Join us on Thursday evenings at Chapel on The Ave as we meet to discuss current events, articles and ideas with local faculty friends and pastors of GCF.
Villains and Vices
By looking at some of the “bad guys” in the Bible and their most besetting sins, we hope to learn together what vices God would have us avoid…and correspondingly, what virtues God would have us seek. Join us on Thursdays this quarter as we consider what we sadly have in common with the Bible’s nastiest villains and how God wants to make us look less like them and more like Jesus.
Flourishing In Graduate School
Let’s talk about what it looks like (and what it takes!) to flourish, spiritually and otherwise, during the unique season of life that is grad school. Our times together will be a combination of pastor-led, large group Bible study and student-led small group discussion. If you are a relatively new student just beginning to navigate grad school or a seasoned veteran who’s got everything figured out, please come be part of the conversation!
The Gospel of Mark Series
Who is this Jesus? That is the central question in the Gospel of Mark. It’s a question that Jesus’ disciples grapple with, often getting it wrong in one way or another. And it’s still the central question put to those of us who claim to follow him. Who is this Jesus? Join us this Fall quarter as we explore Mark’s Gospel and get to know better the suffering Messiah who defied everyone’s expectations and continues to do so today. Thursdays at 6. Bring a friend.
Spring Quarter Series on the Psalms
“Look on me and answer, Lord my God.” That’s the prayer of the psalmist, singing out to God, the “maker of heaven and earth, “our refuge and strength.”
The psalms. Though they’re ancient words it’s not hard to find a word in them that speaks what’s on our own minds today–be it praise, thanksgiving, the rawest of lament or even an expression of anger at the God who knows all and upholds all yet sometimes seems so unfortunately silent.
Why do these old prayers and songs still speak to our hearts and minds?
Join us this spring quarter as we seek to answer that question through the lens of music and theology.
Fall Quarter Small Group Series – A Light in the Darkness
A Light in the Darkness – Studies in the writings of St. John
As we learn the news of what’s going on in the world around us–earthquakes, flooding, hurricanes, threats of nuclear war, a serious refugee crisis and so much more–we do indeed long for Christ to come and bring the sort of healing light to the world that only Christ can.
It’s for this reason that this fall quarter, in our small group series, we’ll press into texts that remind us of Christ’s light.
We hope that in remembering how Christ is our light in this dark world, we might feel comforted. And we hope that we might be inspired to be a light in this dark world–on our beloved UW campus, working for justice in our departments, lifting up the oppressed, and being beacons of hope and safety for our friends and neighbors here and around the world.
If you’re a grad student at UW, join us Thursday evenings this fall quarter, starting September 28 for our always-free, community meal at 6 and small groups at 7. It’s never too late in the quarter to join in a small group.
This fall, as Jesus is light to us, we’ll be light to one another.
Thursday nights in summer!
We continue to meet on a bi-weekly schedule over the summer for Thursday night community dinner. Following dinner we’ll be discussing the articles that made us go “huh” over the past academic year with local faculty friends and authors. See below for links to the articles (please read beforehand) and discussion hosts.
June 22, Kick off BBQ
June 29, A discussion lead by Dr. James Wellman (Chair of UW Comparative Religion) on his recent articles:
Time for a New Confessing Church
Weak theology and the anti-gospel of American Exceptionalism
July 13, A discussion lead by Dr. Kirsten Foot (Professor in UW Department of Communication) on the haunting article by local Seattle Times journalist, Alex Tizon.
July 27, A discussion with our pastors on Nicholas Kristof’s interview with Tim Keller and on Peter Enns’s response to the NYT article.
Am I a Christian, Pastor Timothy Keller?
Tim Keller’s pastorally inadequate responses to a skeptic’s questions
August 10, we’ll engage the ongoing conversation around the Benedict Option. To help us in our conversation, read:
Christians have lost the culture wars. Should they withdraw from the mainstream?, By Katelyn Beaty
The Benedict Option or the Augustinian Call?, By Dr. James K.A. Smith
August 24, A discussion lead by Dr. David Leong (Professor of Missiology, SPU) on his recent article:
Seattle Housing Needs Some Good News
September 7, a discussion on a yet-to-be-decided article that made you go “huh.”
Spring Quarter Small Groups
Rooted and Built Up
Join us for our spring quarter small group series. We’ll be looking at the letter to the Colossians.
Small groups start at 7, following dinner at 6 at Chapel on the Ave.
Colossians 2: 6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Winter Quarter Series: What Is The B.I.B.L.E.?
This quarter we’re looking at the Bible. This is nothing new in GCF. But this time we’re not studying the Bible, per se. Instead, we’re studying how to study the Bible.
Over seven weeks, we’ll ask questions like:
What is this book? How do we read it well? What does this book have to do with how I live my life? Does it have anything relevant to say about the issues we face today? What do we do with the confusing or downright difficult parts?
If these are questions you’ve asked yourself, then join us as we dive deep into talking about the book that, more than any other, has shaped the world as we know it.
Made to Belong
Every Thursday night we meet in small groups and take a careful look at God’s Word. 
We want to start off this year by thinking together about how, where and with whom we belong. In the midst of change and transition, we find assurance in the fact that we continue to belong; to God, to one another and in this broken and beautiful world where we’re called to live as agents of God’s love. 
If you’re wondering where you fit in and are looking for a community where you can belong, come join us!
We’ll kick things off on September 29 at Chapel on the AVE. Dinner starts at 6. Small groups start at 7.
