The Learning Ministry
The Christ Church Deer Park community offers a number of learning opportunities and groups for all ages and interests - all are welcome.
See a listing of the learning ministry initiatives here ». Also children here » and young people here »
Please call the church office for further information: 416-920-5211.
The Learning Ministry welcomes your ideas and suggestions of topics and speakers: email Jenny Rieger, Chair through the Parish Office: 416-920-5211 or email »
See Learning Ministry page here »
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Challenging Christianity
Challenging Christianity meets monthly to discuss challenges to and from traditional conceptions and contemporary culture. It is an adult forum for sharing genuine questions, doubts, perplexities and contrasting perspectives on contemporary issues and traditional teaching. Besides the historical contexts of ideas, we consider how they connect with current issues.
Next meeting: Friday, February 10, 2012 to discuss Christian responses to Hindu and Buddhist faith - noon to 1:30 pm in the Arthur Smith Room.
You can drop in with any issues you like and find a receptive audience where easy pat answers just don't make the grade. Challenging Christianity discusses topics chosen by members present. 12 noon to 1:30 pm in the Arthur Smith Room.
Contact: For further information please call Dr. Peter Slater through the Parish Office: Email or 416-920-5211.
ARCHIVE of past Challenging Christianity discussions
- Recently published guidelines on Christians' relations with people from different religious traditions - Friday, January 13, 2012
- How do we combat commercializing Christmas? How do we affirm Christ's coming at this time? Friday, December 9, 2011
- Question: where is the church on Occupying Wall Street? What do the Gospels suggest? Friday November 11, 2011
- What, in our experience, most strengthens or most weakens faith? Also, What do we look for in sermons? - October 21, 2011
- After sin and death, resurrection, not resuscitation, not immortality. Question: who is our earliest reliable witness to Jesus’ resurrection? , in the Arthur Smith Room Reading: I Corinthians 15, Acts 9, 1-19; Matthew 25, 31-40; Mark 16; John 10, 31-36; John 20 & 21. Friday, May 13 2011
- Does peace only come from scapegoating innocent victims? Read Leviticus 16: 18-31, John 11: 47-53, Hebrews 5: 1-10; 9: 11- 28; Matthew 16: 21-28. April 15, 2011
- "Why is secularism so popular in modern culture?" - March 11,
2011
- whether religion does more harm than good in today’s world -- yours/ mine /ours/ theirs /God's? Feb 11, 2001
- wishes for the worldwide church in the New Year and “why breaking resolutions can be a good thing” - January 14, 2011
- what meaning do we anticipate for Christmas in the future, given the story of its origins and present cultural norms? December 10
- Public and religious dress codes for Muslim women. November 12, 2010
- Regulating the sex trade. October 2010
- How do we read Scripture? Why? What puts us off? Some texts: Deuteronomy 1: 1-3; Psalm 1; Jeremiah 31: 31-37; Luke 1: 1-4; John 20: 30-31; II Timothy 3: 14-17; II Peter 3:15-16; Revelation 1:1-3. Friday, June 4, 2010 .
- Faith journeys - what in our hearts are we hoping for? Some suggested reading: Genesis 22, 1-14; Isaiah 40, 28-31; 55, 6-12; Matthew 5, 17-26; 10, 34-40; 11, 28-30; 28, 16-20; Mark 9, 20-29; Luke 18, 9-14; John 4, 5-26; 12, 44-50; 14, 15-29; 2 Corinthians 4, 2-16. May 14, 2010
- Our "road to Emmaus" experiences. Reading Luke 24: 13-32, John 6:22-41, Exodus 16: 1-8. Question: what is your favourite grace before meals? Friday April 9
2010
- Sacrifice - Giving up or getting back with a blessing? Propitiation? Expiation? Thanksgiving?" Some reading: Leviticus 1:10-2:3, 6: 1-7, 19: 1-12; Amos 5: 21-25; Matthew 26: 26-28; Mark 12: 28-34; Romans 12: 1-2; I Corinthians 10: 14-21; Hebrews 1: 1-4, 4:14- 5:25 - March 12, 2010
- What do we really think about resurrection and how does this bear on how we face trials and tribulations in this life? Reading I Corinthians 15: 3-26; John 5:24-32, 11: 21-7, 21-25. Friday, February 12, 2010
- "to be centered in the Spirit." What does this mean to us, individually and collectively? Reading Galatians 5: 13-25
- Christmas and the Church: whose star are we following? Would wise women have acted differently? Friday December 11, 2009
- should we believe what the Bible says about Jesus? Some reading options: Mark 3:20-28; Matthew 11:1-6; 16: 13-28; Luke 10:17-24; 23: 1-9, 32-43; John 1: 14-18; 6: 41-51; 8: 12-16, 48-58; 10: 7-18; Acts 2: 29-36; Romans 1: 1-6; 5: 12-18; 15:1-8; Galatians 5:16-25. Friday November 20, 2009
- Challenging Christianity – -is church for us an anchor/ albatross/ both? Or, in what respects is church experience sustaining and draining? This month's focus is questions about liturgy, e.g. what signal do we give, if we accept non-inclusive language in prayers that would not be acceptable in the workplace? / Friday October 16, 2009
- Being baptized in the Holy Spirit. What are some of the unholy spirits dominating our world today? Which qualifiers fit our sense of "spirit" -- mean, partisan, generous, team, ambiguous, bold, cold, caring? What experiences feed which? How can church share a Christ-like Spirit? Reading: John 1: 19-34, Acts 10: 44-48; I Corinthians 12 & 13; Galatians 4: 6-9, 5:13-25. / Friday, May 8, 2009
- Christian hopes for bodily resurrection. Some think we have bodies, some that we are our bodies, so that without some kind of body we are nothing. Read 1 Corinthians 15, Mark 16: 1-8; Luke 24: 13-32; Matthew 27: 62 - 28: 15; John 20: 26-31. / Friday April 17, 2009
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