Church Calendar

This group meets most Thursdays to discussa book relevant to progressive Christianity. Past books have included DavidHollinger’s Protestants Abroad: How Missionaries Tried to Change the WorldBut Changed America, David Brooks’ NYT bestseller The Second Mountain:The Quest for a Moral Life, and Michael J. Sandel’s Justice: What’s theRight Thing to Do?

This group is always open to newparticipants.  Join us! For moreinformation, contact Dennis Damon Moore at djmoore1941@gmail.com. 

This walking group of all paces meets every Saturday at the corner of Hinman and Church for an hour walk on the lakefront - usually followed by coffee at Peet's. Come walk with us! Contact Susan Prout at swprout@comcast.net.

Children's Sunday school meets weekly during the program year, which is roughly the same as the school year. Sunday school is taught by parent volunteers who are trained and supervised by church staff.

Preschool and Kindergarten -- Room 26
1st-3rd graders -- Room 32
4th-6th graders -- Room 33

Note that the church nursery on the second floor is open each Sunday from 9-11:45 AM.

This community group is committed to living out the Christian faith in daily life. Each week features prayer, scripture, thoughtful reflection and discussion on our shared experiences. ABIDE is open to anyone looking for a deeper connection to Christ and First Church.

Faith and Family is a group of parents with young children who gather most Sundays to reflect on faith in everyday life. Facilitated by Austin and Sam Spencer. This class meets in second floor Room 24.

Description:
Invitation to the New Testament

Sundays at 11:45 a.m. in the dining room over a soup lunch.  Begins Jan. 5

Join this exploration of the writings ofthe New Testament using the story of Jesus as the starting point. This surveylooks at how the early church was shaped by the story of Jesus and how thechurch learned to develop as disciples and create communities of faith.Facilitated by Pastor Grace and Matt Jankiewicz.

Participants will find a deeperconversation with the writers of the New Testament. Invitation to the NewTestament is accessible for adults with little prior Bible experience.

Allare welcome. Register here .   

Trivia Night at Whiskey Thief in Evanston on Oct. 15 at 7:15 pm. Join in with answers or cheer on the Limitless group. For details, contact Stephanie Peters stephdeloney@gmail.com.

The UMW Book Group will meet on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 7:30 pm in Glenna Hall to discuss The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben.

Here is our reading schedule for the year.   New participants always welcome.

10/1 There, There by Tommy Orange led by Janet Lutz in Glenna Hall
11/5 Educated by Tara Westover led by Marge Bradford at the home of Carol Kriekard
12/3 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens led by Jackie Crihfield at the home of Marsha Niazmand  
1/7 The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben led by Nancy Brown in Glenna Hall
2/4 The Possibility of Everything by Hope Edelman led by Bonny Roth   
3/3 Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner 
4/7 A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving led by Heather Conlon   
5/5 The Library Book by Susan Orlean    
6/2 The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai at the home of Nancy Braund Boruch 

This group meets most Thursdays to discussa book relevant to progressive Christianity. Past books have included DavidHollinger’s Protestants Abroad: How Missionaries Tried to Change the WorldBut Changed America, David Brooks’ NYT bestseller The Second Mountain:The Quest for a Moral Life, and Michael J. Sandel’s Justice: What’s theRight Thing to Do?

This group is always open to newparticipants.  Join us! For moreinformation, contact Dennis Damon Moore at djmoore1941@gmail.com. 

Meet in the Conference Room

This walking group of all paces meets every Saturday at the corner of Hinman and Church for an hour walk on the lakefront - usually followed by coffee at Peet's. Come walk with us! Contact Susan Prout at swprout@comcast.net.

For details on the Connect 56 schedule for fifth and sixth graders, please click here.

Questions can be sent to Lisa Gresch, Connect 56 Coordinator at ldgresch@gmail.com.

Children's Sunday school meets weekly during the program year, which is roughly the same as the school year. Sunday school is taught by parent volunteers who are trained and supervised by church staff.

Preschool and Kindergarten -- Room 26
1st-3rd graders -- Room 32
4th-6th graders -- Room 33

Note that the church nursery on the second floor is open each Sunday from 9-11:45 AM.

Faith and Family is a group of parents with young children who gather most Sundays to reflect on faith in everyday life. Facilitated by Austin and Sam Spencer. This class meets in second floor Room 24.

Bishop Sally Dyck preaching

Description:
Invitation to the New Testament

Sundays at 11:45 a.m. in the dining room over a soup lunch.  Begins Jan. 5

Join this exploration of the writings ofthe New Testament using the story of Jesus as the starting point. This surveylooks at how the early church was shaped by the story of Jesus and how thechurch learned to develop as disciples and create communities of faith.Facilitated by Pastor Grace and Matt Jankiewicz.

Participants will find a deeperconversation with the writers of the New Testament. Invitation to the NewTestament is accessible for adults with little prior Bible experience.

