Small Groups - Where Friends Journey Together in Christ
New Class - Saving Jesus Redux
Starting Sunday, April 21, 2013, Pastor Michael will be starting a new 12-week class, Saving Jesus Redux.
Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right and discarded by the Secular Left? Saving Jesus Redux is the Living the Question's popular 12-session DVD-based small group exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium.
New contributors in this updated discussion-based study include Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, and Robin Meyers, all who join Marcus Borg, Walter Brueggemann, John Dominic Crossan, Matthew Fox, Amy-Jill Levine, and a host of others for a conversation around the relevance of Jesus for today.
Pastor Michael hopes you'll consider joining in. We'll gather Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm. This study is open to the whole church, so if you know someone who might also be interested, please bring them along.
Wednesday Morning Wesleyans
If midweek and daytime activities are better for you, join us for a guided devotional with prayer, caring time, and conversation about Scriptures or a text we may be reading together.
We have shared biblical texts for discussion, chatted about concepts of theology, and read seasonal devotionals together.
Wednesday Morning Wesleyans meets Wednesdays at 10:00 am at Channing House, located near downtown Palo Alto at 850 Webster Street between Homer and Channing.
Small Group: Engaging our Social Principles
The social principles are found in the UMC Book of Discipline and, “While not considered church law, are a prayerful and thoughtful effort on the part of the General Conference to speak to the human issues in the world” (Book of Discipline).
The issues are expansive and diverse in nature and cover topics like immigration, abortion, sexuality, environmental issues, and technology just to name a few.
Join Pastor Sadie as we explore and engage our church’s social statements from biblical, historical, and personal perspectives.
The schedule for this group will be determined by the people who sign up for this class.
For more information contact Pastor Sadie Stone 650-323-6167 x102.
Small Group 4 x 4 Gatherings
Now is the time to start 4x4 groups for social activities, spiritual growth and care with church family and friends.
These intentional small groups are a great way to get to know others in our church community on a deeper level. Each group is comprised of 8-10 other persons from the church and together you build community and relationships through monthly activities; such as fellowship over dinners or dessert potlucks in your home, or at a restaurant, going to a theater, bowling or any other activity you may desire.
Every person or couple gets the opportunity to be a host and plan an event for their 4x4
For more information contact Pastor Sadie Stone 650-323-6167 x102.
Oikos Palo Alto Adult Small Group
OpenCircle small groups — called Oikos groups or O-groups (“oikos” means family or household in Greek) — are aimed at fostering accountability, deeper and more intimate relationships, spiritual growth and prayer.
We're starting a study using a book called Addicted to Hurry by Kirk Byron Jones. See Pastor Sadie for a copy of the book. The cost is $14.
These groups are made up of 6 to 12 individuals and meet on a bi-weekly basis, Wednesdays evenings at 7:00 pm in the Wesley Room.
For more information contact Pastor Sadie Stone 650-323-6167 x102.
Open Circle Young Adults
Join us at Open Circle.
Our vision for OpenCircle is to provide a relevant, life-empowering, spirit-filled place and ministry for young adults ages 18 through 35, grounded in our five core values: Love, Faith, Relevance, Grace and Impact.
We call ourselves OpenCircle because we believe “there’s always room.”
• Room for one more (LOVE)
• Room for broader theology (FAITH)
• Room for doubt and questions (RELEVANCE)
• Room for mistakes (GRACE)
• And room to make a difference (IMPACT)
By living out our these core values, our hope is to reach young adults in the Silicon Valley and share with them the message that in OpenCircle and in God’s Kingdom, “there’s always room.”
We hold a monthly worship service takes place the first Saturday of every month at 5:00 pm at Creekside at the Los Altos UMC.
For further information please visit our webite, www.opencircleumc.org
Encoders: Living into the Biblical Text
Rick Allen leads a spirited and informed discussion of lectionary texts every Sunday morning at 9:45 am in the Wesley Room.
Join us as we study together and journey through the Bible. The class follows the schedule of the Revised Common Lectionary. This is a facilitated class in which everyone gets the chance to learn at their own pace.
Great for newcomers to the text and long-time students as well.
All are welcome. Drop in!
Couples Fellowship
Join us in a place of friendship and caring where you and your partner's relationship can be nurtured.
We meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in the Wesley Room right after worship at 12:00 noon.
All couples are welcome to attend. Please call Lou or Patty Bellardo for more details.
Covenant Group
Are you called to meet with others in a loving, respectful, and confidential environment to build relationships within our church?
This committed, small group meets Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. We engage in thoughtful and wideranging discussions of spiritual matters, books, and published articles that are important to us personally.
