The Spiritual Life & Learning Center

Sunday Intersections
2025-09-21 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Sunday Intersections
Sundays
12:30-1:30 pm
First Community North
Room 101

Adult Sunday school returns to First Community during Sunday Intersections-Where Spirituality, Life, & Learning converge.
Our gatherings will explore a variety of issues through presentations, reflection, and discussion. Topics will range from historical and theological Biblical studies to relevant topics that we encounter every day.
Registration is not required, but appreciated. Let us know you’ll join us by clicking HERE.
Any questions, please email Jen Bratka, Program Administrator.

Autumnal Equinox Labyrinth Walk
2025-09-22 20:00 - 21:00 | First Community Labyrinth, 3777 Dublin Rd., COLUMBUS, OH, 43221, United States
Monday, September 22
8-9:30 pm
Labyrinth Garden
FC North
Register HERE
Let’s mark the changing seasons by integrating the body with the mind and spirit.
Arrive at 8 pm to hear information about the history and importance of labyrinths and our connection to them and the difference between solstices and equinoxes; or anytime after 8:30 pm to walk the labyrinth independently.
Labyrinths are used world-wide as a way to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance in life, enhance creativity, and encourage meditation, insight, self-reflection, and stress reduction.
There is bench seating around the labyrinth to enjoy the ambiance, or feel free to bring your own chair to enjoy the beauty of the evening.
We also have finger labyrinths for anyone with limited mobility who would also like to join us and experience the peaceful evening.
This is a weather-dependent event and will be cancelled if it rains.
The autumnal equinox for 2025 will occur at 2:21 pm EST on Monday, September 22.
Any questions, please reach out to Jen Bratka – JBratka@FCchurch.com.

Women Living the Questions
2023-08-30 09:30 - 11:00 | Zoom
“Perhaps the secret of living well is not in having all the answers, but in pursuing unanswerable questions in good company.” ~Rachel Naomi Remen
Women Living the Questions welcomes any woman who wishes to pursue difficult questions about what really matters in life in a safe and supportive environment. Books, videos, and the occasional guest speaker support discussions.
Meetings are Wednesdays at 9:30 – 11 am. We meet in person, at First Community North, Room 101, on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, and also be available on Zoom if you’d prefer.
Email Linda Baldeck for more information, or click HERE to register.

Thursday at Ten: Spiritual Explorations
2025-09-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom
Thursday at 10

Every Thursday
10-11:30 am
on Zoom
Thursday’s at Ten will once again be meeting beginning Thursday, September 11 on Zoom. Over many years this group has read, viewed, studied, and met with a number of inspiring authors and speakers on a variety of topics. As we explore areas of spirituality and religion as well as current topics such as relating to others, being your authentic self, and being in this world in a kind and understanding way, we hope to inspire each participant through open discussion and dialogue.
Facilitated by Connie Johnston and Rev. Seth Stearns.
Any Question, please email Jen Bratka, Spiritual Life & Learning Center, Program Administrator

Please register HERE to receive the Zoom Link.

Centering Prayer
2025-09-04 17:00 - 18:00 | First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212, Columbus, OH, 43212, United States
Thursdays
5-6 pm
First Community South
Burkhart Chapel
Register HERE.
“Centering Prayer is a receptive method of Christian silent prayer which deepens our relationship with God, the Indwelling Presence … a prayer in which we can experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself .”
-Excerpt from ContemplativeOutreach.org
During our time with Centering Prayer, we will explore the guidelines of Centering Prayer, some practical points, and ways to deepen our relationship with God. We will learn it’s theological background, the root of centering prayer and how it is based on the wisdom saying of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Questions?
Please email Jen Bratka, Program Administrator, at JBratka@FCchurch.com.

Spiritual Searcher: Pete Enns
2025-10-04 14:00 - 17:00 | First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Gladden Lecture Series at
First Congregational Church
2-5 pm
Lecture/workshop and
Meet & Greet with book signing
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Preaching all 3 Services
First Community Church
(click link above for times and locations)
About Dr. Pete Enns

“Peter Enns (Ph.D., Harvard University) is Abram S. Clemens professor of biblical studies at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He has written numerous books, including The Bible Tells Me So, The Sin of Certainty, and How the Bible Actually Works.”
A collection of Pete’s books are available through the First Community Church Merch website and for sale during the events.
The registration form is for the Saturday presentation.
If you’d like to ride in a carpool van to Saturday’s event, click HERE.
All are welcome to join us at any of the services on Sunday, no registration necessary.
REGISTER HERE

Watch Spiritual-Center.org and FCchurch.com for updates, or to learn more about our ministries.
Any questions, please email JBratka@FCchurch.com

Spiritual Searcher: Pete Enns
2025-10-05 09:00 - 12:00 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States

Monthly Ministries 4 Movement Marches
2022-10-02 15:00 | Family Missionary Baptist Church, 996 Oakwood Ave, Columbus, OH, United States
Several members of the Racial Equity and Gun Violence Prevention (GVPMT) Ministry Teams participate monthly in a march and worship/information session with members of the Family Missionary Baptist Church and Ministries 4 Movement partners in the South End of Columbus the first Sunday of each month. First Community is recognized as an official partner of Ministries 4 Movement. We continue to work with this community and other partners for sustainment and new opportunities to contribute to justice causes. These marches occur the first Sunday of each month (rain or shine) at 3pm.
If interest in attending these events, please contact: John Girardor for more information, click HERE.

The Golden Rule: One-on-One Conversations
2025-10-07 19:00 - 21:00 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
7 – 9 PM
First Community Church
Wing Grace Hall
3777 Dublin Rd.
Columbus, OH 43212
Free Parking

Helping to Bridge the Divide:
The Golden Rule: One-on-One Conversations
Join us on October 7th for a discussion on Politics and The Golden Rule!
Braver Angels defines the Golden Rule as “Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You.”
Prior to the meeting, think about when you have applied the Golden Rule in dealing with someone or been the recipient of the Golden Rule and be prepared to discuss your experience.

Register HERE.
For additional information contact: Lee Evans at LEvans@BraverAngels.org or Chris Watson at CWatson@BraverAngels.org

Contemplative Series
2025-10-18 09:30 - 12:30 | First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212, Columbus, OH, 43212, United States
Third Saturdays
Beginning October 18
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
First Community South

Developed around The Tree of Contemplative Practices, each month on the third Saturday, we will meet to discuss and ponder each branch.
Each month will be a different experience as we explore different ways of developing our individual spirituality more deeply. We invite you to join us for the entire series, or individual events as your schedule allows.

October 18-Trip to KTC Columbus
November 15-Trip to Circle P Horse Sanctuary in Marengo, Ohio (Limited number of spots available)
December 20-Zoom with Daron Larson “Practicing Mindfulness in a Distracted, Divided World”
January 17-Introduction to the Enneagram
February 21-A Conversation with Paul Knitter
March 21-Listening Circles with Nan Weir
April 18-TBD
*May 9-Due to the schedule at Camp Akita, the retreat will take place on the Second Saturday.

Register HERE.
