Growing in Faith
Our faith journey is a lifelong experience, with many twists and turns. As we grow and change, so does our understanding of God, Jesus, the Bible and other beliefs. At First Church, we encourage this exploration through groups, classes, and programs that allow us to think critically, deepen our understanding of God and reflect with others.
As a Lenten Practice, we are once again participating in One Church/One Book classes! The list of classes below will all be reading Dr. Ashley Boggan’s Weslyan Vile-tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity.
One Church One Book Classes:
Sunday School Hour, 9:15 to 10:15am:
– Abide, Room K, Mari Leonard. Spiritual connection with God, mutual support, and life-giving faith formation.
– Faith and Parenting, Room 24, Colin McDonald. Space for parents and caregivers to reflect on faith and family life.
– Men’s Fellowship, Great Hall Balcony, Dr. Jim Hagedorn.
Meets at 9:15am on March 15th.
Glenna Hall:
Meets at 11:45am on March 22, 29, April 12th.
– Social Justice Intersections, Dining Hall, Joe Agne. Grounded in the Wesleyan commitment that “there is no holiness but social holiness.”
– The Christian Experiment, Glenna Hall, Dennis Barbour, Matt Rader, Kristi Hubbard. Community focused gathering exploring faith-based questions.
During the Week:
– Pastor Grace at The Mather, Living Courageously in a Troubled World, Feb. 26 to March 26, Thursdays, 2:00 to 3:00pm.
– Dr. Chris Baker, Tuesdays, 7:00 to 8:00pm, Glenna Hall.
Email Chrisbakerphdad@gmail.com for the code to the door.
– Rev. Preston Price, Wednesdays, 7:00 to 8:00pm.
Zoom link, set to allow all to enter: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89273470585
Sunday Morning Classes and Groups
Adult classes typically meet during the 9:15-10:15am education hour on Sundays, concurrently with classes for children and youth. Many classes this fall are offered in person; some are online.
Abide - Sundays at 9:15am- Room K
Abide
Sundays at 9:15am in Room K.
Abide provides ongoing space for spiritual connection to God, mutual support in community, and faith formation in the ways that lead to life. This gathering is open to all who seek to abide with Jesus through the Spirit in the company of friends.
Abide meets Sunday mornings at 9:15am in person. New participants are always welcome.
Facilitator: Mari Leonard, mari.leonard@comcast.net
Abide Schedule Winter/Spring 2026
Sunday, January 25: The Enneagram Test, and The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 1
Led by Mari Leonard
Sunday, February 1: Spiritual Practice: Fasting
Led by Meg Hagenah
Sunday, February 8: The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 2
Led by Mari Leonard
Sunday, February 15: The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 3
Led by Mari Leonard
Sunday, February 22: OCOB Wesleyan Vile-Tality
Led by TBD
Sunday, March 1: Spiritual Practice: Discerning God’s Presence in Daily Life/OCOB
Led by Debbie Zimmerman
Sunday, March 8: OCOB Wesleyan Vile-Tality
Led by TBD
Sunday, March 15: OCOB Wesleyan Vile-Tality
Led by TBD
Sunday, March 22: OCOB Wesleyan Vile-Tality
Led by TBD
Sunday, March 29: Spiritual Practice: Praying with Beads/OCOB
Led by Mari Leonard
Sunday, April 5: Easter Sunday, No Abide
Sunday, April 12: The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 4
Led by TBD
Sunday, April 19: The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 5
Led by TBD
Sunday, April 26: The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 6
Led by TBD
Sunday, May 3: Spiritual Practice: Centering Prayer
Led by Kathy Olson
Sunday, May 10: The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 7
Leb by TBD
Sunday, May 17: The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 8
Led by TBD
Sunday, May 24: Memorial Day Weekend, No Abide
Sunday, May 31: The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 9
Led by TBD
Sunday, June 7: Spiritual Practice: Sabbath, The Sacred Enneagram, Chapter 10
Led by Jean Clipperton
The Christian Experiment- Sundays at 9:15 am- Glenna Hall
The Christian Experiment
Sundays at 9:15am, room 33
The Christian Experiment is a weekly gathering that creates community and explores faith-based questions.
Ever had doubts? If you are like most, you have. Ever had doubts about Christian faith? Many of us have. In a recent study at a leading United Methodist Church, 95 percent of believers stated they struggle with doubt occasionally and 24 percent stated they struggle with doubt regularly. This same study also found that 44 percent believed their doubts helped them find or strengthen their faith. For more information about the topics the class is currently discussing, email our class facilitators.
CLICK HERE TO READ THEIR UPCOMING SCHEDULE!
Facilitators: Matt Rader (mrader@emich.edu) and Kristi Hubbard (hubbard.kristi@gmail.com).
Faith & Parenting - Occasionally on Sundays at 9:15am- Room 24
Faith & Parenting
Sundays at 9:15am in Room 24.
Faith & Parenting offers a space for parents of children at various stages to share and reflect on how their personal and familial faith journeys are nurtured and challenged through the vocation of parenting. Brief guided reflections based on scriptures from children’s Sunday School will accompany each session.
For more info, contact Colin McDonald, Director of Children’s Ministry, at colin@faithatfirst.com .
History, Roots, & Rearview Mirror - Sundays at 9:15am- Room 32
History, Roots, & Rearview Mirror
Sundays at 9:15am in Room 32
For more information about the class and to be added to a distribution list contact Dennis Barbour dennisbarbour@sbcglobal.net.