If you might be interested in this group, contact Linda Grossman.
Theology by the Cup
Theology by the Cup is a safe place to get together for open conversation about faith. The name comes from Pastor Michael's belief that sometime we should take our theology "by the cup," so we don't become too full of ourselves and unable to hear one another.
We are all travelers on a journey that brings us closer to God every day. Pastor Michael hopes you will feel welcomed to join in a conversation about that journey.
Join us on Thursdays in Menlo Park
Join Pastor Michael Thursdays from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Peet's Coffee located at 515 El Camino Real (in the Safeway complex) in Menlo Park.
Tuesday Trekkers
There is a small group of folks who are walking at 10:00 am out near the Bay front every Tuesday morning.
We walk for about 1 1/2 hours and cover 3 miles, so it is a very leisurely pace.
Note: new start time: During September, the Tuesday Trekkers leave the Avenidas parking lot promptly at 9:50AM.
The intent is to have a different starting point for the Tuesday walks
each month. That will give us a little different view of the Bay shoreline. Hope to see you there.
Please contact Patty Bellardo. (650) 327-1428, with questions or comments.
D'vora United Methodist Women's Circle
If you enjoy delicious dinners, a supportive and nurturing circle of women, and planning activities that will enrich our church and community, come to one of our monthly dinner gatherings.
D'vora meets once a month on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 pm at the home of a circle member.
Contact Valorie Hamachek for more information or to be added to our email list.
UMW - United Methodist Women
All women at FUMCPA are invited to join the United Methodist Women.
Purpose of United Methodist Women
The organized unit of United Methodist Women
shall be a community of women
whose PURPOSE is to know God
and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ;
to develop a creative, supportive fellowship;
and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.
What Does It Mean To Be A United Methodist Women
A member of United Methodist Women is one who commits herself to our PURPOSE and chooses to participate in meetings, prayer, giving, study, action, and/or service. The organization celebrates an inclusive membership and welcomes all women who want to be members.
One becomes a member by committing to be a part of this supportive community of women and by accepting the challenge to grow in mission and to participate in life-changing experiences. Membership can be expressed in many ways. Some examples are:
* Intercessory prayer;
* Attendance at meetings;
* Undesignated Mission Giving to support global mission;
* Accepting leadership responsibility;
* Participation in various events, projects, issues, and concerns of the Women's Division
* Participation in the Reading Program;
* Reading Response;
* Attending Schools of Christian Mission.
CIRCLE AND INTEREST GROUPS
Clara Swain Circle
Meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 1:30 pm in the Church Patio Room
Judy Newton Circle
Meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 1:00 pm in the Patio Room or in a member’s home
The D’vora Circle (Women range in age from 20-60)
Meets one a month at a member’s home
Fijian Circle
Meets at times and locations to be announced
Needleworkers
Meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am in a member’s home
Reading Program
Meets on the 3rd Monday of January, March, May, September, and November at 11:30 am at a restaurant to be announced
UMW Walking Group
Meets on the first Thursday of each month
For more information, please contact Lois Hammar, 327-9120
For information on the California-Nevada Conference United Methodist Women, visit their website at www.cnumw.org
Feminist Christian Reading Group Is On Hiatus
Please note the Feminist Christian Reading Group is on temporary hiatus
New members are welcome and encouraged to join this group for indepth discussions of faith and religion.
Bring your faith, your call to social justice, and your love of reading to this great gathering of women who care about how all people can flourish in the church and the wider world beyond. Explore new visions of the feminine divine. Lasting friendships come out of deeply engaging conversations about these important issues.
Newcomers are very welcome.
Through conversations about books and our lives, we practice a Christianity that supports the flourishing of women and all people in mutual respect and joyful celebration of the uniqueness and variety of God's gifts.
We seek to understand how our Christian tradition has marginalized women and made it difficult to see women as truly made in God's image. Through lively and heartfelt dialogue we are revitalizing and transforming our tradition, including expanded images of the Divine, inclusive language, and female spiritual role models. As we explore these themes we support each other in discovering how they influence and inform our lives and our worship. We have been meeting since 2002.
Koinonia
Koinonia is a fellowship group of the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto. We meet once a month to dine together, hike, have a Progressive dinner, or to do a service project for the Church, all in the spirit of Christian fellowship. We welcome couples or singles of all ages. Generally, we meet the second Saturday of the month.
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The First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, California - A Welcoming Church spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties since 1894. We're conveniently located in downtown Palo Alto near the Stanford University campus. Whether you're in the Silicon Valley or on the Peninsula, we want to be your Church home.
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