February 22
EXPLORING THE FAITH
​Three-Part Series- Palliative Care and Faith:
Living Well, Faithfully, and Fully
A Sandy Talbott Speaker Series
This three-part series explores how the wisdom of faith and the practice of palliative care meet —where compassion, presence, and hope sustain us through the pain of living. We begin conversations with those who accompany others in times of suffering: a palliative care physician, a social working who supports patients and families, and a chaplain who tends the spiritual dimensions of care. Together, we’ll reflect on how palliative care, like faith, helps us live fully—even in the face of life’s hardest realities.
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Understanding Palliative Care
Speaker: Dr. Joe Dixon, Trinity Health
Host: Melissa Anne Rogers
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Dr. Dixon explains what palliative care actually is—a medical specialty focused on relief of symptoms, clarity in decision-making, support for families, and quality of life. He will also distinguish palliative care from hospice, explain when each is appropriate, and address common misconceptions. This session emphasizes that palliative care is about living well, not about giving up.​
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EXPLORING THE BIBLE
​Reading Revelation
Host: Ed Koster
This class will explore Revelation in its historical context and examine how its vivid imagery speaks to both the early church and to us today. Together we will uncover the themes of faith, perseverance, and God’s ultimate renewal of creation, gaining tools to read Revelation not as a code to be cracked, but as a vision of encouragement for Christians in every age.
FIRST FRIENDS
Witness At the Cross: Bystanders and Scoffers
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We will begin the video series Witness at the Cross with the first session, Bystanders and Scoffers. Amy-Jill Levine invites us to look closely at those who surround Jesus at the crucifixion—those who watch, mock, flee, or remain—and to consider what their responses reveal about human nature, faith, and responsibility. Through guided viewing and discussion, we’ll reflect on where we see ourselves in the story and how these perspectives deepen our understanding of the cross.
March 1
EXPLORING THE FAITH
​​Supporting Patients and Families
Speaker: Ashley Kerns, MSW, Trinity Health
Host: Melissa Anne Rogers
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Ashley Kerns, clinical social worker, will speak about helping individuals and families navigate the emotional, relational, and practical challenges of serious illness. Topics include communication, balancing needs, accessing resources, and supporting caregivers. The focus is on strengthening families, reducing isolation, and building support systems grounded in dignity and compassion.​
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EXPLORING THE BIBLE
​Reading Revelation
Host: Ed Koster
This class will explore Revelation in its historical context and examine how its vivid imagery speaks to both the early church and to us today. Together we will uncover the themes of faith, perseverance, and God’s ultimate renewal of creation, gaining tools to read Revelation not as a code to be cracked, but as a vision of encouragement for Christians in every age.
FIRST FRIENDS
Witness At the Cross: The Other Victims
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We continue the video series Witness at the Cross with the session The Other Victims. In this video, Amy-Jill Levine broadens our focus beyond Jesus to consider those who also suffer in the crucifixion story—figures often overlooked or unnamed. Through guided viewing and discussion, we’ll explore how paying attention to these “other victims” deepens our understanding of injustice, compassion, and shared humanity, and challenges us to see the cross—and the world around us—with greater clarity and care.
March 8
EXPLORING THE FAITH
​​Spiritual Care Along the Journey
Speaker: LJ Brazier, Chaplain, Michigan Medicine
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A palliative care chaplain explores how spiritual practices, rituals, meaning-making, and presence support people during seasons of illness. We’ll discuss how chaplains accompany patients and families, how faith communities can show up, and how spiritual care sustains resilience, hope, and peace. This session affirms that God’s care meets us tenderly in every stage of life.​
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EXPLORING THE BIBLE
​Reading Revelation
Host: Ed Koster
This class will explore Revelation in its historical context and examine how its vivid imagery speaks to both the early church and to us today. Together we will uncover the themes of faith, perseverance, and God’s ultimate renewal of creation, gaining tools to read Revelation not as a code to be cracked, but as a vision of encouragement for Christians in every age.
FIRST FRIENDS
Witness At the Cross: The Soldiers
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In this video, Amy-Jill Levine examines the role of the Roman soldiers at the crucifixion—agents of empire who both carry out brutality and reveal unsettling truths about obedience, power, and complicity. Through guided viewing and discussion, we’ll reflect on how this perspective challenges easy moral categories and invites us to consider our own participation in systems that harm, even when we do not see ourselves as villains.
