read and understand the Bible, using an ancient prayer practice called lectio divina (“sacred reading”).
  • Prayer & Meditation Boot Camp, for developing a consistent personal prayer practice.

Complete descriptions are listed HERE.


Costs

We don’t want the cost of books or class materials to get in the way of you taking a class, so sign up whether you have class or book money or not. Pay what you can from your heart (any amount welcome), or it’s on us, happily!

And if you’d like to contribute a few extra dollars toward a book or class materials for someone who doesn’t have money this time, we’re honored by your support, thank you! You can always contribute online here, or class facilitators will collect money at class.

Beth Palmer Director of Adult Discipleship

Staff Contact

Beth Palmer, Director of Adult Discipleship
bpalmer@hilliardumc.org