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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 and continues with Kid’s Club: Children in kindergarten through fifth grade meet on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Creation Room. For 2008-2009, Kid’s Club begins September 17 with the theme “What do you bring to the Table?” Children will have the opportunity to explore and identify their individual talents and interests, and find a purpose within the home, church and wider community. We will also work on finding comfort in our church, through prayer and connections with the community. Summer Interfaith Bible Camp We partner with Congregation Sukkat Shalom each August to offer weeklong morning Bible Camp filled with fun, service and exploration of our shared faith traditions. Dates and details about our 2009 Bible Camp will be available in late spring or early summer. Kid’s Count Click here to blog with Kat Cetrone about our Children’s Ministries. 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. Emerge is our Middle School youth group, for youth in grades 6-8. Emerge meets on Wednesdays from 6 to 6:45 p.m. in the Upper Room of First Congregational. After Emerge, we have a community dinner in Pilgrim Hall with Connections, the Senior High youth group, until 7:15 p.m. Our schedule for 2008-2009 is as follows: September 7 (Sun): Rally Day, meet after worship 14 (Sun): 6-Flags Trip, meet at the church at 11 a.m. 17 (Wed): Emerge 24 (Wed): Emerge October 1 (Wed): Emerge 8 (Wed): No Class - Attend Sukkat Shalom Yom Kippur Service 11-12 (Sat-Sun): - Emerge Lock In 15 (Wed): Emerge 19 (Sun): Children’s Sabbath (during worship) and Crop Walk (after worship) 22 (Wed): Emerge - Pumpkin Carving (dress appropriately!) 29 (Wed): Emerge November 4 (Tues): Emerge Bowling Party (no school) 5 (Wed): Emerge 12 (Wed): Emerge 19 (Wed): Emerge 26 (Wed): No Emerge, Thanksgiving Break December 3 (Wed): Emerge 5 (Fri): Decorate Church for Christmas 6 (Sat): Hanging of the Greens, Rehearsal at 9 a.m., Show at 5 p.m. 7 (Sun): Wreathmaking, after worship 10 (Wed): Emerge 13 (Sat): Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, time TBA 14 (Sun): Christmas Pageant, during 10 a.m. worship 17 (Wed): Emerge - White Elephant Party 24 (Wed): No Emerge - Attend Christmas Eve Service 31 (Wednesday): No Emerge, New Year’s Eve January 4 (Sun): De-Hanging of the Greens, meet after worship in Pilgrim Hall 7 (Wed): Emerge 14 (Wed): Emerge 16 (Fri): Emerge Lunch and a Movie in Upper Room (Friday Early Release) 21 (Wed): Emerge 28 (Wed): Emerge February 4 (Wed): Emerge 11 (Wed): Emerge 17 (Tues): Emerge Bowling at 10 a.m. (No School) 18 (Wed): Emerge 25 (Wed): No Emerge, Attend Ash Wednesday Service at 7 p.m. March 4 (Wed): Emerge 11 (Wed): Emerge 18 (Wed): Emerge 25 (Wed): No Emerge, Spring Break April 1 (Wed): Emerge 8 (Wed): Emerge 15 (Wed): Emerge 22 (Wed): Emerge 29 (Wed): Final Emerge of the Year Connections is our Senior High youth group for 9th-12th grades. Connections meets on Wednesdays from 7:15 to 8 p.m. in the Upper Room. Before Connections, we have a community dinner in Pilgrim Hall with Emerge, the Middle School youth group, starting at 6:45 p.m. Our schedule for 2008-2009 is as follows: September 7 (Sun): Rally Day, meet after worship 14 (Sun): 6-Flags Trip, meet at 11 a.m. at the church 17 (Wed): Connections 24 (Wed): Connections October 1 (Wed): Connections 8 (Wed): No Class - Attend Sukkat Shalom Yom Kippur Service 15 (Wed): Connections 19 (Sun): Children’s Sabbath, during worship, and Crop Walk, after worship 22 (Wed): Connections - Pumpkin Carving (dress appropriately!) 29 (Wed): Connections November 5 (Wed): Connections 7 (Fri): Connections Lunch and a Movie at Old Orchard (No School) 12 (Wed): Connections 19 (Wed): Connections 26 (Wed): No Connections, Thanksgiving Break December 3 (Wed): Connections 5 (Fri): Decorate Church for Christmas 6 (Sat): Hanging of the Greens, Rehearsal at 9 a.m., Show at 5 p.m. 7 (Sun): Wreathmaking, after worship 10 (Wed): Connections 13 (Sat): Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, time TBA 14 (Sun): Christmas Pageant, during 10 a.m. worship 17 (Wed): Connections - White Elephant Party 24 (Wed): No Connections, Attend Christmas Eve Service 31 (Wed): No Connections, New Year’s Eve January 4 (Sun): De-Hanging of the Greens, meet after worship in Pilgrim Hall 7 (Wed): Connections 11 (Sun): Coffee House Study Hall, Pilgrim Hall, 7-9 p.m. 14 (Wed): Connections 20 (Tues): Connections Lunch and a Movie in Upper Room (No School) 21 (Wed): Connections 28 (Wed): Connections February 4 (Wed): Connections 11 (Wed): Connections 18 (Wed): Connections 25 (Wed): No Connections, Attend Ash Wednesday Service at 7 p.m. 27 (Fri): Connections Bowling (No School) March 4 (Wed): Connections 11 (Wed): Connections 18 (Wed): Connections 25 (Wed): No Connections, Spring Break April 1 (Wed): Connections 8 (Wed): Connections 15 (Wed): Connections 22 (Wed): Connections 29 (Wed): Final Connections of the Year May 6 (Wed): Connections Mission Trip Meeting June 7 (Sun): Graduation Sunday July 24-Aug 2: Senior High Connections Mission