The Spiritual Life & Learning Center

Women Living the Questions
2023-12-13 09:30 - 11:00, 2023-12-06 09:30 - 11:00, 2023-11-29 09:30 - 11:00, 2023-11-22 09:30 - 11:00, 2023-11-15 09:30 - 11:00, 2023-11-08 09:30 - 11:00, 2023-11-01 09:30 - 11:00, 2023-10-25 09:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 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, and also on Zoom if you’d prefer.
Email Linda Baldeck for more information, or click HERE to register.

Tai Chi for Balance
2023-12-11 10:00 - 10:45, 2023-12-04 10:00 - 10:45, 2023-11-27 10:00 - 10:45, 2023-11-20 10:00 - 10:45, 2023-11-13 10:00 - 10:45, 2023-11-06 10:00 - 10:45, 2023-10-30 10:00 - 10:45, 2023-10-23 10:00 - 10:45 | First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212, Columbus, OH, 43212, United States
Mondays
10-10:45 am
Weist Room
First Community South
Feeling stressed, anxious, unbalanced? Then Tai Chi practice is for you. Come join us for 45 minutes of easy, relaxed moves that will strengthen stability, improve balance and reduce stress. The 16 easy-to-learn movements of Tai Chi for Balance levels 1,2, and 3 are taught with mindful attention in a supportive and fun atmosphere. Beginning and experienced students are all welcome to participate. For questions, please contact Sally Kriska, Instructor, Diane Sturges, Instructor, or Jeff Watts, Instructor..
Click HERE for more information

Thursday at Ten: Spiritual Explorations
2023-12-07 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-11-30 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-11-23 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-11-16 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-11-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-11-02 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-10-26 10:00 - 11:30, 2023-10-19 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom
Thursday at 10

Every Thursday
10-11:30 am
on Zoom
We will resume our group on January 11. The first week at a minimum will be a ‘no homework’ week! Later in the month we will begin the book Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times by Otis Moss III. It is an inviting read, and will help prepare us for his visit in April as a Spiritual Searcher.
Please register below to receive the Zoom Link.
Facilitated by Connie Johnston.
Any Question, please email Jen Bratka, Spiritual Life & Learning Center, Program Administrator

Please register HERE to receive the Zoom Link.

Monthly Ministries 4 Movement Marches
2023-12-03 15:00, 2023-11-05 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.

Group Spiritual Direction
2023-11-19 12:15 - 13:45 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Monthly Group Spiritual Direction

Third Sundays
beginning November 19, 2023
January 21
*February 25* *Please notice this change in date*
March 17
April 21
12:15-1:45 pm
First Community North
Room 107 (Parlor)
Register HERE
Monthly Group Spiritual Direction Gatherings
Interested in exploring your spiritual growth and development?
If so, perhaps group spiritual direction is a journey you might consider.
What is Group Spiritual Direction?
This ministry offers the opportunity for greater awareness of divine presence or what matters most.
Who may participate in Group Spiritual Direction?
These gatherings are open to everyone. All are welcome.
What does Group Spiritual Direction Offer?
– A space for spiritual exploration and spiritual growth.
– Spiritual practices such as loving-kindness contemplation, Tonglen, Lectio Divina, meditation, breath practices and more will be offered as pathways to recognizing the divine or what matters most.
– An opportunity to share our spiritual stories.
– A place to use our “holy listening” skills as others share their stories.
– Support in learning how to recognize the divine presence or what matters most.
– An opportunity for deepening our relationship with God or what matters most.
– Confidence in following our nudges from the divine or what matters most.
When will Group Spiritual Direction meet?
Group spiritual direction will take place on the following third Sundays of each month at 12:15pm – 1:45pm at FC-North in room 107 (The Parlor). The specific dates are listed above.

About the facilitator, Jodi Patton
Spiritual director, Jodi Patton, is a graduate of The Chaplaincy Institute Interfaith Seminary & Community based in Berkeley, California. This interfaith spiritual direction certification program teaches a non-directive interfaith approach to help people discern their own deep inner wisdom and to live with a deeper sense of connection and alignment with spirit/what matters most. The primary faith traditions that are part of this training are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Indigenous Religions, Islam, Shamanism, Taoism and a few others. Since 1998, Jodi has been leading classes in mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, and is a Reiki master teacher/practitioner offering all degrees of Reiki training. Jodi currently serves on the First Community congregational care ministry and social justice teams.
Questions?
Please email Jodi Patton at jodilynne737@gmail.com

Creatively Cultivating Gratitude
2023-11-18 09:30 - 11:30 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Saturday, November 18
9:30-11:30 am
First Community North
Room 101
Limited number of spots available
In this relaxing, fun, experiential workshop you’ll learn about the evidence-based benefits of grateful living, create a gratitude board, engage in a gratitude art journal activity, connect with other kindred spirits, and leave with suggestions for how to continue practicing gratitude in creative, tangible ways in everyday life!
Facilitated by Katy Oberle
Katy Oberle is a Columbus native who grew up attending FCC and Camp Akita. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist turned Creative Mindfulness Coach, and a singer/songwriter. Through her business Katy Oberle Creative she provides creative mindfulness programming to individuals, groups, and organizations to help them manage stress, enhance connection, and access self-compassion, gratitude, wonder, creativity, and joy. She is also co-founder of The Be Sanctuary, a new mindfulness-based wellness community in UA, as well as a Sr. Artist-in-Residence at Ohio Health Cancer Centers in Dublin and Delaware, providing music and sound baths to patients and their families. Katy was commissioned by the Spiritual Life and Learning Center in fall 2022 to write an original song for the unveiling of their new name and logo.

Register HERE.

Holding Hope: The Book of Delights
2023-11-12 12:30 - 13:30 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Sunday, November 12
12:30-1:30 pm
First Community North
Room 101
Spiritual Life & Learning Center presents Holding Hope, a monthly book discussion group.
This month we will discuss The Book of Delights by Ross Gay.
Hosted by Rose Konrath
Register HERE

Avery Solomon: The Sacred Presence in Every Moment
2023-10-19 19:00 - 21:00
Thursday
October 19, 2023
7-9 pm
via Zoom

About this event
Join us for an evening of shared experience, discussion, and meditation as we explore the sacredness of presence. Many of us have a basic foundation in spirituality. How can we give more of our moments to God?
We’ll explore how we can acknowledge the sacred presence, and make a space for Grace to come into our lives.
This event will take place on Zoom.
Please register below in order to receive the Zoom link.
About the Presenter

Avery Solomon, who has spoken often at First Community Church, is a teacher and researcher at Wisdom’s Goldenrod Center for Philosophic Studies in Hector, NY. He gives seminars and classes around the world on spiritual philosophy, ancient wisdom and modern cosmology, science and non-duality. He brings a wide background of experience from many spiritual traditions and teachers and a sense of humor to serious matters and minds.
Dr. Solomon has been involved since 2001 in the Mind-Life conferences of science and Buddhism started by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He is the editor of Astronoesis: on the interrelation of Plotinus and cosmology. He has been a student of Anthony Damiani, Paul Brunton, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and His Holiness the Shankaracharya of Kanchipuram, among others.
Register HERE.
