Adult Education & Faith Formation Opportunities

Faith and Parenting

Sundays at 9:15am in Room 24

Faith & Parenting offers a weekly opportunity  for parents at all 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 shared in Children’s Sunday school will accompany each session.

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 and  on Zoom via OWL techology.  New participants are always welcome.  Please contact Mari Leonard at mari.leonard@comcast.net.

“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!

Beginning Sunday October 1st, 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 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.

Facilitators: Jim Johnson and Lee Rader. If interested, please contact Jim at jjohnso@luc.edu to be placed on the distribution list.

As First Church embarks on its 1oth year as a Reconciling Congregation, we invite the congregation into a deep exploration of Christian thought, natural sciences, and Church history in relation to gender, sex, and human sexuality. Using a three-part video course and discussion questions from the Reconciling Ministries Network, we will seek to understand gender expression and sexual identity in connection to our faith as well as seek ways to practice radical hospitality and grow as a welcoming and affirming community of faith.

“When we seek to understand each person’s sacred worth, we can better honor the beauty of God’s creation and our kin.” – Reconciling Ministries Network

Video presenters: Liam M. Hooper, M.Div., (He/Him), Rev. Quest Hunter (They/Them), Rev. H.N. Gibson (They/Them/Theirs), Ophelia Hu Kinney (She/Her), and Rev. Anjie Peek Woodworth (She/Her)

First Church Facilitator: B.J. Birkhahn-Rommelfanger

Please register here: https://onrealm.org/faithatfirst/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=OWM5ZWI0ZTUtNGYyNS00YTJlLWE4MjYtYjA3NDAxMjUzZjVi

This class is offered in person and online via OWL technology.

First Church’s Progressive Christians Reading Group invites new and former participants to participate as the group gathers each Thursday 1:00-2:15pm on Zoom to discuss and reflect on selected books, typically one book per month.

The first selection is Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence by Diana Butler Bass. Eleanor Nicholson will facilitate that discussion on Sept. 7, 14, 21, & 28.

How can you still be a Christian? This is the most common question Diana Butler Bass is asked today. It is a question that many believers ponder as they wrestle with disappointment and disillusionment in their church and its leadership. But while many Christians have left their churches, they cannot leave their faith behind. 

In Freeing Jesus Bass challenges the idea that Jesus can only be understood in static, one-dimensional ways and asks us to instead consider a life where Jesus grows with us and helps us through life’s challenges in several capacities: as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence.  Freeing Jesus is an invitation to leave the religious wars behind and rediscover Jesus in all his many manifestations, to experience Jesus beyond the narrow confines we have built around him. It renews our hope in faith and worship at a time when we need it most.

On Oct0ber 5, 12, 18, & 25 our discussion on The Elephant is Running: Process and Open and Relational Theologies and Religious Pluralism by Bruce Epperly will consider if/how we might affirm religious pluralism while remaining faithful Christian true to Jesus. The author will join our Oct. 5 discussion.

Interested? Email Bonnie Beckonchrist at bbeckonchrist@gmail.com  for the Zoom link. A copy of the book may be borrowed from the church office.

The Lectionary Bible Study Group meets via Zoom 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.