Support

Parenting Faithfully, Today and Tomorrow

Led by Sarah Higginbotham

Wednesday evenings, time TBD

October 12, 19, and 26, via Zoom

Parenting was never an easy job, and then we experienced a pandemic that turned everything upside-down. As we continue to live with the effects of Covid on our lives, families are experiencing stress from many directions, old and new. Join Sarah for a time of reflection and support. We'll share our struggles and our strategies, while grounding ourselves in the deep well of our faith tradition and a wide range of parenting resources. The group may continue on a monthly basis for ongoing support. 

Encouragement/Support Group for Children of Aging Parents

Led by Beth Spaulding

5 sessions on Thursdays 7:30 p.m-8:30p.m. via zoom

This is a group for anyone who has a parent or other close relative who is aging and would like to gather in community and share resources and support. We can explore topics from understanding changes in family roles to balancing needs of both parents and children to general support/encouragement, depending on the will of the group. Rev. Beth Spaulding will facilitate these five sessions over Zoom on Thursdays 7:30 p.m-8:30p.m.  Spacing of these sessions tbd based on group preference. Please contact her with any questions.

Nature and Environment

Fall Revelations

Led by Hilary Hopkins

Meetings for 4 Thursdays in October TBD timing, in person at FCC

Even though it appears that the green world is shutting down, dying even, at this time of year, still the green blade will rise from the buried seed! In this four-session Faith and Life group, we will explore the wondrous world of dirt and fruits and seeds and seemingly-dead twigs. We will have a few short walks near the church, explore plant materials and use simple microscopes, and read inspiring and hopeful words about hidden life. Meeting in person at FCC, on the four October Thursdays, 10-12ish or 1-3ish, depending on people’s preferences. Can also meet instead on the last two October Thursdays + first two November Thursdays.

Astronomy Nights- Family Friendly!

Led by Adam Weiss

In Person, one or two Friday or Saturday nights in October

Join Adam Weiss for an outdoor all ages activity under the night sky. We will be using a telescope to look at constellations and look at Jupiter, and Saturn, along with other cool things like binary stars and star clusters. Location and date/times to be determined by those who sign up.

Exploring Faith

Faithfully (& Queerfully) Reading Scripture

Led by Jaz Buchanan

Wednesdays on Nov 2, Nov 16, Nov 30, Dec 14 6pm-7pm, via Zoom

ONA conversations continue! As we continue to lean into God’s radical welcome as a faith community, Jaz welcomes you to join her for a time of reading, theological wondering, and personal faith reflection. Together, we will read Shannon T. L. Kearn’s latest book, In the Margins: A Transgender Man’s Journey with Scripture. Shay beautifully and powerfully weaves stories from his life into reflections on well-known biblical narratives. We will gather on Wednesday evenings 6pm-7pm in-person and on Zoom (hybrid) to share tea and heartfelt conversations. 

Encountering Faith and the Bible Anew

Led by Lexi Boudreaux

Tuesdays, November 1, 8, 15, 29th 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., via Zoom 

This group is especially for new members (within the past 2 years) or folks already among us who are looking to find a new or different connection with the concepts of faith and scripture. Are you looking to explore your relationship with your faith, the Bible and/or the church? If the Bible isn't a science book or an instruction manual, then what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? If you are looking to explore new ways to think about faith and our scripture and tradition in a supportive community of care please join us in reading the book: Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again By Rachel Held Evans. 

Metaphors for God: 6 weeks facilitated by Mary Martha Thiel

Tuesday evenings, 7:30-8:30 p.m., on Zoom (September 27, October 4, 11, 18, 25, and November 1)

Drawing on select chapters from God Is Here: Reimaging the Divine by Toba Spitzer, we will

explore five metaphors for God from Hebrew scripture: water, place, rock, fire, and becoming.

Each week we will focus on one metaphor, share in a spiritual practice building on the

metaphor, and make connections to justice issues we feel called to as Christians.

Justice and Faith in the World

Prophetic Voices of the 20th Century

Led by Paul Sawyer

Wednesdays 7:30 - 9:00pm, 5 sessions starting October 12, ending November 9, via Zoom.

In this group, we will view via Zoom five documentary films on five 20th century "prophetic voices" -- Howard Thurman, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dorothy Day, and Reinhold Niebuhr. These films, previously broadcast on Public Television, are each approximately one hour, then we will have a half-hour of discussion about what we learned and what significance each has for our lives today. No advance preparation will be required! It's likely that lots of First Church folks have heard of one or two of these prophets but perhaps not all five. Each has had a significant effect on religious and social thought and practice.

1619 Project Discussion Group 

Organizers include Peggy Stevens and Mary Robinson. 

Wednesdays 7-8 pm. October 19th-November 30th (except for 11/23), via Zoom.

We will be reading together A New Origin Story, the latest book of essays, poetry, and fiction from The New York Times’ 1619 Project, created by Nikole Hannah-Jones. This will be a collaborative group where each participant will share in discussion leadership and preparing discussion questions for 1 week.