Adult Faith Formation – October 4 & 11, 2026
“The Prophet Who told Us What God Requires” – led by Dr. Jim Butler
Dr. Jim Butler led a deeper dive into the Hebrew Prophet Micah who courageously spoke against civil and religious leaders who abused their power to benefit themselves and their wealthy supporters.
Adult Faith Formation – September 20 & 27, 2026
“The Core Teachings of Jesus” – led by Dr. Jim Butler
The faith formation theme for the 2026–2027 program year is “It is Written, but I (Jesus) Say…” Just read the Gospels and it will become clear that Jesus freely re-interpreted the Hebrew Bible, often making the ethical implications of the laws of Moses more demanding. When he taught, Jesus would acknowledge what Moses said and what had been written down in the Jewish scriptures, but then add more weight to them, as if to say, “I know what Moses said, but we can do better!” Which is one of the many reasons Jesus got into trouble with the Chief Priests and rabbis; they thought he disrespected Moses and the scriptures.
To explore what Jesus actually said, Jim Butler began the new program year with two presentations on what most scholars consider the core or essence of Jesus’ teachings and how they conflicted with the theology and ethical expectations of first century Judaism.
Adult Faith Formation
“He ‘Got No Satisfaction’: The King Who Chased after the Wind” – led by Dr. Jim Butler
Jim Butler led a three-part series on May 3, 10 and 17, 2026. Solomon was the third and final king of the United Kingdom of Israel and Judah. He got the job because of the blood that ran in his veins — he was a son of David and the infamous Bathsheba, whom David married after he had her husband Uriah killed in battle. Solomon was actually their second son; their first was conceived while her husband Uriah was serving in David’s military. David’s sordid relationship to Bathsheba was laid bare by Nathan, a prophet and a “seer” who also accurately predicted their baby would die (see 2 Samuel 11-12). After a period of sincere grief and repentance, Solomon was born. Years later, Nathan and Bathsheba convinced a very old and ill David to choose Solomon as his successor. Solomon was well-educated and possessed of a desire to expand his father’s kingdom and to become himself the envy of neighboring kings. He accomplished both. He built an imposing temple, an impressive palace, and turned Jerusalem into a thriving international city. He amassed incredible wealth and hundreds of wives. And yet, as he faced old age and certain death, he was not satisfied. The book of Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible is a collection of his reflections during what may have been a suicidal mid-life crisis.
Adult Faith Formation
“Why Then? The Greco/Roman World at the Time of Jesus” – led by Sean Kennedy
On April 12 and 19, 2026, “Why Then? The Greco/Roman World at the Time of Jesus,” was led by Sean Kennedy who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. Sean helped us get a sense of divine providence and why Jesus appeared precisely when he did in human history, along with a snapshot of the political, cultural and religious dynamics in play.
Tuesday Evening Lenten Series – March 10, 17 & 24, 2026
“Christian Parameters of the Paranormal”
LPC Pastor Jim Butler led a three-part presentation that explored the various human experiences that do not fit within normal, “materialist” human experiences. These include extrasensory perception, telepathy, precognition, near-death experiences, mystical encounters with the dead, “hauntings,” telekinesis, and all manner of esoteric phenomena such as spirit mediumship, “dark” magic (sorcery), and Ouija boards.
Christian faith can inform these experiences. There can be no doubt that the three great Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) acknowledge non-material reality co-residing with the physical world. In fact, the scriptures and church history include multitudes of stories about paranormal experiences, some of which have been categorically forbidden. On the other hand, it has been argued that many of the spiritual experiences Paul called “gifts of the Spirit” such as tongue speaking, healing and “knowledge,” fit the definition of paranormal or supernatural phenomena. Is there a difference and what is it? Except for hardened materialists and most atheists, most of us have a sense that the universe is stranger than meets the eye. And some of it, according to the scriptures, mystics, and even modern secular psychologists, is not friendly or life-giving.
Adult Faith Formation
“The Four Loves … and More” – led by Rev. Dr. Steve Gorman
Lent is a six-week period of “giving up” something. But what if it were also a time of “adding” to our lives … like adding a class? On Sundays, March 1, 8, 15 and 29, 2026 at 11:20 a.m. in the Chapel, Rev. Dr. Steve Gorman will offer an Adult Faith Formation class on love: the four major forms of it found in our Bible — and many other “loves” found in the Greek language.
Adult Faith Formation
“Misused Verses: A Study on the Book, Unclobber” – led by Aliyah Kennedy
What does the Bible really say about the LGBTQ community? This is one of the hot-button issues within the church. The verses that answer these questions are not the most read or understood.
