Faith can be a lifelong adventure of asking questions and seeking answers as you develop your own personal relationship with God. We have classes, discussion groups, and experiences for people of all ages. If you wish to understand what's in the Bible, or if you wish to develop your own life of ministry, we can help you with resources right here in our church and from our larger United Methodist connection.
Reading the Bible
The Holy Bible is a huge work of history, literature and faith. We can devote entire lifetimes to its passages. The Old Testament lays the groundwork for the New Testament, and the New Testament brings conclusion to the Old. The Holy Bible is not necessarily an easy read, but it doesn't have to be difficult, either. Here are some of our tips:
Don't try to do it all yourself. The Holy Bible is an amazingly complex and interconnected work. Having a study partner, leader or mentor will help you to understand the connections and relationships as you read. Our Sunday School classes and Bible study groups are a great place to start.
Be patient. Don't expect to breeze right through and absorb it all with the first reading - the bible is too big for that. Sit and think about what you just read. Then read it again.
Ask questions. When you don't understand something, ask. Your pastor, mentor or leader will help you understand a passage in the larger context of the entire Bible.
Consider getting a study bible. Study bibles contain the biblical text, as well as interpretive notes in plain language to assist you in understanding, and to lead you to related passages.
Keep a journal. Record what you have felt as you read, record your questions and your understandings. These notes will be valuable as you review your readings.
Pray for understanding. We believe the Holy Bible is the word of God, so go ahead and talk to God about your readings. Ask for clarity. Ask for understanding the message in both its original and a modern-day context. Thank God for sharing his word with us.
Your first step will be to get your own Bible, and you'll find there are many different ones available. The United Methodist Church makes heavy use of the New Revised Standard Edition (NRSV), and the Common English Bible (CEB). Also in frequent use in our church are the New International Version (NIV), The Message translation (MSG), and the Good News Translation (GNT). If you're buying for the first time, we recommend speaking with one of our pastors, a well-read Christian friend or the staff at a Christian bookstore. They will be able to give you guidance on the different versions and translations, as well as other biblical study resources.
SMALL Groups
Meeting 6:30pm Wednesdays
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join a Small Group. Whether you’re just starting to explore the Christian faith, or you’re a long-time Christian, we want to help you to know, love and serve God. In these groups you will Gather, Pray, and Support one another. The time you spend in your group will help you to locate your place in the continuing narrative of God’s plan for the world.
Gather
The first component of small groups is fellowship. In your GPS groups, you will enjoy conversation on experience of worship, study on scripture, and laughter with one another.
Pray
Pray is vital to the health of a small group. It is one of the main ways we draw closer to God and one another. Therefore, you will spend extended time in prayer as a group.
Support (the core of being a Methodist!)
A crucial part of the early Methodist movement was to “watch over one another in love,” to support and encourage one another in their lives with God.
Sign up here to join a Small group.
learn YOUR SUPERPOWER
SPIRITUAL GIFTS ASSESSMENT
You were born with a unique set of traits which equip you for a life of ministry. There are some things that you are just naturally good at. Find out what they are!
The link below is a Spiritual Gifts Assessment from the United Methodist Church. There are 21 quick questions for you to answer about yourself, and the result will be a report of your natural strengths in ministry.
Next Sunday’s teaching sermons with both Pastor Scott and Pastor Matt will be talking about the ways we serve Christ, so take this quiz before you come and you’ll know exactly where you fit into our discussion of service.
Sunday Morning Childcare
Your infants and children are welcome in worship, and we also have childcare available during Sunday mornings. The nursery is conveniently located on the ground level, and is equipped with its own restroom and diaper-changing area. The nursery staff is trained in accordance with our Safe Sanctuary policy and our parent-paging system will let you know if there are any emergencies.
Sunday School for Kids
Sunday mornings at 10:00 am
Kids will have a great time while they learn the stories and ideas of the Bible. Music time and art projects will keep things fun while reinforcing the lessons.
K-6th Graders will begin the year with “Making Choices”. This will help children understand that: God gives us the freedom to make choices; we can learn how to make good choices to deal with situations that involve peer pressure, keeping ourselves safe, and keeping our bodies healthy. The choices we make affect ourselves and other people; God provides us with the techniques, and resources we need to make wise choices.
BLAST: Bible Learning And Service Together
Wednesday Evening, 6:30 - 7:30
A fun time for kids to learn Bible verses, play, sing, and do a service project. BLAST is timed so that the whole family can take part in Wed night church activities. While kids are at BLAST, Mom & Dad can attend an adult activity. BLAST runs 8 to 10 weeks in the fall and again in the spring.
Family 3rd Grade Bible Class
Sunday Mornings, 9:45 (next class starting January 2023)
Each year the 3rd graders and their families learn and explore their Bibles together in an eight week class.
g3 First UMC Jr & Sr High
We'll always have some fun, and we'll give you place you can trust to help figure out the issues that are heavy on your mind, and your place in God's world. Sept - April.
For more information please contact Haleigh Derhammer (haleighderhammer@gmail.com) for middle school and Lorrin Schofield (lorrin.schofield@aboutfirst.com) for high school.
All youth going into seventh grade through twelfth are welcome!
adult Sunday School groups: all @ 10:00 am
Sunday School isn’t just kid stuff. These groups for adults meet every Sunday to explore matters of faith together. These groups will each spend time connecting with each other, and then move into a time of more focused discussion. You’re welcome in any of these groups. Meet some good people and grow your faith.
