The Spiritual Life & Learning Center

Spiritual Searcher Book Study
2024-04-07 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | First Community South, 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212, Columbus, OH, 43212, United States
Sunday, April 7
11:30 am-1 pm
First Community South
Burkhart Chapel
Facilitated by Seth Stearns
Spiritual Life & Learning Center presents several opportunities to participate in a book study in anticipation of our visit from Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III.
Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons
for Thriving in these Turbulent Times
By Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III
From the publisher: A “deeply spiritual and socially radical” (Dr. Obery Hendricks, PhD) guide to uplift our spirits as we work for justice in these politically turbulent times-from Reverend Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and one of the country’s most renowned and beloved spiritual and civil rights leaders.
Register HERE

Monthly Ministries 4 Movement Marches
2024-04-07 15:00, 2024-05-05 15:00, 2024-06-02 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.

Spiritual Searcher Book Study
2024-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Tuesday, April 9
7-8:30 pm
First Community North
Room 101
Facilitated by Barb and Terry Davis
Spiritual Life & Learning Center presents several opportunities to participate in a book study in anticipation of our visit from Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III.
Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons
for Thriving in these Turbulent Times
By Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III
From the publisher: A “deeply spiritual and socially radical” (Dr. Obery Hendricks, PhD) guide to uplift our spirits as we work for justice in these politically turbulent times-from Reverend Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and one of the country’s most renowned and beloved spiritual and civil rights leaders.
Register HERE

Women Living the Questions
2024-04-10 09:30 - 11:00, 2024-04-17 09:30 - 11:00, 2024-04-24 09:30 - 11:00, 2024-05-01 09:30 - 11:00, 2024-05-08 09:30 - 11:00, 2024-05-15 09:30 - 11:00, 2024-05-22 09:30 - 11:00, 2024-05-29 09:30 - 11:00 and 3 more dates | 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.

Thursday at Ten: Spiritual Explorations
2024-04-11 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-04-18 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-04-25 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-05-02 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-05-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom
Thursday at 10

Every Thursday
10-11:30 am
on Zoom
On February 8 we will be watching a video on David Brooks, and in the following weeks we will be reading his book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Seen.
READING SCHEDULE:
February 15: Chapters 1-5
February 22: Chapters 6-9
February 29: Chapters 10-13
March 1: 7: Chapters 14-17
Facilitated by Connie Johnston.
Any Question, please email Jen Bratka, Spiritual Life & Learning Center, Program Administrator

Please register HERE to receive the Zoom Link.

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III
2024-04-13 09:30 - 12:30, 2024-04-14 09:00 - 12:30 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Spiritual Searcher Weekend with
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III
April 13-14, 2024
Saturday, April 13
9:30-12:30
Presentation by Dr. Moss
Short Break
Q/A Session
Book Signing Opportunity
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Preaching all 3 Services
(click link above for times and locations)
Join us as we welcome our second Spiritual Searcher of 2024, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III
Click here to learn more about our special guest.
Register HERE for this free event!
All are welcome!

Conversation with Paul Knitter
2024-04-18 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-04-25 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-05-02 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-05-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Zoom
Spiritual Life & Learning Center presents:
Paul Knitter, author of
Without Buddha, I Could Not be a Christian
A 4-week series
On Zoom
Thursdays, April 18-May 9
10-11:30 am EST
Register HERE to receive Zoom Link

Beginning Thursday, April 18 and continuing until May 9, we welcome Paul Knitter to our Thursday at 10 group to discuss his book Without Buddha, I Could Not be a Christian.
From the publisher, “Without Buddha I could Not be a Christian narrates how esteemed theologian, Paul F. Knitter overcame a crisis of faith by looking to Buddhism for inspiration. From prayer to how Christianity views life after death, Knitter argues that a Buddhist standpoint can encourage a more person-centered conception of Christianity, where individual religious experience comes first, and liturgy and tradition second. Moving and revolutionary, this book will inspire Christians everywhere.”
Please consider purchasing his book from our partner, Serenity Book Shop. Doing so supports a local, independent book store.
Schedule of topics and discussions:

April 18-Nirvana and God (Chapters 1-3)
April 25-Jesus and Buddha (Chapter 5)
May 2-Prayer and Meditation (Chapter 6)
May 9-Making Peace and Being Peace (Chapter 7)

Group Spiritual Direction
2024-04-21 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

Poetry Pop
2024-05-08 18:00 - 19:00 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Wednesdays, Once a Month
6-7 pm
First Community North
We will be poppin’ together again in the fall. Please check back for updates, or watch the screens at Sunday services for updated graphice.
Any questions, please reach out to Jen Bratka at JBratka@FCchurch.com.
Registration is not necessary, but if you’d like too, please register HERE.

Summer Solstice Labyrinth Walk
2024-06-21 20:30 - 22:30 | First Community North, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, United States
Friday, June 21
8:30-10:30 pm
Guided by Nan Weir
Register HERE
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. The practice of labyrinth walking integrates the body with the mind and spirit.
Seth Stearns and Nan Weir will provide an introduction on the significance of the summer solstice along with the importance of labyrinth walking at 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm. We encourage you to sign up for one of these two times to hear from our hosts, otherwise arrive anytime to enjoy the beauty of the evening.
There is bench seating around the labyrinth to enjoy the ambiance, or feel free to bring your own chair to relax in.
In the case of inclement weather, we will practice meditative walking in the Narthex area during the same time frame.
Any questions, please reach out to Jen Bratka – JBratka@FCchurch.com
