The Adult Forum:

This "drop in as you can" group meets every Sunday at 9:15 to discuss the "heart of the matter" in the scriptural lessons read in church that morning. An example might be, "dealing with loss". We each tell a brief story about a time in our life when we experienced loss. Then we compare and contrast our stories to deepen our insights into the implications of loss in our lives, day to day. This gives us a deeper way to listen to the lessons and the homily. Each meeting stands on its own and therefore you can attend whenever you wish. The time coincides with the start of the 9:15 AM children's education program. Many parents drop off their children and then attend the Adult Forum.

Education For (Lay) Ministry (EFM):

This group welcomes new members into the group the first week in September each year. It is a program for everybody, and everybody can grow from participating in it. In EFM we relate our lives to the scriptures through sharing our stories, studying the Old and New Testaments, Church history and contemporary theology. We engage in theological reflection and special activities such as sharing our personal spiritual autobiographies and personal theology. EFM gives you the freedom to identify what you believe. It is the cutting edge experience in adult Christian formation in the Anglican Communion today. This integrative process transforms lives. EFM is a continuing education program run by Sewanee Seminary of the University of the South. EFM gives us wonderful leadership preparation to do our lay ministries as family members, as workers in the business world, as volunteers, or wherever we live and have our being. This group meets Wednesday evening over a shared meal, from September to June.

Lenten Book Group:

If you want to push yourself into areas of new theological and spiritual growth, you would enjoy this Lenten program. We have studied Marcus Borg's, "The God We Never Knew" and "Meeting Jesus Again For The First Time". We have also read "Being Priest To One Another"; "What Do I Want In Prayer?"; Bishop Spong's controversial book, "Why Christianity Must Change or Die" and Borg's and Wright's book, "Jesus: Two Visions". These books are all currently available for sale in the church. People always comment on how much they grow and stretch as a result of these groups, both because of the diversity of opinions that participants express and because of the excellent scholarship and thought provoking theology of the books.

Men's Retreat:

St. Anne's men will again have their annual retreat this October at the wonderful, wine country Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg. In past years, both external and parishioner facilitators have ably led the group of 10-20. Participants have been guided through a number of experiences that created bonding through the sharing of personal stories.

Women's Retreat:

The annual retreat for women is also at the beautiful wine country Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg, "a place where lives are changed." We build-in free time on Saturday afternoon for shopping, wine tasting, and hiking, reading, artwork. We often explore Women's Spirituality and ritual.

Diocesan Education Programs:

St. Anne's participates actively in Diocesan Education Programs, including Lay Eucharistic Minister training and the annual Diocesan Ministry Conference.