Connect | Formation Groups

Mick Raynor

Minister of Spiritual Formation & Witness | (he/him)

Engaging Community

Duke Memorial formation groups offer an opportunity for curiosity, learning, conversation, and relationship with a goal of journeying together towards better faithfulness. Duke Memorial offers a range of formation groups for people at various stages of life and faith.
​Contact one of the leaders below or Minister Mick for more information. 

Short-Term Formation Groups

Tim Tyson Teachers Howard Thurman's ​Jesus and the Disinherited

Monday Evenings in November
In his briefcase, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. carried his Bible and only one other book, Rev. Dr. Thurman's classic, Jesus and the Disinherited.  

Dr. Vincent Harding calls this book "the centerpiece of the Black prophet-mystic's lifelong attempt to bring the harrowing beauty of the African-American experience into deep engagement with what he called 'the religion of Jesus.'"  

Thurman said that he wrote Jesus and the Disinherited for "those who need profound succor and strength to enable them to live in the present with dignity and creativity," especially "people who stand with their backs against the wall."  In the end, isn't that pretty much all of us?  

We invite you to read this slender volume for yourself in a four-week discussion with Tim Tyson, Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.  Each Monday evening in November, Dr. Tyson will teach and learn with us from 6:00 to 7:30. The class will be available both in person and on Zoom. Sign up here.

New Members Class: This is Us

Beginning October 9th
You’re invited to This is Us: an Introduction to Duke Memorial. We will explore Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, its place in Durham, and the larger United Methodist Church. We will be talking about the responsibilities connected to membership, participating and contributing to this community, and an invitation to join at the end.
Contact Pastor Mick for more information: Mick@dukememorial.org

Sunday Formation Groups

New for Fall 2022: Journeys

Sundays | 9:45 AM | In-Person | Starting November 13th
Has your faith journey been a roller coaster the last few years? Many of us are starting new stages of life, and feeling uncertain about what the future looks like. Let's talk about it! Led by Pastor Mick. ​We'll meet in the Terra Cotta room located on the ground floor of the sanctuary building. 
Contact: Pastor Mick Raynor

Open Door Class
Join by Phone 
1) Call: 301-715-8592
2) Enter Meeting ID: 985 2685 0304
3) Participant ID: Press # to bypass
4) Meeting Password: 532033
5) Use *6 to mute and unmute​
Sundays | 9:45 AM | In-Person & Zoom
We are a traditional Sunday School class meeting each Sunday from 9:45-10:45 to study Scripture and enjoy time together. We use the Adult Bible Study Series, video presentations about the holy land or biblical personalities, and enjoy the varied talents shared by our three teachers.  We welcome those from 30 to 95+ (open to all).  The Open Door classroom is located on the second floor of the Education Building around the corner next to the elevator.
Contact: Linda Adkinson

Beginnings in Bradshaw
Sundays | 10:00 AM | In-Person & Zoom
We are a relaxed and friendly group of folks with young children, from babies through grade school.  We meet by Zoom on Sundays before worship from 10:00-10:45, and we divide our time between fellowshipping and discussing scripture from the week’s lectionary.  A study guide with a few thought questions is emailed on Fridays, but advance preparation is entirely optional.  Please join us, with your kids, your dogs, your pancakes – whatever is happening in your world on Sunday morning!
Contact: Eliza Ferguson

Mary Martha Class

1st Sunday of the Month | 9:45 AM | In-Person
Join us in the Lullaby/Mary Martha room behind the sanctuary on the 1st Sunday of the month.
​We also meet every Sunday during Advent. We use the Upper Room series to guide our devotion and fellowship.
Contact: Nadine Hoover 

Hiking Church

​Sundays | Time Varies | 1-2 times per month | Local Trails
Sign Up using Church Center →
​Can we have church outside? Yes!
Join us for Hiking Church and spend your Sunday morning outside. We'll meet at a local hiking spot 1-2 times a month for a short devotion and light hike. We hope that this new opportunity will provide a new way for people to connect who might be inside-hesitant during COVID or are just looking something different. Sign up We'll see you at the trailhead!
The Basics
  • Hike & 15 minute devotion - Typically 2 hours
  • Fair-Good weather - No special experience or skill necessary - Be able to walk 1-3 miles over varied terrain

