Faith Development

Journey With Us

We believe that we are constantly growing, learning, and changing and as such we value opportunities to continue to develop our faith in community.

At First Church we believe that we are all on a journey of growing in our discipleship and faith

We have a number of faith development opportunities at First Church, we believe that we are all on a journey of growing in our discipleship and faith. We have a number of faith development opportunities to help you gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of Scripture and theology, discover ways to live out your faith in acts of justice and mercy, and to cultivate lives formed by prayer and spiritual disciplines.

First Church 101

First Church 101 takes place twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall. This class is for anyone who is interested but is particularly geared toward our visitors, new members, and those considering membership. First Church 101 will introduce you to the teachings and membership commitments of the United Methodist Church and of First Church.

Manna and Mercy

The Manna and Mercy retreat is the backbone of our church’s theology and the foundation for our six priorities: hospitality, inclusive community, diversity, doing justice, asking tough questions, and authenticity. This retreat takes us on a Biblical journey from Genesis to Revelation, teaching us how to read the Bible in life-giving ways. We offer at least one Manna and Mercy retreat each year.

Church Wide Retreat

Each year during the second weekend of February, we take a church-wide retreat to grow our faith and strengthen our community. This retreat is for everyone as there are activities for children and youth, free time for recreation, and a chance to deepen our understanding of Scripture and theology, foster spiritual practices of prayer and contemplation, and discern ways to live out our faith through acts of justice and service.

Spring and Fall Spiritual Formation Groups

Twice a year, we offer short term spiritual formation groups that cover a range of topics. We usually offer groups that focus on Scripture and theology, justice and inclusion, faith and culture, and a variety of other topics.

Other Opportunities

Finally, we have many other opportunities for faith development including the Converge Young Adult weekly small group that meets on Tuesday evenings and a number of Sunday School classes that offer loving community and insightful teaching.

If you have any questions about how you can get plugged in to our faith development path at First Church, contact Katie Gilbert at Katie@firstchurchbhm.com.