Adult Christian Education

Sunday Mornings 9:40 - 10:40

We have a large number of Sunday School classes from which to choose and one is bound to be just right for you! Our Sunday School classes are a perfect mixture of fellowship and learning for your spiritual journey. You may click on the name of the Sunday School class to view a picture of the members of the class. (This will open a new window, so please set your browser to allow pop-ups from this site - First Church will never bombard you with unrequested pop-ups!)

For more information about any of the classes and studies listed below, please contact the person specified or the church office at (505) 243-5646 or email the church office.

1784--Room 110

Although our class is composed largely of young adults, we welcome people of all ages. Come help us seek! For more information contact the church office.

Agape--Room 110

The name of our class, which is a Greek word for love (often used in reference to the characteristic attitude of Christians towards each other), tells you something about us. We usually study the Bible in depth. This summer, however, we will read The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. For more information contact Don Murphy

Contemporary Issues--Room 111

Our class uses "FaithLink", which, through e-mail, presents biblical teachings and a Christian perspective on contemporary world issues. The topic changes each week and can be seen at Cokesbury. We are a group of mixed-age adults who discuss the United Methodist stance on current issues and want to apply biblical teachings to our lives. Our facilitators (class members) serve for six months. We welcome new members! Contact: Dave Pietz

G.O.O.D. (Guiding Our Own Descendants)--Room 301

The G.O.O.D. Class (Guiding Our Own Descendants) is a Sunday morning small group ministry focusing on issues of raising chidren and youth in a Christian environment. Please join us as we learn how to listen to God and how to apply the knowledge we acquire to daily situations. For more information on this class, please contact Mark & Kathy Wade or Mike & Linn Furnish.

Los Compadres Class--Room 309

As our name implies, we are a group of friends with a vision to live a more Christ-centered, significant life. We are open to and welcome new members and new ideas. Our curriculum includes Bible study, but also tackles current issues and needs in the church, community, and world at large. We have just completed a study of Jim Wallis’s book God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It. For the future we are planning a study on the twelve minor prophets. Our class participates in an ongoing quest to learn to live on a daily basis the life that Christ would have us live. We accomplish this by maturing in our faith and building authentic relationships through study and loving service. We invite you to come grow with us. Contact: Larry Turano.

Questers Class--Room 104

Our class has a long history spanning nearly sixty years. We are a class of active and young-acting senior citizens who study and have socials, all with a tremendous amount of love and friendship. We maintain that it’s not the age of an individual that determines her/his desire for new knowledge or ways of looking at life. We would love to have more new members of any age.We welcome new members and encourage anyone seeking a lively discussion to come join us.

We are currently concentrating on books by J. Ellsworth Kalas. His series approaches the Bible from a different angle, sometimes with a twist. For the summer we will study The Thirteen Apostles. Contact: Marion Bechdel

Sanctuary Class--Friendship Room

Our class started in First Church’s Sanctuary and spent years finding a place to meet. Through our search and final settling in the Friendship Room, we have grown in love and fellowship. We are Bible students who proceed through the Bible book by book, examining every verse along with Bible commentaries. We are currently reading 1 Corinthians—come join us. Class is informal with lively discussions usually led by class members. Group members volunteer to teach each week. Contact: Bonnie Conley

Two-Soms Class--Parlor

The Two-Som Class invites all adults, young and old, single or married, to join us as we study. We are wrapping up our Disciple I study and are in the process of planning a new study for the summer. Two-Som has a heritage of more than fifty years of sharing cares, concerns, prayers, and frequent social events. We choose studies that satisfy our desire for new knowledge and new ways of looking at life. We would love to have more new members of any age. Come and enjoy a rich fellowship with the Two-Som class.. Contact: Janice Goodgion

Additional Study Opportunities for Adults

The Bible from Scratch - Currently Sunday Mornings, 9:40 - 10:40 AM, Room 302

The Bible from Scratch offers just what it says: a safe and simple place to start in the Bible for adults who have--or fear they have--little or no Bible knowledge. We really and truly will begin from scratch (no Bible scholars, please!), with an eye toward demystifying and helping adult believers, both new and longtime, become comfortable opening their Bibles. Both Old and New Testaments will be covered in a fun, no-pressure atmosphere because we really do start from scratch! Throughout the course we'll be compiling a great deal of quick and easy reference materials (charts, lists, and helps) that we like to think of as the "Cliff Notes" for the Bible. The cost of the books needed are $30. ($15 for the first book and later another $15 for the second book.) Questions? Contact: Julie Ethredge

Disciple I (Currently Monday at 6:30 PM) & Disciple III (Currently Sunday at 3:00 PM)

Disciple Bible Study, an intensive in-depth study, aims to transform lives and develop strong Christian leaders. It provides mutual support through a small group structure for study and prayer. Disciple requires a commitment of 30 minutes per day of study—a commitment that will change your life. Contact: Rev. Donna Kay Jackson

Please call the Church Office, 243-5646, for information on which joing classes now or when the next session of classes will be starting.

Puppet Ministry

Puppet Ministry, at First United Methodist Church, was started by Reverend Donna Kay Jackson as another means of taking the lessons and message of Jesus to people in a different form. As part of the Children and Family Ministries, this group of puppeteers is made up of adults and children. People of all ages find they are freed to talk and express themselves, sometimes more openly, from behind a puppet. Puppets can act and speak in the most outrageous ways! It is fun! It is a great way to tell a message and have it really heard and seen! Sometimes we don’t even memorize parts and sometimes we do. Animals, people, music, props, and scenery plus masks and stages of all kinds and sizes make up the puppet ministry. You can get involved in arts and crafts, writing, and making costumes, too! Come join us in the Puppet Ministry at First UMC! This ministry is coordinated by Barbara Blair and Spring Hill Edwards, Director of Children and Family Ministries. Contact Spring Hill Edwards for more information.

 
 
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