|
ADULT EDUCATION
AND
SPIRITUAL FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
SUNDAY MISSION MOMENTS
Come hear about a few of our Mission Service
Opportunities and the joyous experiences people have had in the gift
of serving others in need.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Habitat for Humanity
Speaker: Al Benzschawel
This session will briefly recount the history of
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Fox Cities and the long
relationship with First Congregational UCC. The evolution of this
partnership and specific activities that have engaged our members
will be discussed. A particular focus will be the wide variety of
ways in which individuals of varying skills and interests can become
involved. It is clearly not just swinging a hammer. There are many
tasks that don’t even involve a construction site!
Please join us to learn more about this long-term Primary Mission
Partner.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER
23rd, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Fox Cities-Kurgan Sister City Program
Speakers: Chuck and Estella Lauter
Chuck and Estella Lauter spent April and May 2006
teaching in Kurgan, Russia, on the edge of the western Siberian
plain, as part of a long-term exchange program between Kurgan State
University and Lawrence University within the Fox Cities-Kurgan
Sister City Program. Chuck brought to the experience many years of
work with international students and off-campus study programs at
Lawrence along with his service on the Board of the Sister City
Initiative. He had already made three previous trips to Russia –
two of them to Kurgan – and had done a similar teaching stint in
2001. Having studied Russian at Lawrence and Fox Valley Technical
College, he was able to participate in basic conversations related
to daily life. Estella, Professor Emerita of English from
UW-Oshkosh, had promised visiting professors from Kurgan that she
would someday join Chuck to teach literature written by women.
Their presentation is based on these experiences in
2006, on Chuck’s previous trips to Russia, and on continuing
relationships with people from Kurgan who have visited Appleton or
who are planning to visit Door County. They will present a series
of vignettes based on people, places, and events with as little
commentary as possible to give the audience an opportunity to draw
its own conclusions and form its own questions. After the
presentation, there will be plenty of time for discussion.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Youth Mission Trip to Delbarton, West Virginia
Speakers to be announced
36
of our youth participated in a mission trip this past August to
Delbarton, West Virginia helping folks in great need in this
Appalachian township. Representatives of the group will share with
us their life-changing experiences from this mission trip.
LIVING THE QUESTIONS
Living the Questions
2
strives to create an environment where participants can interact
with one another in exploring what’s next for Christianity. Each
session will include 20-minute video segments featuring
conversations with leading voices of faith, sermon and lecture
clips, digital stories illustrating aspects of an evolving faith,
and concrete spiritual practices and disciplines and the opportunity
for open, honest discussion of questions raised. Come join us for
this thought-provoking and exciting opportunity to learn and
explore.
FACILITATOR: Reverend Jane Anderson
Contributors
include: Nancy Ammerman, John Bell, Marcus Borg, Minerva Carcaño,
John B. Cobb, Jr., John Dominic Crossan, Lloyd Geering, Culver
“Bill” Nelson, Siyoung Park, Stephen Patterson, Tex Sample, John
Shelby Spong and Emilie Townes
In addition, LtQ2
also features Rita Nakashima Brock, Walter Brueggemann, Ron Buford,
Yvette Flunder, James Forbes, Matthew Fox, Hans Küng, Amy-Jill
Levine, Meagan McKenna, Rebecca Ann Parker, Helen Prejean, Barbara
Rossing, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Bernard Brandon Scott, Rick
Uford-Chase, Winnie Varghese and Mel White.
In the first of this
series we will discuss the following themes:
Invitation to Journey
**An Invitation to Journey
**Taking the Bible
Seriously
**Lives of Jesus
**Taking the Bible
Seriously
**Stories of
Creation
**A Passion for
Christ: Paul
**Out into the
World: Challenges Facing Progressive Christians
This series will be offered at two different times to accommodate
our members’ and friends’ varying schedule needs. Please choose
either
Sunday, October 7th,
to Sunday, November 18th, from
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
OR
Wednesday, October 10th, to Wednesday, November 14th,
from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
In January we will offer the second part of this
series entitled Reclaiming the World. The themes for
this part will include:
**Restoring
Relationships
**Evil, Suffering and a God of Love
**The Prophetic Jesus
**The Myth of Redemptive Violence
For the January series, please choose
either
Sunday, January 6th,
to Sunday, January 27th, from 11:45 to 1:00 p.m.
