FORMATION:
Adult Education
Sunday Morning Classes
Join one of our Faith Formation classes from 9:40-10:40 am.
The Fellowship Café is available from 9:15-9:45 am.
All are welcome!
I Love Growing Older
But I’ll Never Grow Old
Conference Room | Led by Dick Betts and Lana Brunk
Growing older is a process. Growing old is a conclusion. If you’re growing older you see some hope because you have perspective and you keep learning. If you’ve grown old, you may cynically think that times have never been as bad as they are now, and that they can only get worse.
This fall we read I Love Growing Older But I’ll Never Grow Old by J. Ellsworth Kalas. It’s about learning how to make peace with where you are right now. It’s about learning from the past and then moving past it. It’s about growing—personally, spiritually, and in our relationships with God and with others. If we think properly about growing older, we’ll never have to grow old.
The Chosen: Season Two
Owl Room | Led by Various Facilitators
September13-November 22
Dive into the world of The Chosen: Season 2 as Jesus’ ministry grows and his disciples learn what it means to follow him together.
Through the stories, characters, and themes of the series, we’ll explore the relationships, questions, conflicts, and encounters that shape their unfolding journey. Each week we’ll connect the episode with Scripture, consider the cultural and religious world of Jesus’ time, and reflect on how these stories speak to our own lives of faith.
Whether you watched Season 1, are already a fan, or are joining us for the first time, you are welcome to watch, wonder, question, and grow with us.
The Present Word
Session House Parlor | Taught by George Evans
The Present Word is an in-depth Bible study for adults that dives deep into God’s Word, studying the Bible over a six-year period and focusing on a specific theme each quarter. It is a study of Scripture that leads to discovery of its deeper meaning and relevance for today.
Beginning with a study of Joshua, this quarter looks at ancient Israel’s entry into the Promised Land (Unit I) and continuing with three lessons on Judges (Unit II), highlights Israel’s propensity to ignore God and God’s ways. Unit III concludes the season in 1 and 2 Samuel. Samuel’s faithfulness as prophet and judge plays a pivotal role in Israel’s history. It sets the stage for the glorious reign of King David.
Sunday Afternoon &
Mid-Week
Starting October 28, we undertake a new book, An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. If in Leap Over a Wall, Eugene Peterson paints a picture of what presenting our whole human being before God looks like, An Altar in the World helps us see our whole human life as a place where God may be encountered.
Every Wednesday
from 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Life of Prayer: The
Practice of Contemplative
Living
Owl Room and on Zoom | Led by Patrick Ryan
Guided by a seasonal book, Life of Prayer journeys together along a way that Jesus taught in hopes of nurturing a greater awareness of the spiritual dimension in our lives.
We continue our exploration of Eugene Peterson’s Leap Over a Wall. Of all the characters in the Old Testament, it’s David who is most human. Through the passions, the trials, and the lyrical poetry of this beloved figure, we gain insights into the role of God in our own lives. Stories from David's epic life become vivid lessons in everyday faith and spirituality, awakening us to the enduring truths behind these beloved stories.
With the honesty of Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) and the spiritual depth of Anne Lamott (Grace, Eventually), Taylor shares how she learned to find God beyond the church walls by embracing the sacred as a natural part of everyday life. An Altar in the World shares meaningful ways to discover the sacredness within the small things. Taylor shows us how to discover altars everywhere we go and in nearly everything we do as we learn to live with purpose, pay attention, slow down, and revere the world we live in.
Every Thursday
from 11:00 am – 12:000 pm
Sermon Bible Study
Library and on Zoom | Led by Anna Pinckney Straight
Join Anna Pinckney Straight every Thursday at 11:00 am in the Hawkins Library for an hour of conversation to explore the scripture from the previous Sunday’s worship and look ahead to the upcoming Sunday’s text. Together we’ll consider the historical context of these passages and their relevance for our lives today. Each session stands on its own, so you are always welcome. This is an opportunity both to learn more about scripture and preaching.
Third Sunday of the Month
from 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Calvin and Hops
(Men’s Beer and Theology)
Brewery 99, 1030 Pollock St.
Calvin and Hops is an informal monthly gathering of men (not limited to Presbyterians) to discuss theology and the life of faith. Led by Ken Wilkins, we have a beer (beer-drinking not mandatory) and usually some salty snacks brought by one of the group members. Contact Patrick Ryan for more information.
Presbyterian Women
Gatherings each month for Bible
study and fellowship, special
events, retreats, and so much more.
Presbyterian Women Circles at First Presbyterian include Bible Study and so much more. We get together once a month for Bible Study, fellowship, and to enjoy the spiritual support of other women. We also have luncheon gatherings four times a year and all the women in the church are invited to attend. Our monthly service projects range from a sock tree to infant layettes. There is a Circle and a time for everyone.
Peer Support Groups
Every other Thursday beginning on
January 16 - 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Presbyterian Men
Session House Parlor
Despite having friends, family, and co-workers around each day, most men don’t get to talk about what’s on their minds. Men often lack healthy role models to learn from. Imagine a circle of brothers that listens not only to what you say but can hear the truth beneath your words. Imagine having companions that remind you of your commitments, help clarify your vision, and provide tools for action. Imagine a circle of men that holds you in prayer and supports and challenges you in your journey toward greater Christlikeness. Presbyterian Men offers this community to all men who wish to join.
Second Tuesday of the Month,
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Grief Support Group
Chapel, 1st Floor, Ministry Center
Grief certainly doesn’t work like we expect it to. In so many situations, those who have lost a loved one have to endure awkward and sometimes hurtful conversations, even with those who love them. Grief is one of those things that many who have not endured it do not know how to talk about. With readings each month, the Grief Support Group is a small group and a rare space to share our grief honestly and be heard and understood as we do so.