All along our life journey, God calls us into spiritual and intellectual growth. In search of that growth, the Mayflower community engages in prayer, meditation, study, education, and discussion on a wide range of topics.

All are welcome to participate in the opportunities offered. Many classes, lectures, or other opportunities are offered as a single event or series, and vary by season. Sign up at the Welcome Desk or call the office at (612) 824-0761.

Preaching the Gospel of Thomas This Summer
Summer is traditionally a time when we set the liturgical calendar aside and explore new topics, often relying on a variety of outside speakers to bring differing viewpoints to our pulpit. This summer staff and guest preachers have helped us explore the fascinating Gospel of Thomas. The Gospel of Thomas, known for over a century to scholars through several small Greek fragments, was uncovered in its entirety as part of the amazing Nag Hammadi Library find in Egypt in 1945. What Thomas offers us is a new glimpse of the Jesus we ‘know’ from the canonical Gospels. 

The main difference is that, while the canonical Gospels are narrative in style, Thomas is a collection of sayings, or phrases and parables attributed to Jesus. It is interesting to note that many of the 114 sayings that compose Thomas contain phrases and parables that are also found in Mark, Matthew and Luke. Many scholars, in fact, argue that these parallel sayings in Thomas are a bit cruder and simpler in style, leading them to suspect that they originated from early oral traditions about Jesus that did not rely on the canonical Gospels. This makes Thomas, as many scholars believe, possibly one of the very earliest sources for Jesus’ voice. 

If you would like to read the Gospel of Thomas in its entirety, please visit the ‘The Scholars Translation of the Gospel of Thomas,’ by Stephen Patterson and Marvin Meyer at this address: http://users.misericordia.edu//davies/thomas/Trans.htm.

 If you are interested in reading commentaries on Thomas or finding additional information and resources regarding Thomas, please visit this very useful website: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/thomas.html

Recommended Reading:

1. Pagels, Elaine, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas. Random House: New York, 2003.

2.  Meyer, Marvin, ed. The Nag Hammadi Scriptures: The Revised and Updated Translation of Sacred Gnostic Texts Complete in One Volume. Harper Collins, New York. 2007.

3. Ehrman, Bart, Lost Scriptures: Books That Did Not Make it Into The New Testament. Oxford University Press, Inc. New York. 2003.

Learning Communities
Learning Communities offer adults a variety of ways to explore their spirituality. The learning communities meet during our education hour, Sundays from 9:45-10:45 am, between September and May. Click here for specific information.