Trip to Edisto Island, South Carolina Making Disciples is First Congregational’s confirmation program for youth in 8th grade. Youth are assigned a mentor from the congregation and meet with their mentors and pastors several times during the year in preparation for Confirmation Sunday, May 3, 2009. These sessions are scheduled with each Confirmation Class and take place concurrent with Emerge on Wednesday nights, or following worship on Sunday mornings. Adult Our Adult Education programs seek to nurture spiritual growth, biblical literacy, theological reflection and engagement in social issues. ENGAGE This adult Bible study and discussion group meets each Sunday before worship at 9:00am in the Library Lounge. Various church members take responsibility for facilitating discussion which applies the insights of the Biblical text to questions of faith, life, and service. New this year! Theology on Tap Theology on Tap meets once a month, led by Adam Ericksen. Participants discuss the practical implications of theology. The prophet Micah said it best, “and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (6:8). Using Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience we can humbly discover a theology that leads us to perform faithful, practical, and loving actions in our world. This is what Jesus wanted when he prayed, “Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”. Learning with Congregation Sukkat Shalom For 2008, First Congregational Church and Congregation Sukkat Shalom are offering two opportunities for learning: a joint class meeting over the course of four Thursday evenings, and our traditional guest scholar program in November, featuring James Carroll. Members and visitors alike are welcome to attend. Joint Class Celebrating Sabbath in our Two Traditions will be taught by Rabbi Sam Gordon, Rev. Tripp Hudgins of the Community Church of Wilmette, and Pastor Stephanie Perdew on Thursday evenings, October 30, November 6, 13, and 20, 2008 at 7:30pm in the Library Lounge. FCCW/CSS Guest Scholar: James Carroll The noted author of Constantine’s Sword: the Church and the Jews, James Carroll, returns for his third visit to our congregations. Carroll’s newest book, House of War: the Pentagon and the Disastrous Rise of American Power, is the 2006 winner of the PEN-Galbraith Award for distinguished work of non-fiction. Mr. Carroll’s appearance is jointly sponsored by FCCW, Congregation Sukkat Shalom and the Raven Foundation.
Just for Men: The Men’s Group, led by Rev. David Hogue, will meet on Mondays at Hackney’s Restaurant on Lake Avenue in Glenview, 7:00 p.m. The meeting calendar for the year: November 17, (No December meeting) January 26, February 23, March 16, April 20, May 18 Men’s Ski Retreat takes place January 15-18, 2009 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 Suppers Tuesday December 9 (Advent Service), January 27, February 24, and April 7 (Bethany Tuesday Holy Week service), 6:30pm In the gospel of Luke we read that Mary sat and spoke with Jesus while her sister Martha was distracted with much serving. There is a little Mary and Martha in each of us-we all need a chance to sit, relax and converse together. Mary Suppers include a simple meal, followed by a conversation and a worship service. We meet in member’s homes, except December 9 and April 7, when we meet at the church. Sacred Circle Women’s Bible Study We meet on Tuesday mornings, 9am to read the scripture readings for the coming Sunday from the cycle of readings called the Revised Common Lectionary. Through prayer, meditation, and conversation, we allow the scriptures to speak to our own experiences. Sacred Circle begins on Tuesday January 13, 2009. Women’s Retreat, February 21-22 -location and program to be announced. First Congregational/Congregation Sukkat Shalom Women’s Program: TuB’Shvat Seder February 9th, 2009 7:00pm This is a Jewish holiday which marks the planting of the seeds in the spring (in February, it is already spring in Israel). Anticipate spring and give thanks for the bounty and blessing of God’s creation at this ritual meal with sisters from Congregation Sukkat Shalom. Program led by Rabbi Ari Poster Moffic of CSS and Pastor Stephanie Perdew of FCCW. |
“What will you bring to the table?” is our children’s programming theme for 2008-2009 at First Congregational Church. The theme explores and helps to identify each child’s individual talents and interests and assists her or him find a purpose within the home, church and wider community. We will also work on finding comfort in our church, through prayer and connections with the community. I am also happy to report the return of Kid’s Club. Programming begins at 4:30 pm on each Wednesday (unless otherwise noted) beginning September 17. A PAST POSTS
We were made for connections. Spiritual connections. We were made to be connected to God and to one another. Then something went wrong. Violence, war, injustice, poverty, selfish desires, all lead to the unfortunate disconnect we humans create with one another. But life doesn’t have to be that way. PAST POSTS |
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