Light lunch to be served
OR
Wednesday, January 9th, to Wednesday, January 30th,
from
6:30 to
7:30 p.m.
WEEKLY BIBLE
STUDY GROUPS
LEADER: Reverend Steve Savides
Jesus the Teacher
Early
Christians referred to themselves as Followers of the Way,
the Way of Jesus Christ that was not only exemplified by his living,
but also articulated by his teaching. Through this class we will be
examining the teachings of Jesus. We’ll begin by exploring the
Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and the Sermon on the Plain
in Luke. Then we will encounter the wonderfully simple and
surprisingly complex parables of Jesus. Finally, we will witness
the miracles of Jesus as they provide the occasion for him to teach
new and moving lessons of faith. Throughout the class we will be
asking how this Way Jesus teaches can transform and guide our
living.
MONDAY EVENINGS,
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
SESSIONS BEGIN OCTOBER 1
WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
SESSIONS BEGIN OCTOBER 3
THEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION GROUP
FACILITATORS: Steve Ware and Steve Hirby
Do you have faith questions? Do you desire a place
to talk more about your spiritual questions with other adults in a
supportive caring way? Then, this may be the group for you. We
meet regularly to discuss questions, ponder readings, and explore
our faith together while fellowshipping over lunch. Come join us.
Please call the leaders for more information.
Review our reading list (so far).
1st and 3rd
THURSDAYS OF THE MONTH
TIME: 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch available for purchase
PLACE: Common Grounds at the church
ADVENT SERIES
Keeping Watch for Christ’s Coming
FACILITATOR: Reverend Jane Anderson
This is a spiritual growth opportunity to guide one through the four
weeks of waiting for the coming of the Christ-child. Wendy Wright,
in her book The Vigil: Keeping Watch in the Season of Christ’s
Coming, weaves together threads of the liturgical calendar,
traditional Christmas themes, scripture and personal life stories.
Come join us for this time of discussion and reflection. Books will
be available in the Church Office.
The four Sunday mornings of Advent – 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
DECEMBER 2, 9, 16 and 23
(Coffee, tea and goodies will be served)
LENTEN SERIES
FACILITATOR: Reverend Jane Anderson
Come join us for a six-week exploration of the events of Holy Week.
The springboard of our discussion will be the book entitled The
Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus’ Final Days in
Jerusalem by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. Books will
be available in the Church Office.
SUNDAY EVENINGS from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY 3, 10,17, 24, MARCH 2 and 9
FAITH AND THE WORLD
FACILITATOR: Reverend Jane Anderson
The Christian Century
is a biweekly magazine whose mission “calls Christians to a profound
engagement with the world – an engagement of both head and heart.
We think Christians can and must articulate their faith in a way
that is meaningful and intellectually compelling to those around
them. That’s why The Century examines issues of politics and
culture as well as theology, and that’s why it pays attention to the
challenges of faith that arise in our everyday lives as parents,
friends, spouses and citizens.”
Reverend Anderson will facilitate discussions about
faith and the world based on current topics of discussion and
articles from The Christian Century.
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
APRIL 9, 16, 23, 30, MAY 7 and 14
ON-LINE OPPORTUNITIES
THE COMMUNITY’S WORD,
Conversations in Preaching
FACILITATOR: Reverend Steve Savides
Did you ever want to
tell the Pastor what to say during his/her sermon next Sunday
morning? Or, did you ever want to tell him/her what s/he should or
shouldn’t have said last Sunday morning? Here’s your chance!
Pastor Steve will be hosting an on-line conversation on the
preaching ministry of our church. He will be posting the texts on
which he will be preaching the following Sunday for weeklong
discussion and input. There will also be an opportunity to offer
reflections on the sermon just past. Sharing your thoughts and
reflections will be a wonderful opportunity for you to both deepen
your own experience of the sermon and help the Pastor to sharpen,
clarify and broaden the message of the sermon. Remember – it isn’t
the Pastor’s pulpit – it’s the congregation’s pulpit offered to the
Pastor. Help us discern and share the Community’s Word!
SEPTEMBER through MAY
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
OPPORTUNITY
FACILITATOR: Reverend Jane Anderson
Reverend Anderson will facilitate online sharing based on commonly
shared articles, book selections, and movie clips from a variety of
sources, including the spiritual journal Weavings. The
intent of this online forum is to deepen our relationship with the
living God by intentionally engaging heart, mind and body in
spiritual nurture and practice.
