Spiritual Formation

Spiritual Formation & Mid-Week Groups
Spiritual Formation takes place each Sunday from 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Spiritual Formation offerings include age-specific groups based on scripture, justice issues, interests and more. Some Sundays, Spiritual Formation is intergenerational in the form of brunches, service projects, spiritual practices and more.
Mid-week groups are occasionally offered during the week. These groups include book studies, interest groups and more.
Spiritual Formation

All Church Spiritual Formation: Apartheid Free Pledge speaker – Allison Tanner
On May 4th, Rev. Dr. Allison Tanner will join us for worship and spiritual formation. Allison will speak in the worship service and join us at a conversation on the anti-apartheid pledge.
Rev. Dr. Tanner is a pastor, organizer and educator who serves as Pastor of Public Witness at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Oakland. She also works for American Friends Service Committee as the National Organizer of the Apartheid-Free Communities initiative.
Alison will speak in the morning service on the importance of the work of justice, peace and reconciliation, looking at it from her perspective as a pastor and community member. She will then host a spiritual formation class that will focus on the apartheid free pledge.
The pledge calls on congregations to:
- Affirm their commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for all Palestinian people and all people.
- Oppose all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression.
- Declare ourselves an apartheid-free community.
- Pledge to join others in working to end support to Israel’s apartheid system, settler colonialism, and military occupation.
Led By: Rev. Dr. Allison Tanner
Location: Fellowship Hall
Ages: All
Day/Time: Sunday, May 4th 2025 | 10:45 a.m.

Child Care is Available
May 4th 2025
Child care will be provided for children in the aqua room during the All Church Spiritual Formation at 10:45 a.m.
May 18th 2025
Child care will be provided for children in the aqua room during the Church Council Meeting at 10:45 a.m.

No Spiritual Formation on May 11th in observance of Mother’s Day.

Church Council Meeting
Please join us for the all Church Council meeting on May 18th, 2025 immediately following worship. Please plan to attend and help shape the future of our beloved community. A brunch will precede the meeting.
Led By: Moderator Mary Kay Ogden
Location: Fellowship Hall
Ages: All
Day/Time: Sunday, May 18th 2025 | 10:45 a.m.
Volunteers are needed to help prepare brunch at the all Church Council meeting on May 18th, 2024. Please click on the link below and fill out the form if you would like to volunteer. Thank you! Paper sign-ups will be available as a bulletin insert beginning on May 4th.

Friendship Class
Friendship Class will continue exploring the lives and deeds of “Great Figures of the New Testament” using the brilliant lectures of Professor Amy-Jill Levine of Vanderbelt University. On May 25 Friendship will discuss Dr. Levine’s words on “Martha, Mary, and Lazarus” and on June 1 the subject will be “‘Doubting’ Thomas.” Each lecture and discussion are detached from the others, so you may participate in one or both without missing out.
Led By: Al Clark
Location: Social Hall
Ages: Adults
Day/Time: Sunday, May 25th & June 1st 2025 | 10:45 a.m.

Coffee & Conversation
As a new co-pastor, Glenn would like to invite you to a time of “coffee and conversation” in the library. This is a time to share and reflect upon the emotional and spiritual impact of the current political happenings. Questions that will guide this conversion are: “Who are you doing?” “What have you found that helps (spiritual practices, actions or organizations) and gives you hope?” This session will replace Joys and Concerns.
Location: Library
Ages: Adults
Day/Time: Sunday, May 25th & June 1st 2025 | 10:45 a.m.

Let’s Get Moving
All ages are invited to walk and talk. We will meet in the courtyard and walk around the church neighborhood.
Led by: Amanda Bennett
Location: Surrounding Neighborhood
Ages: All
Day/Time: Sunday, May 25th & June 1st 2025 | 10:45 a.m.

Peace and Crafts
Explore what it means to be a peacemaker with Jami through arts and crafts.
Led by: Jami Guillen
Location: Aqua Room
Ages: Birth- 5th grade
Day/Time: Sunday, May 25th & June 1st 2025 | 10:45 a.m.

Youth Civil Rights Discussions
Join Katy Herder as she leads civil rights discussions surrounding immigrant rights and the Chicano movement. These discussions are in preparation for two day trips that Katy will be leading. The first, to Downtown LA on May 31st and the second to the Museum of Chicano Art in Riverside on June 14th. Donuts will be provided!
Led by: Katy Herder
Location: Rainbow Room
Ages: Middle – High School
Day/Time: Sunday, May 25th & June 1st 2025 | 10:45 a.m.

Hope 4 Home
We are a Matthew 25 Movement congregation, seeking to protect and defend the vulnerable in the name of Jesus. One way we work at this pledge is by providing meals to Hope for Home, a local transitional housing center in Pomona. All ages are invited to participate in meal preparations. For questions, email our kitchen ministries coordinator, Tron Passmore at kitchen@lavernecob.org
Led By: Tron Passmore
Location: Church Kitchen
Ages: All
Day/Time: Sunday, May 25th 2025 | 10:45 a.m.