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.
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 year 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
The Christian Experiment- Sundays at 9:15 am- Glenna Hall
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 .
Taking Another Look... - Sundays at 9:15am- Room 32
Taking Another Look…
Sundays at 9:15am in Room 32
This series of short-term studies (3-5 weeks) will use the Bible as our background reference and apply it to our daily lives. We will study prayer, preparation, reflection, and action.
- Praying the Psalms with Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Sept 20, 27, Oct 4, Oct 11) PRAYER
- The many voices of Genesis (Nov. 8,15,22) PREPARATION
- The Book of Job (Winter 2027…dates TBA) REFLECTION
- Biblical basis of discipleship (After Lent 2027…dates TBA) ACTION
Contact Jim Hagedorn for more information.
Social Justice Intersections - Sundays at 9:15am- Dining Hall
Social Justice Intersections
Sundays at 9:15am in the Dining Hall, first floor.
Grounded in the belief that every person is endowed by God with compassion, the Social Justice Intersections (SJI) Group seeks to equip people to discover their unique justice calling, collaborate across lines of difference, and respond to the interconnected needs of individuals and communities. Our underlying principle is that interconnected systems of oppression are most effectively addressed in intersectional ways. We seek to follow in the Way of Jesus and use the United Methodist Social Principles as our guide. We offer a Sunday morning class and extended events at other times. We are part of the Social Justice Committee.
Facilitator: Joe Agne, RevAgne@gmail.com
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.
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!
