First Congregational United Church of Christ offers a variety of educational opportunities, including Disciple Bible Study, Sunday morning classes, Tuesday Lunch Bunch, weekday evening classes, small groups and other special topics throughout the year.

Sunday Morning

A variety of Adult Education classes are held on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. from September to May.

On January 11 and 18 the following classes are scheduled:

"Spiritual Practices in Everyday Life" - Lanyon Chapel

Fred Kueffner, Mimi Farrelly, and Paul Hansen, Facilitators
Did you make a New Year's Resolution regarding your spiritual life? Or do you wish you had more of a sense of God's presence each day? These two sessions are designed to provide practical suggestions for busy folks.

"Continuing the Sacred Conversation on Race" - Fireside Room

Edwina Salazar, Facilitator
Do you wish you had been part of a Sacred Conversation group this past fall? Or were you part of a group and you wish the conversation could continue? These two sessions will help keep this important dialogue going.

Sunday Morning Meditation Class

The next time you feel a sense of dissatisfaction, of something being missing or not quite right,turn inward just as an experiment. See if you can capture the energy of that very moment.Instead of picking up a magazine or going to the movies, calling a friend or looking for something to eat or acting up in one way or another, make a place for yourself. Sit down and enter into your breathing, if only for a few minutes. Don't look for anything—neither flowers nor light nor a beautiful view. Don't extol the virtues of anything or condemn the inadequacy of anything. Don't even think to yourself, “I am going inward now.” Just sit. Reside at the center of the world. Let things be as they are. — Jon Kabat-Zinn, Wherever You Go There You Are

Meditation is a time-honored practice for calming the mind, healing the body, and opening the heart. In this weekly class we will learn the basics of meditation by drawing on many rich spiritual traditions, including Christianity and Buddhism. This period in our history seems to be particularly challenging and we are called upon to be practice wisdom and compassion as never before. At the same time, it is easy to want to do more and more, losing ourselves in busy-ness. Taking time to come back to ourselves and to the presence of God can help us be calmer and kinder in all aspects of our daily lives. Join us on Sunday morning before worship — and “just sit.” Facilitators for this ongoing class will be Janelle Combelic, Mimi Farrelly, and other occasional teachers. We meet in the chapel at 9:30 a.m.

Other Class and Discussion Opportunities

Tuesday Lunch Bunch

The Lunch Bunch meets on Tuesdays at noon, from September to May. Beginning November 18 the group will discuss "To Love as God Loves" by Roberta Bondi. Call Julie Nosek at 303-485-2470 for more information.

Tuesday Evening Meditation Class

In the stillness there are no words — only that which is “closer than consciousness itself.” Come
join in silent meditation and mindful discussion every Tuesday evening at 6:30 in the Fireside
Room. Newcomers please come at 6:15. For more information call Janelle Combelic at
303-772-0301.

Disciple Bible Study

Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study is a 34 week study of the Bible, from Genesis through Revelation. The Disciple study assumes that the bible is the key to renewal in the church. It recognizes the human-divine nature of the Bible: The actual texts of Scripture were written by human beings like ourselves in their cultural settings, under the divine inspiration of God.

Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study gives equal time to both the Old and New Testament, emphasizing the wholeness of the Bible as the revelation of God. DISCIPLE aims at transformation, not just information, and calls on persons to submit themselves to examination by Scripture, to put themselves under the power of God’s Word, and to be changed by God’s Word. DISCIPLE invites persons to bring their experiences and struggles to the Scripture.

Classes begin each fall and are held on Monday evenings.