The Spiritual Life & Learning Center

Sunday Intersections
2026-05-10 12:30 - 13:30, 2026-05-03 12:30 - 13:30, 2026-04-26 12:30 - 13:30, 2026-04-19 12:30 - 13:30, 2026-04-12 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
and via Zoom
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.
The Zoom link will be on your confirmation email.
Any questions, please email Jen Bratka, Program Administrator.

New Testament Bible Study - Luke
2026-05-10 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-03 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-26 09:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-19 09:00 - 10:00 | First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212, Columbus, OH, 43212, United States
Sundays
April 19 – May 24
9 – 10 am
First Community South
Library
and via Zoom
Join the Spiritual Life & Learning Center and facilitator Judy Westman as we explore a foundational knowledge of the New Testament through the lens of the theology of First Community. This time focusing on the book of Luke.
This will also be offered on Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in your confirmation email. Please register below.
Questions?
Please email Jen Bratka, Program Administrator, at JBratka@FCchurch.com.
Register HERE.

Centering Prayer
2026-05-07 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-30 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-23 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-16 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-09 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.

Thursday at Ten: Spiritual Explorations
2026-05-07 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-30 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-23 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-16 10:00 - 11:30, 2026-04-09 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 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.

Women Living the Questions
2026-05-06 09:30 - 11:00, 2026-04-29 09:30 - 11:00, 2026-04-22 09:30 - 11:00, 2026-04-15 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, and also on Zoom if you’d prefer.
Email Linda Baldeck for more information, or click HERE to register.

Hebrew Bible Study (Old Testament)
2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-28 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-21 18:00 - 19:30 | First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212, Columbus, OH, 43212, United States
Hebrew Bible Study
Tuesday Evenings
April 21-May 26
6-7:30 pm
FC South Library
Or via Zoom
Please register below to receive the link

Join the Spiritual Life & Learning Center and facilitators Rev. Karen Chakoian and Rev. Seth Stearns as we explore a foundational knowledge of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) through the lens of the theology of First Community. This time focusing on:

Week 1 – Joshua
Week 2 – Judges
Week 3 – Ruth and 1 Samuel
Week 4 – 2 Samuel
Week 5 – 1 Kings
Week 6 – 2 Kings

The intended audience for this class include those who are not knowledgeable of the Bible in general and who seek to have a better understanding of the Old Testament. Our gatherings will explore a variety of issues through presentations, reflection, and discussion.
Register HERE.

Monthly Ministries 4 Movement Marches
2026-05-03 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.

World Labyrinth Day-Labyrinth Walk
2026-05-02 12:30 - 14:00 | First Community Labyrinth, 3777 Dublin Rd., COLUMBUS, OH, 43221, United States
Saturday, May 2
12:30-2 pm
Labyrinth
First Community North
Everyone is invited to come together on a shared journey of reflection, illumination, and connection.
Join us in a collective labyrinth walk at 1 pm, as part of the global “Walk as 1” initiative. Participants walk as one at 1 pm local time to create a worldwide, rolling wave of peaceful energy and unity passing from one time zone to the next.
Before the collective walk at 1 pm, take time to explore the labyrinth at your own pace. Whether you’ve walked before or this is your first experience, the labyrinth offers a path of self-discovery, quiet contemplation, and personal insight.
No registration is needed, however, this is a weather dependent event and will be cancelled for bad weather. Registrants will be notified via email prior to the gathering in the event of cancellation.
Register HERE

Contemplative Series
2026-04-18 09:30 - 12:30 | First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212, Columbus, OH, 43212, United States
Third Saturdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Burkhart Chapel
First Community South

Developed around The Tree of Contemplative Practices, each month, 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”
**DATE CHANGE-January 24**-Waking Up and Cleaning Up; contemplating the role of our shadow self in our spiritual development CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
February 21-An Introduction to the Enneagram
March 21-Listening Circles with Nan Weir
April 18-Waking Up and Cleaning Up; contemplating the role of our shadow self in our spiritual development CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
**DATE CHANGE-May 9**-Retreat and celebration! Due to the schedule at Camp Akita, the retreat will take place on the Second Saturday. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

Register HERE.

Waking Up & Cleaning Up-part of our Contemplative Series
2026-04-18 09:30 - 12:30 | First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212, Columbus, OH, 43212, United States
Waking Up & Cleaning Up
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Burkhart Chapel
First Community South
Register HERE

We will be exploring Ken Wilber’s model of spiritual development (Waking Up). We will also look at why facing our shadow self is so important to our spiritual development (Cleaning Up). We are excited to be partnering with the Jungian Association of Central Ohio for this Contemplative Series event.

This is a part of our Contemplative Series at SLLC, developed around The Tree of Contemplative Practices, each month, 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.
For more information or to register to join us for the upcoming sessions please click HERE.
