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At First Congregational Church, we take seriously the need for quality Christian education for children, for youth, and for adults. Regardless of your age or interests, our educational programs are varied, distinctive, and engaging.
Children Our educational programs for children, from preschool through sixth grade, promote biblical literacy, prepare children for participation in worship, and engage them in the life of our community and the wider world. It begins with Church School on Sunday morning and continues with Kid’s Club on Wednesday afternoon: Sunday Morning Schedule: 9:45-11:20 am: Nursery Care for Infants & Toddlers, through age 2 Wednesday Kid's Club: 1st-6th grades, 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Creation Room. For our 2011-2012 programming year, we follow a theme which lights the way but also allows children to find their own way. Our theme this year is "Living the Word." The theme inspires children to take what they learn and apply the lessons in everyday life.
Youth Educational programs for youth provide spiritual and social nurture, offer opportunities for service to others, and engage our youth in addressing their faith and their doubts. 7th - 12th Grade Fellowship Our Wednesday night program begins on September 14, 2011.
Confirmation Making Disciples Confirmation Class At FCCW, students in 8th grade are invited to participate in our Confirmation Class. This year-long class prepares students to publicly affirm the baptismal vows taken for them by their parents in the Rite of Confirmation, held this year on Sunday, May 6, 2012. Dates for Confirmation Class for 2011-2012: October 2, November 6, December 4, January 8, February 12, March 4, and April 1. Adult Adult Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation is a process of learning to love God with heart, soul and mind (Deuteronomy 6: 4-5), and our neighbors as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22: 34-40). Our Spiritual Formation program provide opportunities to develop Biblical and theological literacy, engage in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, and develop habits of Christian prayer, discernment, and mutual support. Theology on Tap The Spirituality of Wine Spirituality of Wine: Wines of Pentecost
First Congregational Church and Congregation Sukkat Shalom The Green Committees of FCCW and CSS invite us to contemplate how our two faith traditions ask us to be responsible stewards of the environment God has given us. To this end, we have invited Charles Fishman, author of “The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water” to join us to discuss his new book. Mr. Fishman is an investigative reporter who has served on the staff of the Washington Post and Orlando Sentinel. He currently edits Fast Company magazine.
Just for Men The Men’s Group, led by Rev. David Hogue, meets Mondays at Hackney’s Restaurant, 1514 E. Lake Avenue in Glenview, 7:00pm for dinner and conversation. The meeting calendar for the year: September 19, October 17, November 14, (No December meeting), January 23, February 20, March 19, April 16, May 21. Please RSVP to Keith Ross dkeithr1979@aol.com. Men’s Ski Retreat takes place January 13-16, 2012 at the home of Keith Ross in Heber City, Utah. Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts are nearby. For information, contact Keith Ross.
Just for Women Mary Supper Martha and Mary of Bethany (the namesake of our group) are two archetypal figures in the New Testament. They represent the dual sides of each of us, and of what it means to be a Christian. Martha was hardworking and saw to the physical needs of those around her through the work of her hands, while Mary sat with rapt attention, learning at Jesus' feet. We are all called on to do God's work with our hands, and as the authors of "The Spiritual Life", put it to "meditate day and night on the activity and love of God". Come and join us monthly at Mary Supper and experience scripture, sharing, fellowship, and of course a fabulous soup & salad supper with the women of FCCW. Held in member's homes, this is an open group and all women are welcome and encouraged to come as often as they can. First-timers and friends always welcome! Led by Rev. Stephanie VanSlyke. Dates for 2011-2012
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Our Christian Formation Programs for children lead participants on an unfolding path that builds Biblical literacy and familiarity with our Church--its history, its mission and patterns of worship. Classes, curriculum, and activities draw of on the philosophy of educator Maria Montessori as expressed in the Christian "Godly Play" curriculum written by Jerome Berryman and Sonia Stewart. Lessons and activities equip the child with the religious imagination to navigate a deeper understanding of their spiritual lives and church community. Children emerge empowered and motivated to continue their education and to maintain a relationship with the church community as they move into junior high. At FCCW, we believe it is not enough to simply convey Biblical lessons by rote. Rather, we focus on building Biblical literacy so that children discover what the stories of our faith mean to them. Teachers at all levels are trained to serve as spiritual guides and understand how to spark inquiry. I encourage families to be involved with the learning to form a partnership. Watch for regular communication on what is happening in the church school classrooms. Children will occasionally bring home family pages to further strengthen the connection between home and church. In addition, I will make myself available to discuss your child's interactions with programming. Feel free to schedule a brief meeting, phone conversation, or take a moment after service to simply inquire about your child's individual experiences in the classroom. I look forward to working with you during this and future programming years. All of our programs support children becoming active in worship, not only as participants but leaders as well. Children feel a great sense of pride and belonging while teaching the congregation what they have learned.
The mission of the FCCW youth groups is to provide a safe environment for young people to explore the intersections of faith and youth culture. We do so by treating one another with honor and respect. In our sessions we compare contemporary movies, music, television shows, and books with the Bible and Christian tradition. The goal is to develop the tools necessary to critique and affirm aspects of our culture. We ask questions like: "What in our culture affirms the spirit of life, love, and hospitality?" "How might we give a generous critique of those aspects of our culture that lead us away from that spirit?" and "What does all of this mean for the way we treat our fellow human beings?" |
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