LGBTQ+ Sunday School

Sundays | 9:30 am | The Commons
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As Duke Memorial continues to welcome all fearfully and wonderfully made people, we take another step in offering an LGBTQ Sunday School for queer-identifying and exploring persons. At 9:30 a.m. in The Commons to engage in spiritual formation. This fall we will be exploring theology through Disney movies facilitated by various queer-identifying persons from the Duke Memorial LGBTQ formation group. 

​Please contact Melissa Fretwell at melissaifretwell@gmail.com with any questions.

​Mid-Week Formation Groups

The Seekers Connection

Wednesdays | 8:00 AM | In-Person
​The Seekers is a group that has been meeting on Wednesday mornings at 8 am since 2016 when we studied the book of Matthew. Since then, the reading has included the Bible as well as religion and spirituality in general and how it impacts our lives as Christians.  All are welcome to our usually small group, so if you are a morning person, please consider joining us. We hope to see you there.
Contact: Gary Boyd

LGBTQ+ Formation Group

Meets on Varying Sunday Evenings
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​We are excited to offer a new formation group! We hope to create a safer space that we may come together in fellowship, heal from our past and present experiences, and grow into our better selves. This group is open to all, including allies, to explore faith and life together. In our first meeting we will introduce ourselves as well as dream about what kind of community we hope to create. Future meet-ups will be in various places across Durham and Raleigh.

The Downtown Group

Thursdays | 7:30 PM | In-Person
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​
The “Downtown Small Group” invites YOU to join us each Thursday for fellowship and conversation. We typically discuss current events with a Christian lens. Each week we will email the questions and location. No preparation is needed!

​Wednesday Morning Women’s Group

Wednesdays | 9:30-11:0​0 AM | In-Person
Feb. 23 - May 25 2022
This spring we will be reading and discussing Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans and Jeff Chu. We warmly welcome new members to join us!
Contact: Karalyn Colopy or 919-956-7875

Heart of the Bible
A Weekly Scripture Study
Tuesdays | 9:00 AM | Zoom
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​
Heart of the Bible Study is moving to Tuesday mornings, starting January 18, at 9:00 am, and will meet via Zoom for one hour. Heart of the Bible is a more transformational than informational Bible study.  There are lots of books, commentaries, and academics available if you want a scholar’s view of the text. We are inviting the Holy Spirit to open us to hear God’s word for us in this place, at this time, as we read and discuss the text together. The more people involved, the richer and broader the perspectives and interpretations we will hear. We share our thoughts and questions as we study the text without seeking to convince others of our answers. You are welcome whether you are new to the Bible or seminary trained or somewhere in the middle. Bring your curiosity, a Bible, and a willingness to be surprised by God.
Contact: Renee Burnette or ​919-451-3233

Living Into The Scriptures
Join by Phone 
1) Call: 301-715-8592
2) Enter Meeting ID: 985 3396 2565
3) Participant ID: Press # to bypass
4) Meeting Passcode:  046720
​5) Use *6 to mute and unmute
Thursdays | 10:30 AM | Zoom
Our class begins a new study on Thursday, September 22nd, from 10:30 AM to 12 noon on Zoom. We will be studying I Corinthians using the book "I Corinthians: Searching the Depths of God" by Jaime Clark-Soles. She is the Professor of New Testament at Perkins School of Theology. This book helps us see that our churches are supposed to reflect the love and wisdom of God, show us that the Lord gave each of us one or two spiritual gifts, and includes the “Love Chapter,” I Corinthians 13 that so many people love. We have a discussion each week, pray for each other and check on each other during the week. Come join us!
Contact:  Ann Stallings Smith - 919-384-2981 or asmith216@nc.rr.com