Join us on January 11, 18, 25 and February 1 as we discuss:
Social Justice Intersections - Sundays at 9:15am- Dining Hall
Social Justice Intersections
Sundays at 9:15am in the Dining Hall, first floor.
The social justice track of the adult Christian Education lineup is grounded in the Wesleyan commitment that “There is no holiness but social holiness.”
Facilitator: Joe Agne, RevAgne@gmail.com
CLICK HERE TO READ OUR SCHEDULE (11/30 – 3/29)!
Social Justice Intersections (SJI) . Sundays . 9:15am . The Dining Room . First United Methodist Church . Evanston.
This Sunday, March 1 – Pastor Grace leads on “Social Justice and the Moral Terror of Intersectionality.”
Pastor Grace says, “Intersectionality does not simply bring issues together. It reveals that systems of race, gender, class, ability, sexuality, immigration status and environmental injustice are interlocking. Injustice compounds, overlaps, and reinforces itself. And once we see that, something unsettling happens: we lose the luxury of simplicity. Justice is hard work because it cannot be addressed in silos. Whether we like it or not, we have to be in relationship with people we might not like very much.”
Starting next Sunday, March 8 – Wesleyan Vile-tality.
SJI launches a four-week study of FUMC’s One Church/One Book,“Wesleyan Vile-tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity.” It was written by Dr. Ashley Boggan who led SJI and preached here last Fall. Boggan argues that the early Methodists, following the lead of John and Charles Wesley were considered vile. They were “rule-benders, rabble-rousers, and outcast-embracers.” Somewhere along the way Methodists chose to become respectable. Boggan calls us to return to our original vile-tality as we address racism, sexism, heterosexism and colonialism. Books are available at the church office for $10. The discussion facilitators are:
March 8: The Call to Wesleyan Vile-tality – Chapters 1 and 2 – Martha Rudy
March 15: Losing Vile-tality – Chapter 3 – Matt Moy Johnson
March 22: Vile Sustainers – Chapter 4 – Tom Scott
March 29: Reclaiming Vile-tality – Chapter 5 – Dennis Barbour
Sunday Afternoon/Evening Opportunities
Covenant Hike Group - First Sunday each month at 2:00pm
“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” – George Washington Carver
The Covenant Hike Group invites all who have a wonder of the natural world to share nature immersion with each other through 3 seasons while experiencing the presence of God. The format is simple. We begin with a brief reading (scripture or poem), hike along while sharing joys and concerns, and appreciate 5 minutes of silence at mid-point. Each hike concludes with an optional, brief time of sharing about our experiences on the hike, closing prayer, and a cool or hot drink! All ages are welcomed!
Each month we will meet at a designated location at 2 p.m., hiking various paths in our area for about an hour at a comfortable pace for everyone. The group will meet each first Sunday from October through May, and participants may join in as schedules allow.
All who participate are welcomed to share in ownership. The wonder of the natural world and God’s presence in it is limitless.
Facilitator: Jim Johnson. Contact Jim at jjohnso@luc.edu with any questions and to be placed on the distribution list.
Faith Around the Table
Are you hungry for meaningful conversation and deeper connection with your First Church community? Do you like to eat food? Then this group is for you!
Based on the success of the inaugural Faith Around The Table group launched last November, we are offering three new groups beginning in October. Once a month, each group will gather for a potluck meal and discuss a topic relating to faith and their personal journeys. Group members commit to meeting for six months. The individuals below will lead each group and host meetings in their homes with potential for other group members to host subsequent meetings (though not required). Due to nature of the group, we limit to 8 total participants per group. Come join others for good food and meaningful conversation!
Please email Andrew (andrew.r.schumacher@gmail.com) with questions and to sign up.
Weekday Groups
Several groups gather regularly during the year for Bible study, discussion and reflection on faith-related issues in a supportive environment. Note that some of these groups meet online.
Compline Night Prayer Services
Tuesdays January 6th thru March 24th, 2026
First Reads- First Tuesdays at 7:00pm at Church
Email Evelyn with any questions.
God's Story, Our Stories - Thursdays 7:00-8:30pm ONLINE
The Lectionary Bible Study Group meets online each Thursday evening. We are a band of curious explorers, reflecting upon the lectionary passages for the coming Sunday. We ask many questions. We have “ah ha” moments in our discussions. We attempt to unearth how these ancient stories inform our current day stories. We deeply seek to live out our best understanding of the heart of these stories week by week in the midst of our common humanity. Several group members rotate the facilitation.
Come and join us! You may be placed on the group distribution list by contacting Bill Brown at bbrown@wwbrown-inc.com.
Progressive Christianity Reading Group - Thursdays 1:00-2:00pm ONLINE
First Church’s Progressive Christians Reading Group invites new and former participants to participate as the group gathers each Thursday 1:00-2:00pm online to discuss and reflect on selected books, typically one book per month.
Interested? Email Ellen (felinet@ameritech.net) for the current/upcoming reading and the Zoom link.
Wednesday Bible Study - Wednesdays 10-11:30am ONLINE
The Wednesday Bible Study is a longstanding group that meets online every Wednesday 10-11:30am with the exception of a short break in the summer.
Please contact Janet Lutz at janetatl@aol.com with any questions.
Get Involved
Interested in making connections (or reconnecting) but not sure where to start? Contact us using the button below and provide your email or phone number; we’ll reach out to hear about your interests and identify opportunities that might be a good fit. We look forward to chatting with you!