MEMBERSHIP ORIENTATION CLASSES
LEADERS: Reverends Steve Savides and Jane Anderson
Membership exploration classes are designed for persons who are
considering membership with First Congregational United Church of
Christ. This one-day class, led by our staff, and
accompanied by contributions from the lay leadership of the church,
will explore the history and polity of the UCC, the history and
program of First Congregational Church, the faith and theology of
the church, discernment of spiritual gifts for serving God, and the
meaning of church membership and opportunities to serve the church.
Classes will be held on Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 1:00 p.m. in
the Chapel. Lunch is included and child care is available upon
request.
The classes will be on the following dates:
OCTOBER 13, 2007
FEBRUARY 16,
2008
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS WILL BE ON THE FOLLOWING DATES at both the
8:45 and 10:30 a.m. services:
OCTOBER 21, 2007
NOVEMBER 11, 2007
FEBRUARY 24,
2008
APRIL 20, 2008
FALL WOMEN’S
RETREAT
NOVEMBER 2 to 4, 2007
THEME:
Wrestling With God
LEADER: Reverend Jane Anderson
MOON BEACH CAMP
ST. GERMAIN, WISCONSIN
COST: $100.00 (includes two nights lodging and five meals)
(Deadline for sign up is Monday, October 15th)
Being in communion with God, allowing ourselves to be
transformed by God, does not come easily to most of us. Often we
may feel as though we are wrestling with God, just as Jacob wrestled
with the angel at Peniel. Our prayer life is often fraught with
unsettled feelings. During this retreat time, we will look at our
prayer life and seek ways to incorporate new disciplines that may
lead to spiritual growth and closer communion with the living,
triune God. Our retreat time is always a time of reflection, but
there is much time for Sabbath rest. We also enjoy the art of
“play” in the company of other wonderful women in our family of
faith. Come join us!
WINTER WOMEN’S RETREAT
FEBRUARY 1 to 3, 2008
THEME: Power for Living
LEADER: Reverend Jane Anderson
PILGRIM CENTER
GREEN LAKE, WISCONSIN
COST: $100.00
(includes two nights lodging and five meals)
(Deadline for sign up is Monday, January 21st)
Throughout biblical history, there have always been strong faithful
women who, as Helen Bruch Pearson says, “have struggled to break the
theological and ecclesiastical silence imposed on them by the powers
that be in the life of the community.” These strong faithful women
are vessels of God’s grace and prophetic action. In this retreat we
will listen to some of their voices, and our own, as we seek to
discover how God may be empowering us to “do what we have the power
to do” to bring love, justice, mercy and peace to this world in our
generation. Come join us for this time of spiritual growth and a
weekend of rest and renewal in the beautiful setting of Pilgrim
Center.
EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH GROUP
LEADER: Lois
Yost ..................... 734-9127
This intergenerational group of women meets for a
craft work session, a discussion and prayer time. The crafts are
given to recipients of Habitat for Humanity homes. They are open to
new people and new craft ideas. Please join them for fellowship and
creative fun.
4th
TUESDAY of the month, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 25th
CHRYSALIS
LEADERS:
Trish Brehm................... 739-8522
Sheryl DeHart................ 731-2620
This group of women
focuses on Bible study, community building, caring, prayer and
bridge building. In their explorations of resources and reflection
on their own spiritual journeys, these women build bridges in
relationship with others and God through sharing hopes, dreams,
ideas and fears. They give and receive mutual support and care and
provide a safe place to be in times of struggle and joy.
1st AND 3rd TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, from 5:30 to
6:45 p.m.
BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 4th
WOMEN TODAY CIRCLE
LEADER: Joan
Jensen................. 733-5090
Women Today Circle is a multi-age group of women in the church who
meet at the church for nurture, devotion, fellowship and service.
AS ANNOUNCED
TUESDAY AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP
LEADERS:
Nancy Steinike............. 738-7508
Sue Toussaint.............. 730-0912
This multi-generational group of women meets each week to discuss a
selected book pertaining to the spiritual nature of our lives.
Books are selected by the group and the leadership is shared by one
member of the group each week. The group typically will read one
chapter each week and prepare for discussion. They welcome new
members who seek fellowship, a time for sharing, and a desire to
discuss their spiritual journey with others.
TUESDAY AFTERNOONS
FROM 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
September through May
.
| Home |
About |
Staff
| Calendar |
Newsletter |
Sermons |
Library |
|
