First Parish Church Adult Christian & Religious Education Program

The guiding vision for the Adult Education Committee is to provide forums for adults at First Parish to reflectively engage in their own and our collective spiritual journey, to deepen their understanding of their faith, to foster spiritual growth, and thereby to enrich their lives and the lives of their families, the community, and the world. The programs sponsored by the Adult Education Committee help achieve the broader vision of the Church’s Christian Education Executive Committee to promote faith formation and religious enrichment for the children, youth, and adults in the Church.

ONGOING PROGRAMS

• Adult Bible Study/Every Sunday/9:00am, Chapel. Using The Present Word as a study guide. Contact Jack Kieffer, program coordinator, through the Church office if you have questions.
• Quiet Day/Quiet Days are planned for about every two months on a Friday. Dates are announced as they are set. Quiet Days create a few hours to collect and prepare ourselves for leading the lives we wish for ourselves. A soup, bread, and fruit lunch is served. Please contact Jeanne Tuttle or Ann Barry, program coordinators, through the Church office for time and location.
• Inquiring Minds Book Group/7:00pm, Parlor (generally held the 3^rd Tuesday). Organized by Becky Halbrook for the “intellects out there” who are want-to-be-avid-readers-of-good-books. The group reads a different book each month. Open to all. Contact Becky Halbrook through the Church office if you have questions.
• Circle of Faith Book Group/Every 2^nd Tuesday/9:30-11:00am, Parlor. A women’s book group reading spiritual biographies or books of spiritual/religious significance. For more information please contact coordinators Eve Thorsen or Jeanne Tuttle through the Church office.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

• Programming for winter-spring 2010 will be announced soon.
• The First Parish Church “Windows” program for 2010 is “Windows on Mental Health.” Program activities are planned to run between late January and mid-March. Some of the possible topics include: Alzheimer's and Dementia, Depression, Autism/Aspergers Syndrome, Neurotheology, Alcohol and Drug Issues, Parkinson’s Disease, Mental Health in the Elderly, the healthy brain, and the relationship between mental illness and poverty, homelessness and prisoners. A list of books for a possible Parish Read is being developed. One idea is to offer a number of book options, with a discussion group for each. There is also a Labyrinth Weekend planned for mid-February. One of the workshop topics will be the balancing of the left brain and the right brain as one walks the labyrinth. Click here for more information.

RETREAT CENTERS

We are blessed to have several wonderful retreat centers nearby. While we do not endorse the centers listed below, at least one person we know has recommended them. If you visit one and have a great time—or not—please let us know. If you know of other venues, please let us know that, too. We’ll keep building the list for those times when you seek a place for silence and reflection.

Adelynrood Retreat & Conference Center, Byfield, MA — www.adelynrood.org

978-462-6721 x 19 — Owned and operated by The Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross.

The Alcyon Center, Desert Island, ME — www.alcyoncenter.org — 207-244-1060

Grounded in prayer and the desire for ways to meet the spiritual hunger of the times.

Healing Soup, Rockland, ME — http://healingsoup.com/index.php — 207-594-1232

UCC Minister and owner’s mission is to provide custom-developed retreats for people seeking deep rest to restore their spiritual core.

Kairos Spiritual Life Center, Worcester, MA-www.allsaintschurchworc.org/kairosCenter.html

508-752-3766 x 19 — A ministry of All Saints Church, Episcopal. Grounded in a contemplative spirit and in the belief that God is present in all times and people.

Living Water Spiritual Center, Winslow, ME — www.retreatinmaine.com — 207-872-2370

Sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph to serve those who seek to grow spiritually.

Mary Joseph Spiritual Center, Biddeford Pool, ME — www.mariejosephspiritual.org

207-284-5671 — Owned and operated by the Congregation of the Presentation of Mary, offers a spiritual harbor for refreshment of spirit, mind and body.