Classes will not meet on November 30.
Dec 7
EXPLORING THE FAITH
Talking About Fear Without Fear
Speaker: Sid Smith
Fear shapes our lives in countless ways—sometimes quietly, sometimes overwhelmingly—yet it also invites moments of courage, hope, and meaningful action. This interactive session explores how we experience, understand, and respond to fear. Together, we will examine its many forms, consider how it affects our choices, and practice talking about fear openly and productively. By the end of the session, participants will help create a shared collection of questions and insights to guide future conversations about fear and the courage it calls forth.
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
The Journey:
Walking the Road to Bethlehem
Host: Ann Haff
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This session explores Mary’s visit to Elizabeth—a meeting filled with joy, blessing, and the stirring of God’s promises. Through video reflections and guided discussion, we’ll reflect on how this encounter between two expectant mothers reveals the power of faith, community, and shared hope in God’s unfolding story.
Dec 14
EXPLORING THE FAITH
Helping People Face Their Fears​
Speaker: George Lambrides
Host: Nancy Oliver
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To be human is to experience fear. Then the question is, what do we do with it? We will explore a series of slogans/quotes that provide us with many choices, some helpful, others not so helpful.
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
The Journey:
Walking the Road to Bethlehem
Host: Bob and Dory Anderson
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In this session, we follow the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, tracing the path that brought Mary and Joseph to the place of Christ’s birth. Through video reflections and guided discussion, we’ll explore the challenges, anticipation, and faith-filled perseverance of their journey, uncovering lessons for our own spiritual paths along the way.
Dec 21
EXPLORING THE FAITH
Releasing Fear: Body-Based Healing Approaches
Speaker: Kate Drinkwater
Host: Jane Dutton
Fear is stored in the body. To be released from the grips of fear and become the genuine people we are meant to be, we must first address and let go of the tension, the pain in the gut, heart pounding, short breathing and all the ways fear is held in our bodies. Psychotherapeutic approaches to help us release fear include EMDR, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Internal Family Systems. Come join us to discuss how these techniques help us feel the fear and not become fearful.
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
The Journey:
Walking the Road to Bethlehem
Host: Carole Pawloski
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In this session, we pause at the manger, the humble place where God entered our world. Through video reflections and guided discussion, we’ll explore the significance of Christ’s birth, the surrounding people and animals, and the profound simplicity that reveals God’s love and presence among us.
