Ministries

Learning

Learning is part of our commitment to lifelong growth in our faith, so we offer Sunday School for all ages. Classes are offered on Sunday mornings and there are additional learning opportunities throughout the week. The Sunday morning learning hour is 9:20-10:20.

Our Sunday School uses akaloo, a web-based, highly creative and flexible curriculum that actively engages learners and helps them relate their lessons to their lives. Our Confirmation curriculum, "Here We Stand", helps our 7th-9th graders deepen their faith at a time when they need it most. It's also web-based and highly interactive. Confirmation classes meet Sunday mornings and for brief weeknight series and occasional weekend lock-ins.

Adults encounter a variety of presenters and learning experiences through the Adult Forum each Sunday, and take part in a weekly Tuesday evening (6:00 p.m.)/ Wednesday morning (10:00 a.m.) Bible study. There are also periodic series learning events and monthly Bible studies through women's circles.

Fellowship

Fellowship is a habit at First, and the coffee pot is usually on! Between services on Sunday mornings and after the 10:30 am service, there's coffee, goodies and lots of conversation in the commons area. Each month brings opportunities specially intended for youth, children, young adults, and couples, families, seniors, as well as events for anyone else. Check the schedule to see what's going on each week, and call if you have questions. We'd love to have you.

Service

Service is part of our DNA. We understand that God has saved us by grace and has created us for good works (Ephesians 2:8,10). After we experience God and the support of the community each week, we cannot NOT seek to serve others. For most of us, this happens personally and individually on a daily basis. We also join for special opportunities to serve with our time, our skills, our material gifts and our financial support.

First Lutheran serves the community through such activities and agencies as the People's City Mission, the Lutheran Food Pantry, Tabitha Home, Habitat for Humanity, CROP Walk, Lutheran World Relief, Prison Ministries, Bread for the World and a host of others. Serving others is a priority at First, and has been throughout our history.

Adult Forum

Adult Forum meets every Sunday morning from 9:20 am to 10:20 am in the Upper Room. These individual sessions and brief series are for anyone who wishes to deepen his or her faith and gain a broader understanding.

May 11 -- Meet our own Sunni Richardson, Ministry Coordinator. Hear her personal journey and the future of the Partners in Ministry program.

May 18 -- No Adult Forum - Year-End Sunday School Celebration.

May 25 -- A Shoulder-to-Shoulder visit to Kamuli Uganda. Kay Rockwell will show photos of her experiences with a farming community that invited her to dance to rheir drums and celebrate their blessings. You'll learn how subsistence farmers enriched her life with their friendship, love and generosity.

June 1 -- We return to our study of the Lutheran Social Statements. The discussion for the 5th part of the series is on "Education".

Grief Journey Class

A Grief Journey class will be offered on Sunday mornings from April 6 through May 25 at 9:20 am. These 55-minute combination instruction/discussion sessions will be co-facilitated by Janice Bennetch and Cynthia Holt.

Janice has been trained in group facilitating and grief counseling and has over 12 years of group facilitating experience. Both Janice and Cynthia have experienced their own personal grief journeys and have agreed to team up to share their knowledge to impart a touch of God's love and to comfort and empower you in the time of loss.

Learn what you weren't taught about grieving and how to heal. Get answers to such questions as, "how long will this last, am I doing this right, and what about those ‘stages'?" Discussions will focus on issues concerning your individual grief journey.

Please contact the church office at 488-9019 if you are planning to attend these classes or have questions.