Connect | Formation Groups

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Katie Diaz

Minister of Spiritual Formation | (she/her)

Email | Katie

Engaging Community

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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.
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​Contact one of the leaders below or Minister Katie for more information. 

Worshipful Wednesdays This Spring

Wednesdays | April 23 - June 4
Dinner at 5:30PM | Formation at 6:15PM

Worshipful Wednesdays continue after Easter, from April 23rd - June 4th. If you've been interested in Worshipful Wednesdays, now is the time to join us before we break for the Summer! We'll have dinner each week at 5:30PM in Whitford Hall and then break out into formation opportunities at 6:15PM.

Join in on our Adult Book Study focusing on Migrant God by Isaac Villegas. As harmful immigration policies persist in our nation, we seek to center the conversation on the experiences of immigrants and the commitments of our faith. Isaac Villegas' Migrant God does just that. Throughout seven weeks, we will join together to read and reflect on this book that tells the stories of real people and is grounded in names, places, Scripture, and God. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/39thjTiJqXFpx3KN8

Children will explore Bible stories through music and play! Minister Cyril leads the children in musical opportunities and Minister Katie shares a Bible story with them. 

Join us on Wednesday night for a meal. Come to the book study whether you've read or not. Experience connection with faith family. 

Questions? Email [email protected]

Short-Term Formation Groups 2024

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Migrant God Book Study

Wednesdays | Beginning April 23rd | 6:15PM

This Spring, Pastor Heather is leading a study on the book, Migrant God.  As harmful immigration policies persist in our nation, we seek to center the conversation on the experiences of immigrants and the commitments of our faith. Isaac Villegas' Migrant God does just that. Throughout seven weeks, we will join together to read and reflect on this book that tells the stories of real people and is grounded in names, places, Scripture, and God.

This 7-week study will meet on Wednesdays, April 23rd - June 4th as a part of Worshipful Wednesdays. You are invited to have dinner at 5:30PM in Whitford Hall before the study begins in the Parlor at 6:15PM. There will also be children's formation programming at 6:15PM.​

Sign Up

Sunday Formation Groups

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​Journeys

Sundays | 9:45 AM | In-Person | Bradshaw Room
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! This class joins the short term Sunday School classes when they occur and is currently meeting in the Bradshaw Room. 
Contact: Minister Katie Diaz

Open Door Class

Join Online

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: Nancy Lockamy

Dinner Church

Dinner Church is a gathering where all the most important things happen at the table. Think of a good dinner party with a spiritual twist –good conversation and prayerful moments. We gather around dinner tables (or a restaurant's table) and join others as we break bread and get to know one another better. Our mealtime lasts from 1 hour to 1.5 hours each week.
​Click the link below to sign up and be added to the waitlist for the next Dinner Church Group!

Sign Up

Hiking Church

Worship isn't always a song, or a service, sometimes we just need to get outside and feel God around us. If that sounds like your kind of afternoon, join us for Hiking Church! This event is open to everyone, join us on a hike, followed by a short devotional lesson.
Hiking Church is currently on hiatus, you are invited to join the group to be notified of the next gathering.

Join Hiking Church Group

​Mid-Week Formation Groups

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The Seekers Connection

Wednesdays at 8am in the Commons
​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. We meet in the Commons each week. We are currently studying Ordinary Mysticism: Your Life as Sacred Ground by Mirabai Starr. 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

Meeting times vary
Sign Up using Church Center →

​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

Monthly | 7:30 PM | In-Person
Sign up using Church Center →
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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 month 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 | The Commons
The Wednesday Morning Women’s Small Group will meet this spring on Wednesdays 9:30-11:00 am in the Commons, We invite you to join our merry group as we read, learn, share, and grow each week over coffee and snacks. We'll read Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey​, meeting each Wednesday morning 9:30 to 11:00 am in the Commons.
Contact Karalyn Colopy ([email protected]) with any questions.

Heart of the Bible
A Weekly Scripture Study

Join Online

Tuesdays | 9:00 AM | Zoom
Sign up using Church Center →
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Heart of the Bible Study meets on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 am, 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 ONline

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
We invite you to join the “Living into the Scriptures” Bible Study on Thursdays at 10:30. We are discussing the book Face to Face: Meeting Christ in Friend and Stranger by Rev. Sam Wells, former minster to the chapel at Duke University. Each week we share out closest to God times, love and pray for each other.  

Contact:  Ann Stallings Smith or Miriam Anne Glover-Wetherington