Lifelong faith.
Enrichment for all ages.
We offer Adult Sunday School at 8:45am and 11:00am, and Bible Study during the week. Check our church calendar for days and times. Other adult groups host discussions of current books and topics, as well as studies based on seasonal congregational themes. Recent topics have included C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce, Jim Wallis’ On God’s Side, Debbie Macomber’s One Simple Act, and Diane Butler Bass’s A Peoples History of Christianity, What Every Christian Needs to Know about Passover, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, and Adam Hamilton’s John: The Gospel of Light and Life.
Women’s Study Group Meeting Monday evenings at 7 pm, the group is open to the women of First UMC and the greater community.
Thursday Morning Bible Study Meeting from 9:30-10:30 am, this group researches and discusses bible passages preselected by the leader.
Sunday Morning Adult Faith Formation Groups
8:45 am Group: Check the Sunday bulletin for study topics
11 am Group:
September 10, 17, 24: Building Safe, Open & Just Housing. The study and sessions on service and Outreach ministry partners corresponds to worship theme “God’s Heart, Our Home” using God’s love to build a home in our hearts (Sept. 3), households (Sept. 10), community/city (Sept. 17), and our world (Sept. 24).
- September 10: Building A Habitat House with Lee Kingdon, Volunteer Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity in DesPlaines. Come to learn about the first Habitat for Humanity home in Des Plaines to be built by the Spring of Life Partnership composed of members from seven churches in the Northwest suburbs. The session will introduce participants to the ministry of Habitat and opportunities to serve (i.e. working on a house, providing lunches, promotions, etc.)
- September 17: Inclusive Housing & Welcoming Communities with Neda Nozari, Director of Fair Housing, Open Communities. Open Communities’ mission is “to educate, advocate and organize to promote just and inclusive communities in north suburban Chicago. We are a leading voice for housing, economic and social justice in north suburban Chicago, working to promote inclusive communities that are welcoming to all. We provide fair and affordable housing counseling services, community education, advocacy, and organizing for welcoming communities.”
- September 24: Homelessness Prevention and Partner Ministry, speaker TBD.
October 8, 15, & 22: Transition to Retirement The three-part series for older adult members on transition to retirement. The first session is on adjustment to retirement, the second on Medicare and Social Security, and the third on opportunities for service for older adults.
NEW Groups/Options
Sign-up is currently underway for these stimulating fall offerings. All are welcome! Call the office at 847-825-3144 if you are interested.
Sojourners: First Meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7 pm
Biweekly discussion group on progressive theology using resources produced by Sojourners magazine. Participants will need to subscribe to the magazine via the church; online and print publications available. The leader(s) will pick articles for reading and discussion. The time/place of future meeting will be determined by participants.
Progressive Theology on Tap, Sunday, Sept. 24, 7 pm
Taking a cue from our Catholic neighbors, the group would meet monthly at a local pub to discuss theological points of view on a variety of topics. Pub TBD.
Storytellers, First Session, Thursday, Sept. 21, 7 pm
Using Sarah Heath’s book “What’s Your Story?” this group will meet four times (September, October, November, December) to continue working on the use of story in faith understanding and sharing begun at the August 10 “Earshot” event. “What’s Your Story” is a four-session, small-group study that features opportunities and space for creative journaling as participants discover the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis “sparking further reflection and discussion.”
Sermon Starters Begins Sept. 20, Wednesday morning, 10-11:30 am
The group meets with Pastor David for a bible study session on the scripture passages used in worship on the following Sundays. The study incorporates contemporary issues, art, music and images as well as personal reflection and application to today’s diverse culture.