April 12
EXPLORING THE FAITH
​Reimagining the Parables
Speakers: Debra Freber
Host: Nancy Oliver
​
Dr. Freeberg will lead a workshop on rereading parables, showing how theatrical performance can reveal meaning in time and space. She will place two parables about wealth and responsibility—the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16–21) and the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16)—in dialogue. ​
​
​
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 Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory
​​
Politics and religion are hard to discuss without division—yet we can’t ignore Christian Nationalism. In this interview, Tim Alberta, author of The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory shares what it was like growing up around the movement, offers his criticism of a subculture he knows inside and out, and presents the clear and present danger of conflating religious identity with national identity.
April 19
EXPLORING THE FAITH
Building Community That Makes a Difference: Lessons from Active Against ALS
Speaker: Gretchen Spreitzer and David Lowenschus=
Host: Jane Dutton
​
Learn how to build community while being inspired by a real-life example. This session highlights a community-building organization dedicated to funding research for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), sharing lessons from its successful founding and ongoing work—efforts that have raised more than $1.1 million to support critical research.​
​
​
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
Culture, Politics, and Jesus
​​
In this video-based study, Adam Hamilton explores how we follow Jesus in a divided world. Together, we’ll reflect on how faith shapes our engagement with culture and politics, encouraging thoughtful conversation, deeper understanding, and Christ-centered living.
