They come from many denominations — Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists — to hear Parrott relate the Bible’s teachings to their marriages, jobs, children and families.

Called “Joy In the Morning,” the course has gained popularity for its free child care. It grew out of three summers of similar study sessions at First Baptist Church.

Parrott, the daughter of a retired preacher who lives in Rocky Mount, teaches the class.

“It’s a great time for interaction,” the 38-year-old mother of four said. “It’s very intimate. It just seemed that the women wanted to do this not just in the summer.”

A first course, based on a study guide called “Our Covenant God” by Chatanooga author Kay Arthur, ran Wednesdays from Sept. 8 through Nov. 17. The course attracted homemakers, real-estate agents, an accountant, teacher and restaurant manager. Each morning, the group spent one hour in smaller groups, discussed Biblical verses, sang and spent an hour in a lesson.

A winter program, a study of the Book of John, incorporates another of Arthur’s books called “God Are You There? Do You Care? Do You Know about Me?” The upcoming session runs Wednesdays Jan. 19 through April 19.

Participants may call First Baptist Church to register, but must do so by Jan. 5 if they want to take advantage of the free care for children ages 0-5. The cost for the class literature is $10.

Ashley Forrest, who attends First Baptist Church with Parrott, organized Joy in the Morning. “It’s been well received,” Forrest said. “Women are comfortable about coming together to share experiences. When women are changed with the word of God, families are changed.”