Spiritual Growth

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.
1 Peter 1:17 (The Message)

The Adult Christian Education Committee invites you to join us on the journey of our lives — as we grow in our understanding of God, respond to His gracious love and submit to His Lordship. God reveals Himself to each one of us in different ways, so we offer a variety of opportunities. Check out the following programs to find the track that allows you to make the most of your journey!

For information on current offerings or events, check This Week at FPC and/or Ministry News.

Sunday Adult Classes

Has it been awhile since you sat in a “Sunday school” class? Sampling one of our 5- or 6-week electives is a sure way to ease back in! Classes range from the popular “Refresher Course” in the basics of the Christian life (offered twice a year), to a book study or video classes featuring the teachings of the likes of R.C. Sproul, Dr. Ken Bailey, John Ortberg and Philip Yancey.

During the winter season, a selection of classes is offered from 10-10:50 AM (between the two morning services); in the “off-season” classes are offered from 8:45-9:45AM, just before the single worship service at 10 AM.

Wednesday Pastor’s Study

Wednesday nights at First Church provide yet another growth opportunity through The Pastor’s Study, a teaching time led by one of the pastors. Recent series have covered the Gospel of John, the life of the Apostle Peter, the Ten Commandments for today, and C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity. This program meets weekly, 6:00-7:00 PM (new time), from mid-October through Easter. Dessert and fellowship time follow.

The BookCenter

The FPC BookCenter, a combination bookstore and lending library, opened in February 2009. Easily accessible from the Narthex, the BookCenter offers a selection of excellent books for purchase in a variety of genres — from the latest in Christian fiction, to theology, personal growth, inspiration, biography, Christian classics, seasonal promotions … and much more. The library section offers an excellent collection of books available for borrowing. Stop in to browse!
The BookCenter is open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and Sundays after worship.

Book Club: The First Read

Read some of the best in Christian fiction and biography, then have the fun of sharing your insights with other readers. Often the book selection will tie in with other planned programming, like a guest speaker, First Flix, or study topic. Selected books are available for purchase on Sunday mornings in the Book Center.

First Flix

Join the “First” family for some special Friday nights at the movies! Movies are shown in McClure Hall, with popcorn and other movie snacks available. There is no charge.

Women’s Ministry

The mission of the Women’s Ministry of First Church is to help women of all ages reach upward to a deeper relationship with Christ, reach inward to one another in love and fellowship, and reach outward to our community and world in service. A variety of women’s studies, as well as special seasonal events for growth and fellowship, are offered. Information on the current schedule of studies and events can be found under Ministry News.

Men’s Ministry

The Men’s Fellowship of First Church is built around weekly breakfast meetings every Thursday morning from October through June. At 7:30 AM a delicious continental breakfast is served (requested donation of $1) and one of the pastors of the church leads a discussion of practical life-related issues and the truths of the Scriptures. Men of all ages are invited. Several times per year the Men’s Fellowship invites a guest speaker, and welcomes all women of the church to join them. These events provide a hot catered breakfast for $5, followed by an interesting and varied program.

The Men’s Fellowship also sponsors periodic “road trips” for men to visit some of the interesting sites and activities in Florida. Check the News section of this website or the weekly bulletin for information on the next trip.

Bonita Christian Forum

This speaker series, begun in 2005 and sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, presents “high visibility” followers of Jesus Christ from all walks of life sharing their stories of faith. For maximum outreach, programs are scheduled during the winter season months, from November through the following April. Programs are free and open to the public. An offering is taken to defray expenses.

All events begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church. For more information, visit bonitachristianforum.org.

Great Banquet

The Great Banquet is a 72-hour “retreat” for spiritual growth, fellowship and personal renewal. It begins on a Thursday night and ends on a Sunday night. All activities, including lodging and meals, occur on the campus of First Presbyterian Church. Separate Men’s and Women’s Great Banquets are held on consecutive weekends each winter — typically in February.

The Great Banquet program is a national ministry affiliated with the worldwide “Cursillo” movement of spiritual renewal. Its foundation is Christian love and friendship, and it utilizes study of God’s Word and discussion with friends to help each person understand more deeply God’s plan and purpose for our lives. The result of a weekend spent at a Great Banquet is that you will know the Lord better, have deeper friendships with others, feel part of a community of believers, and feel refreshed and renewed.

If you would like to learn more about the next Great Banquet weekends for Men and Women in Southwest Florida, or wish to register, please contact the lay directors of the ministry: Lee Gery, upnorth2@aol.com, or Bob Andreasen, brandreasen@aol.com, or visit the website of the Great Banquet, http://www.lampstand.net.