Classes and Groups

   While the Sunday morning Divine Service is the primary focus of the congregation as a whole and its individual members, that larger gathering of believers need not be one’s only connection with the church. St. Paul offers a wide variety of classes and groups where you can better get to know and be supported by brothers and sisters in Christ. These classes and groups are for everyone—young and old, male and female, and married or not. Some classes and groups feature traditional Bible studies, while others have more of a social element or concentrate more on service to others. Strictly classifying them into mutually exclusive categories is impossible, so we have listed them with brief descriptions below, providing links to their specific pages, if available.

• Sunday School — Catechesis, instruction in the faith, is nearly cradle to grave at St. Paul. Our Sunday School provides age-specific classes for children, beginning with 2-year-olds and continuing up through seniors in high school. Lessons are age-appropriate, but lessons in all grades center on the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ, in order to help establish a faith that will see the children through the joys and struggles of life.
   
• Sunday Adult Bible Class — Adults also need the hope, strength, and guidance that comes from growing in Christ by studying His Holy Word. The traditional pastor’s Sunday morning Adult Bible Class is usually held in the parish hall between the Sunday morning services. Refreshments are often available. Other classes may also be offered at the same time; see the Weekly Word for more details.

• University-age Bible Class — St. Paul has always had a close connection with university students at Concordia, the University of Texas, and other Austin institutions of higher education. During the long-semesters, the University-age Bible Class meets in the 8th-grade classroom upstairs in the main wing of the school. Newcomers are always welcome!
   
• Confessions Study Group — Genuine Lutheran Christians believe the Christian faith as it is confessed and taught in The Book of Concord, a collection of writings that include the three ecumenical creeds from the earliest centuries of the church, as well as writings from the 16th-century Lutheran Reformation in Germany. We meet in the church parlor to study these Lutheran Confessions on the 2nd and 4th Monday nights of most months (alternating with the Pericope Study Group), beginning at 6:30 p.m.
   
• Pericope Study Group — Pericopes, from the Greek language and meaning “a section”, are the portions of the Bible appointed to be read in the services of the church. The readings normally used in the Divine Service on Sunday mornings follow a three-year cycle (each primarily centering on one of the three synoptic Gospel accounts—Matthew, Mark, and Luke) intended to hold before the church, according to the Church year, the major events in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as His major teachings and deeds. We meet in the church parlor to study the upcoming readings on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday nights of most months (alternating with the Confessions Study Group), beginning at 6:30 p.m.
   
• Wednesday Bible Class — Following our 6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer on Wednesday nights, Bible study is offered from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The class is a great study opportunity for anyone, especially confirmation parents and choir members who may need to stay at St. Paul for other activities. The Wednesday Bible Class has various instructors, topics, and meeting places, so see the Weekly Word for current details.
   
• John 4:42 Bible Study – Inspired by the Samaritan woman who told the people of her town about Jesus so that they came to believe in Jesus and hear Him for themselves, the John 4:42 Bible Study is a Women's Bible Study that does studies on various biblical topics.
   
• Confirmation-Adult — Instruction for adults in the beliefs of the Christian Church from a Biblical and Confessional perspective and preparation to be confirmed and admitted to the Lord’s Supper at St. Paul and other LCMS congregations is offered periodically throughout the year, usually in 12-session courses. See Join Us for more information.
   
• Confirmation-Youth — Fifth through eighth-graders meet with the pastors weekly during the school year to prepare for their confirmation and admission to the Lord’s Supper in the Lutheran Church.
   
• Youth Group — Young adults develop a mature faith in Christ while learning about the Scriptures, participating in service projects, or enjoying social time with other young Christians. St. Paul’s youth meets for regular events, projects, and outings, including national youth events, such as those sponsored by Higher Things .
   
• YAMS — Not the sweet-potato like vegetable but a group of those Young At heart, Married, Single meets regularly for social outings. See the Weekly Word for upcoming events.
   
• LWML — St. Paul’s local chapter of Lutheran Women in Mission, also known as the Lutheran Women's Missionary League  (LWML ), has two groups that meet to support the community.  The LWML (daytime) group meets during the day while the other, Dorcas LWML, meets in the evenings.  The Dorcas group takes its name from the Biblical figure also known as Tabitha, as believer who made robes and clothing to help the poor and was raised from the dead by Peter (Acts 9:36-42). In addition to Bible study at its monthly meetings, St. Paul’s Dorcas group also has a similar service emphasis, for example providing sewing kits to Lutheran World Relief .
   
• Musical Groups — From adult and children’s voice choirs to instrumental groups such as the handbells and brass and woodwind ensembles, St. Paul has musical troupes for all talents and interests. The groups regularly edify worship at St. Paul.
   
• Altar Guild — Ladies who help prepare for the sanctuary for the Divine Service, attend to altar-related projects, and deliver flowers to those shut-in or hospitalized. The Altar Guild usually meets after the late service on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
   
• DivorceCare & DC4K — Offered as a service to members and the community, DivorceCare and DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) are intended to help people recover from the hurt of separation or divorce. Groups meet weekly for 13 sessions, with each meeting devoted both to a video from top experts in recovery and to a “support group” discussion of the video and the individuals’ own progress.
   
• GriefShare — St. Paul’s GriefShare support group is intended to help church members and people from the community at large grieve the loss of a family member or friend. Groups meet weekly for 13 sessions, utilizing video seminars and trained local leaders.

If you would like more information on any of these class and groups offerings but do not know specifically whom to contact, feel free to Contact Us. Various congregation-wide activities—such as the Old Fashioned Christmas, the Summer Cruise on Lake Travis, and the Church Picnic—are discussed on the pages of the Boards and Committees that sponsor them, such as the Fellowship Board.