Allare welcome. Register here .   

Winter/Spring 2020 Bible Study

Wednesdays, January 15 -February 5, 10:00 - 11:30 am in Glenna Hall

We will read Holy Envy: FindingGod in the Faith of Others, by Barbara Brown Taylor.  This book is available from Cokesbury, Amazon,or as an e-book; please get the book on your own.  New participants always welcome!  Ann Weatherhead(amweatherhead@gmail.com), Jean Price (organistjean@gmail.com),and Ellen Feliciano (felinet@ameritech.net) are leading this study. Please contact them with any questions.

Discussion Schedule:

January 15:  Introduction andChapters 1 - 3

January 22:  Chapters 4 – 6

January 29:  Chapters 7 - 9

February 5:  Chapters 10 - 12

We will be using the Holy Envy Study Guidewhich can be downloaded here. If you are unable to downloadthe guide, let one of the leaders know and they will bring copies to our firstmeeting.

Journey is a small group for high school students (grades 9-12) who gather for food, God talk, and fun. Contact Jane Cheema at jane@faithatfirst.com for more information.

This group meets most Thursdays to discussa book relevant to progressive Christianity. Past books have included DavidHollinger’s Protestants Abroad: How Missionaries Tried to Change the WorldBut Changed America, David Brooks’ NYT bestseller The Second Mountain:The Quest for a Moral Life, and Michael J. Sandel’s Justice: What’s theRight Thing to Do?

This group is always open to newparticipants.  Join us! For moreinformation, contact Dennis Damon Moore at djmoore1941@gmail.com. 

God's Story, Our Stories meets weekly for study and conversation about scriptures for the following Sunday.   New participants are always welcome.   No experience necessary.

Questions?  Please contact Bill Brown at bbrown@wwbrown-inc.com.

This walking group of all paces meets every Saturday at the corner of Hinman and Church for an hour walk on the lakefront - usually followed by coffee at Peet's. Come walk with us! Contact Susan Prout at swprout@comcast.net.

This class for students in grades 9-12 meets weekly. Questions may be address to Pastor Jane Cheema at jane@faithatfirst.com.

All students in grades 7 & 8 are welcome in this class. Led by Jim Hagedorn. Note that due to renovations in the lower level of the church, the class will move to Room K at some point in the winter/spring.

Please direct any questions about the confirmation process to Jane Cheema at jane@faithatfirst.com.

Children's Sunday school meets weekly during the program year, which is roughly the same as the school year. Sunday school is taught by parent volunteers who are trained and supervised by church staff.

Preschool and Kindergarten -- Room 26
1st-3rd graders -- Room 32
4th-6th graders -- Room 33

Note that the church nursery on the second floor is open each Sunday from 9-11:45 AM.

This community group is committed to living out the Christian faith in daily life. Each week features prayer, scripture, thoughtful reflection and discussion on our shared experiences. ABIDE is open to anyone looking for a deeper connection to Christ and First Church.

Faith and Family is a group of parents with young children who gather most Sundays to reflect on faith in everyday life. Facilitated by Austin and Sam Spencer. This class meets in second floor Room 24.

For details on the Connect 56 schedule for fifth and sixth graders, please click here.

Questions can be sent to Lisa Gresch, Connect 56 Coordinator at ldgresch@gmail.com.

Description:
Invitation to the New Testament

Sundays at 11:45 a.m. in the dining room over a soup lunch.  Begins Jan. 5

Join this exploration of the writings ofthe New Testament using the story of Jesus as the starting point. This surveylooks at how the early church was shaped by the story of Jesus and how thechurch learned to develop as disciples and create communities of faith.Facilitated by Pastor Grace and Matt Jankiewicz.

Participants will find a deeperconversation with the writers of the New Testament. Invitation to the NewTestament is accessible for adults with little prior Bible experience.

Allare welcome. Register here .   

Grace Circle is a small group for faith formation that is currently at capacity.  Openings may be available in fall 2020.

Questions?  Please contact Pastor Bonny Roth at bonny@faithatfirst.com.

Winter/Spring 2020 Bible Study

Wednesdays, January 15 -February 5, 10:00 - 11:30 am in Glenna Hall

We will read Holy Envy: FindingGod in the Faith of Others, by Barbara Brown Taylor.  This book is available from Cokesbury, Amazon,or as an e-book; please get the book on your own.  New participants always welcome!  Ann Weatherhead(amweatherhead@gmail.com), Jean Price (organistjean@gmail.com),and Ellen Feliciano (felinet@ameritech.net) are leading this study. Please contact them with any questions.

Discussion Schedule:

January 15:  Introduction andChapters 1 - 3

January 22:  Chapters 4 – 6

January 29:  Chapters 7 - 9

February 5:  Chapters 10 - 12

We will be using the Holy Envy Study Guidewhich can be downloaded here. If you are unable to downloadthe guide, let one of the leaders know and they will bring copies to our firstmeeting.