On February 8 and 15, 2026, Aliyah Kennedy led a discussion of the book Unclobber by Colby Martin. We examined six biblical passages that are often called the “Clobber Passages.” These verses have been historically used by Christians as the basis of anti-LGBTQ theology. UnClobber reexamines what the Bible says (and does not say) about homosexuality in such a way that sheds divine light on outdated and inaccurate assumptions and interpretations. We believe that if we are to use the Bible as a guide for how to treat our neighbor, we should make sure that we read and understand it first.
Adult Faith Formation
“Deep Thoughts” – led by Rev. Dr. Jim Butler
Do you remember that skit on Saturday Night Live called “Deep Thoughts with Jack Handey?” Jack would present dark and sarcastic statements that were anything but deep and probing, but usually very funny. On the four Sundays in January, LPC Pastor Jim Butler explored several deep thoughts and questions that people have been wondering about for centuries, whether they are Christians, agnostics, or followers of other religions. For example, “Why are we here?” “What is a miracle?” “Do things really happen ‘for a reason?’” “Are there ghosts?” “Do non-Christians go to hell?”
Part 4 of the class was not recorded.
Adult Faith Formation
“The Coming of Christ” – led by Rev. Dr. Steve Gorman
The depth of the Birth Narrative of Jesus’ coming in Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2, is a compelling accounting of God’s gracious arrival as Immanuel, God With Us! Lovely Christmas pageants capture the unfolding events. Let’s go deeper! Starting Sunday, November 30, 2025 for the four Sundays of Advent, Rev. Dr. Steve Gorman took an in-depth look at the (1) anticipation, (2) listening, (3) revealing and (4) seeking — four significant messages of the Incarnation.
Adult Faith Formation
“The History of Hymn Singing” – led by Dr. Kaori Hongo
On Sunday, November 9. 2025, Dr. Hongo spoke about the history of hymn singing and how we as Christians can incorporate this uplifting musical tradition into our everyday lives.
Adult Faith Formation
“All Saints’ Day/Sunday and All Hollow’s Eve” – led by Dr. Jim Butler
On November 2, 2025, Dr. Jim butler led a discussion on “All Saints’ Day/Sunday and All Hollow’s Eve.” What are we to make of it?
Adult Faith Formation
“Martin Luther” – led by Dr. Jim Butler
On October 26, 2025, Dr. Jim Butler led a presentation on “Why Did Martin Luther Post Those ’95 Theses’ to the Door?” What believers were protesting in 1517.
Adult Faith Formation
“History of Peacemaking” – led by Dr. Richard Watts
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program and annual offering had its start at LPC in the late 1970s during the ministry of the Rev. Richard Watts. The “cold war” was heating up and came near to a boil between President Ronald Reagan and USSR President Gorbachev. With a small group of LPC members and other local Lakewood residents, Dr. Watts started to explore ways the church could promote peace during an anxious time. The group grew into “Swords into Plowshares” (see Isaiah 2:4), a ministry endorsed by Northeast Ohio Presbytery of the Western Reserve. By January of 1980, Watts concluded his ministry at LPC in order to pursue peacemaking ministry and eventually became the first coordinator of the Presbyterian Church’s Peacemaking Program. On October 5, 2025, we welcomed Dr. Watts back to LPC to share his memories about the start of the program.
Adult Faith Formation
“Triennium 2025 Recap”
Nineteen youth and five adults spent five days in Kentucky this past summer at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium. They worshipped and dreamed with over 2,000 other teens from around the country. They also worked hard to benefit the surrounding community by preparing lunches and organizing a food and supply pantry for the needy at Wayside Christian Ministry. On Sunday, September 28, the youth and volunteers had the opportunity to share some of their favorite parts of the experience.
Adult Faith Formation
“What Did Jesus Do?” – led by Dr. James Butler
During the 2025/2026 program year, our ministry of faith formation will focus on following the example and pathway of Jesus. Many are aware of the so-called “WWJD” question — “what would Jesus do?” It can help inform a person who wants to do the right thing — respond in a Christ-like way. Before we start looking at the implications of that question for us, it is important to understand what Jesus actually did — who he was, what he taught, the religious role(s) he assumed, and the theological basis of his ministry of healing and wholeness.
On Sundays, September 14 and 21, 2025, Jim Butler helped us to rediscover the Jesus of the Gospels and what he did as distinct from the theology that developed about him hundreds of years later.
Tuesday Evening Lenten Series – March 11, 18, 25 & April 1, 2025
“Cliff Notes and Snapshots: The Purpose and Value of Creeds and Confessions”
Dr. Jim Butler will lead a four-part series on the twelve documents that make up our Presbyterian Book of Confessions. Background information about each creed/confession will be shared including the reason why it was written — what was going on in the life of the world and the church that inspired and/or necessitated it? Given the current rise of Christian nationalism, the Theological Declaration of Barmen will be given highest priority. It was written by pastors and theologians from the “Confessing Churches” inside Nazi Germany.