CCF (Christ-Centered Families)
Christ-Centered Families is a group of parents of looking for Biblical guidance to help raise their children to be the people of God they were created to be. You’re welcome to join them!
Growing Christians
Sit in with the Growing Christians class as they will begin the year with “Who is this Man” Jesus walked the road to the cross, it seemed his influence on the world had ended. On the contrary, it had just begun! Ortberg explains how Christ’s actions, statements, and legacy dramatically affected the world---revolutionizing art, science, government, medicine, and education. Learn how you can follow in Jesus’ footsteps today and follow with a Pastor Adam Hamilton, “Faith For Tough Times,” the message of the prophet Jeremiah.
Room 056 Contact: Kris Rash
Kaleidoscope
This group is for anyone willing to discuss religious topics of various types and their implication for us as individuals as well as the church in general. Past topics have included the study of the New Testament, the Heart of Christianity, and Jesus. Class participants are willing to look at and discuss the different views of an issue. Room 058 Contact: Gil Hewett
Tuesday Night Fellas
We’re a relaxed goup of fellas working our way through life and trying to learn a little along the way. We start each gathering with a little hanging out and conversation as we polish-off a bag of chips or two, then we’ll dig into the evening’s topic. We have a full slate of “studies” for this fall. You’ll find us downstairs in the Man Cave (059) at 6:30pm. All men are invited - punks to geezers. Never joined us before? Just show up. contact chris congdon (chris.congdon@aboutfirst.com)
United Women in faith (Uwf)
The purpose of UWF is to learn how to know God more fully, to develop a supportive fellowship by facilitating the programs of the church whenever possible, and to participate locally as well as in the global mission of the church. UWF meets on second Thursdays as scheduled at 1:00 p.m. for a program and a brief business meeting followed by coffee, dessert, and a social time. There are 2 circles that meet monthly, September through June; Deborah, and Mary.
Hearts and Hands
The Hearts and Hands group is a supportive circle of UWF, meaning that the group does not serve as hostess for UWF unit meetings. H&H supports activities of UWF, pledges financial support and is represented on the UWF board.
Hearts and Hands does not have a regular time to meet, but meets as needed to plan and carry-out activities. Examples of projects in past years and current ones include making Christmas treats with the youth, working at the NE Iowa food bank, providing a meal for Begin Now classes in Waterloo, sewing “walker bags”, making pepper jelly and apple butter to be sold at Ingathering, making Valentine fruit bouquets, making Easter baskets for church members who cannot attend church, stuffing Christmas fabric bags with small gifts --and being available to help where needed.
The group is open to any one who has a HEART for giving and HANDS for service. Contact is Karen Page at 319-230-7200 or kp224@cfu.net.
More Than Moms
How about some weekly sistership with other women? More Than Moms is the group for you! Meeting in the parlor, all women are welcome to join this relaxing, exciting, educational and fun group (child care provided.) Every Wednesday night we will meet from 6:30 until 7:30pm to discuss pertinent topics and share a laugh or two. Invite a friend . . . all are welcome!
School for Lay Ministry
If You’re Ready...
• to step forward in a bold, new way
• to unlock your potential as a servant in the Church
• to explore the history and structure of our United Methodist Church
• to commit yourself to pursue your personal ministry at a higher level
You are a great candidate for the Iowa Annual Conference’s School for Lay Ministry(SLM). SLM is designed to grow Iowa churches by providing a supplemental source of leadership. Some of the ways that SLM graduates serve are: volunteer management, Christian education, care-giving, youth programming, outreach, and the SLM is the pathway to becoming a Certified Lay Minister.
Students devote four weekends a year for three years to this program. Classes are held at the Cornell, Simpson and Morningside colleges on Friday evening through Sunday morning. There are reading assignments, lecture sessions, group discussions and activities. It’s not for everyone - you have to be serious about this - but if you are, you will end up having one of the most enlightening experiences in your Christian life. Weekend courses will dig into worship, congregational care, Christian ethics, theological perspectives, missions, social concerns, church history, doctrine and polity and strategizing for growth. You will emerge equipped and inspired to see your life as a ministry and to share it openly in ways that suit your strengths and skills. In our congregation, Jan Hoover, Chris Congdon, and Lisa Congdon are graduates of the program. Ask any of them about their experience, or talk to one of our pastors about the application process. More information can be found at
www.iaumc.org.
Walk to Emmaus
Get Away for a Long Weekend and Renew Your Faith
This three-day retreat will take you away from the distractions of life and allow you to refocus on your faith. You’ll be immersed in a Christian community, and will be encouraged to find ways to live out your faith in your home church. This is the Walk to Emmaus. During your “walk” you’ll be amply fed, comfortably housed, and you’ll have plenty of time for a good night’s sleep. Guided activities and scheduled break times allow opportunities to enjoy the natural environment of the retreat location near Lake McBride.
How far? This walk is symbolic, not an actual physical challenge. Facilities and activities are fully accessible to pilgrims of all abilities. The name, Walk to Emmaus refers to Luke 24:13-35 where Jesus walks with two travelers who do not recognize the risen Christ in their midst until he breaks bread with them. In this weekend, you’ll learn to see Christ in the world around you, and will be inspired to be an instrument of His love.
The Walk to Emmaus is an experience for adults, and there is a similar youth-oriented experience called Chrysalis. If you have interest in learning more about the Walk to Emmaus, contact the church office, and we can arrange for you to meet someone who has already been - there are many in our congregation. Check out this video at www.vimeo.com/8697255.
other links:
http://emmaus.upperroom.org/
http://www.cedarrapidsemmaus.org/