Adult Faith Exploration
The Adult Faith Exploration Ministry helps us grow in faith no matter where we are in our lives, welcoming all with joy and offering programs and events that help to begin or expand our faith journeys. Our goal is to enhance the educational and spiritual life of adults in our congregation and community. Come explore with us!
Current/Upcoming Programs
Disagreeing Well Series Coming in October
In the midst of this tense election season, we must work to meet “the other” as one beloved of God for whom Christ died. Loving our neighbors as ourselves takes practice and disagreeing in ways that honor the dignity of others is a skill to be learned. Toward that end consider joining us for “Disagreeing Well” in the Palmer Room on Mondays in October.…read more and signup
Roots and Branches
Consider joining a “Roots and Branches” discussion group at First Congregational Church. Laughter, the discussion of a passage from sacred Scripture, the chance to know one another in new ways, a possible service project together … these are all dimensions of our Roots and Branches program.
Our groups meet twice a month in a comfortable setting, often a home. Many groups last year rolled up their sleeves for a single service experience as well. This year the Roots and Branches groups will focus on the questions that Jesus asked. We think the material is life changing and hope that you will consider being part of our groups…read more and sign up here
Monthly Bible Study
Second Wednesday of the month, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Contact Will Burhans for more information.
Led by Reverend Will Burhans, Lead Pastor, this informal group studies and discusses a different piece of scripture each time, looking at the historical, political, and religious factors. What does ancient scripture have to tell us about ourselves and the world we live in today? We seek to discover what God desires for each individually.
Past Programs
Mondays with Jesus and Buddha Lent 2024
When the heart is open, we are able to give and receive love freely, heal and transform emotional wounds, and engage with life with a spirit of curiosity and kindness.
How do we cultivate such beautiful states of being? In the Buddhist tradition, there is the teaching on the Four Boundless States — Lovingkindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity. This teaching not only helps us better understand the workings of the heart, but also includes meditations so we can grow into these states intentionally….read more
Tuesdays with Jesus Beginning March 8, 2022
Return and Renew, every Tuesday in Lent 10 am on Zoom or 7 pm in-person (rooms will be assigned)
We invite YOU to Return and Renew!
Small groups will be meeting during Lent!
It is with joy and anticipation that the FCCW is offering an opportunity for you to regather in small groups. Investing in each other builds beauty and healing strength in this season! For six weeks we will consider themes that “relate to” and “reenergize” our lives as we meet either virtually or in person in groups of eight to twelve. We hope you can join us for the full six weeks in order to develop deeper relationships with your group members and with God. Read more….
Advent Study: “The O Antiphons”,
Ripley Chapel, in person, every Tuesday in Advent 7 pm
You know the “O Antiphons” from one of the most cherished of Christmas Carols that we sing – O Come, O Come Emmanuel. But do you really know the O Antiphons? It’s a beautiful rich liturgical tradition that reaches deep into Christian history drawing on biblical images of the promised Messiah and using them to pray for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. Join us in Ripley Chapel on Tuesday evenings at 7pm to learn more and deepen your engagement with this holy season.
A Study of The Resurrection: 4 Gardens, 3 Trees, 2 Breaths, 1 Love
Mondays at 7pm-8pm on Zoom starting May 17th
Tuesdays at 10 am-11am in the Reno Garden starting May 18th
Join Rev. Will for a Bible study of the Resurrection as together we plumb the depths of this great mystery with the Bible in front of us, our community beside us and the Spirit guiding us. The Monday night zoom sessions and the Tuesday morning in-Garden sessions each week will be the same so you can pick and choose as the 4 weeks proceed. We’ll have two sessions, skip Memorial Day week and end on June 14th and 15th.
The Three Abrahamic Religions
This 3-part, recently concluded series brought our focus to the three “Abrahamic” religions that share Abraham as their common ancestor: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Below, in reverse date order, is a brief description of each program.
- Judaism: The Beginnings
This third and final segment of the series, on Judaism, was held via Zoom on Sunday afternoon, April 11, 2021. It had been long postponed in hopes it might be held in person when the pandemic ended, but as the months went by we finally decided to go ahead with it as a Zoom program. It featured a thought-provoking, hour-long video, hosted by Simon Schama, focused on the life of the prophet Moses: “The Story of the Jews – 1. In the Beginning.” A brief discussion followed the video. Read more…
- From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians.
During the fall of 2019, we continued our series on the Abrahamic religions with a look at our Christian roots via Frontline’s TV series, “From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians.” The four one-hour segments explored the life of Jesus, his death, and the men and women whose faith (and often martyrdom) created the religion we now know as Christianity. Sessions were followed by a half-hour discussion period. You can still watch the series online beginning with this link to the first segment: https://www.pbs.org/video/jesus-christ-first-christians-part-one-uosmze/.
- Islam: The First Steps
After worship on March 3, 2019, we held the first in our series about the three religions that share Abraham as an ancestor – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. We began with an introduction to Islam through videos addressing history, beliefs, and practices. Read More….
Transgender Awareness
3 Webinars – Thursdays Feb 25, Mar 4, Mar 11, 7 to 8:30PM
Since declaring ourselves an Open and Affirming church in 2001, we have done much to welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people to our church. But there is always more we can do and more we can learn about the LGBTQIA+ community. You are invited to continue the church’s ONA learning journey by attending any of these transgender awareness webinars being offered by the Open & Affirming Coalition of the UCC. For more information and to request a Zoom link, click here.
Racial Justice: Talk, Learn, Act
In November 2020 we held a 3-part discussion series about Ibram X. Kendi’s timely and provocative book, “How to Be an Antiracist,” which was our shared “FCC Reads” book over the summer. Led by Prof. Jerry Mechling, we explored many aspects of Kendi’s book and its possible implications for actions by our individual selves and our church. For a fuller description, click here.
The series was part of our church’s ongoing “Racial Justice: Talk, Learn, Act” effort (see above), which kicked off last June with a probing Zoom discussion on the topic of antiracism.
Additional Resources from Past Programs
- Frontline Series Resource List (participating scholars and authors
- Death Over Dinner description and materials (part of the “Death & Dying” series)
- Death & Dying Resources
- Civility Workshop Resources
- Civility Workshop Handout
