FUMC



Christian Classics









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Don't let buried treasure stay buried!                                               

Join us this year as we explore together
the rich treasury of devotional and spiritual literature
cherished by Christians through the ages. 
  • Reunion

All-Church Experience for 2021

What We've Done in Past Years

It's an annual tradition at First Church!

Each year, our church family is invited to join together in some year-long study and discussion. We've listed on this page a reminder of the variety of excellent things we've done during the past nine years. And now it's time to turn our attention to our terrific plans for 2021.

​Our first order of business was to read the Bible, and there never comes a time when we set that book aside.

But there are so many other books that the Lord might also use in your life -- books that will bless, instruct, challenge, and encourage you.  And during 2021, we want to acquaint ourselves with two of those books. 
Here is an accounting of what we have done together in previous years:
  • ​2012 -- The 3x5 Club
  • 2013 -- Daily Devotional Journal
  • 2014 -- Singing Through the Year with Wesley
  • 2015 -- Role Models in Righteousness
  • 2016 -- Christian Believer
  • 2017 -- A Conversation with God's Word
  • 2018 -- A Year Without Fear
  • 2019 -- The Methodist Pew
  • 2020 -- A 2020 Prayer Life

links to online resources

For the first eight or so months of this year, we will read Augustine's Confessions.  Written at the end of the 4th-century by the famous saint and Bishop of Hippo, Confessions has been called the first spiritual autobiography.  It is a book full of wisdom and insight, and we will find that Augustine's thoughtful reflections  on the work of God in his own life will help us to see and understand the work of God in our lives more clearly.   

Meanwhile, for the last quarter of 2021, we will turn our attention to John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.  This 17th-century masterpiece has endured through the centuries, has been translated into over 100 languages, and has consistently been one of the best-selling Christian books.    

Participants are welcome to find their own versions of both of these classic books to read for themselves during our year-long study.  Free versions are available online, however.  Follow these links to access copies of the manuscripts:
  • Augustine's Confessions
  • John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress 

Finally, the schedule below will be our guide for our individual reading and our group discussions.

Weekly reading and discussion schedule

In order to accommodate as many folks and schedules as possible, our weekly meetings will be by Zoom, and we will vary between noon-hour and evening meetings.  We will meet on Thursdays, keeping an even pace of reading as we go through the weeks of 2021 together.  

Here is the Zoom link for our Thursday noon discussions:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87989557203?pwd=QXdHOHZ3MlpsdGdRVVhzSzMzRit6QT09

Here is the Zoom link for our Thursday evening discussions: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84036352821 
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 Week 1 -- Thursday, January 7 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 1 Chapter IX

Week 2 -- Thursday, January 14 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 1 Chapter XIX

Week 3 -- Thursday, January 21 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 2 Chapter VIII

Week 4 -- Thursday, January 28 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 3 Chapter VII

Week 5 -- Thursday, February 4 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 4 Chapter II

Week 6 -- Thursday, February 11 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 4 Chapter XI

Week 7 -- No Class

Week 8 -- Thursday, February 25 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 5 Chapter II

Week 9 -- Thursday, March 4 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 5 Chapter VIII

Week 10 -- Thursday, March 11 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 6 Chapter I

Week 11 -- Thursday, March 18 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 6 Chapter VII

Week 12 -- Thursday, March 25 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 6 Chapter VIII

Week 13 -- No Class

Week 14 -- Thursday, April 8 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 7 Chapter V

Week 15 -- Thursday, April 15 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 7 Chapter XVIII

Week 16 -- Thursday, April 22 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 8 Chapter I

Week 17 -- Thursday, April 29 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 8 Chapter VII

Week 18 -- Thursday, May 6 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 9 Chapter I

Week 19 -- Thursday, May 13 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 9 Chapter VII

Week 20 -- Thursday, May 20 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 9 Chapter XII

Week 21 -- Thursday, May 27 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 10 Chapter VI

Week 22 -- Thursday, June 3 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 10 Chapter XVI

Week 23 -- Thursday, June 10 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 10 Chapter XXIX

Week 24 -- Thursday, June 17 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 10 Chapter XXXV

Week 25 -- Thursday, June 24 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 11 Chapter I

Week 26 -- Thursday, July 1 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 11 Chapter XII

Week 27 -- Thursday, July 8 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 11 Chapter XXIII

Week 28 -- No Class

Week 29 -- No Class

Week 30 -- Thursday, July 29 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 12 Chapter III

Week 31 -- Thursday, August 5 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 12 Chapter XV

Week 32 -- Thursday, August 12 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 12 Chapter XXV

Week 33 -- Thursday, August 19 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 13 Chapter II

Week 34 -- Thursday, August 26 -- 5:30 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 13 Chapter XV

Week 35 -- Thursday, September 2 -- 12:00 PM
     Read through Confessions Book 13 Chapter XXXVIII

Week 36 -- Thursday, September 9 -- 5:30 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           The Author's Apology for His Book
           The Pilgrim's Progress in the Similitude of a Dream
           Christian Flees from the City of Destruction

Week 37 -- Thursday, September 16 -- 12:00 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian is Pursued by Obstinate and Pliable
           Christian and Pliable Converse Along the Way
           Christian and Pliable Confront the Slough of Despond
           Christian Encounters Mr. Worldly Wiseman

Week 38 -- Thursday, September 23 -- 5:30 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian Seeks After the Town of Morality
           Christian Arrives at the Wicket Gate


Week 39 -- Thursday, September 30 -- 12:00 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian is Instructed at the House of the Interpreter 
           Christian Arrives at the Place of Deliverance 


Week 40 -- Thursday, October 7 -- 5:30 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian Overtakes Simple, Sloth, and Presumption 
           Christian Converses with Formalist and Hypocrisy 
           Christian Ascends the Hill Difficulty 
           Christian is Approached by Timorous and Mistrust 
           Christian Meets Lion-Sized Opposition
           Christian Resides at the Palace Beautiful


Week 41 -- Thursday, October 14 -- 12:00 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian Enters into Battle with Apollyon         

Week 42 -- Thursday, October 21 -- 5:30 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian Confronts the Valley of the Shadow of Death
           Christian Overtakes and Converses with Faithful 

Week 43 -- Thursday, October 28 -- 12:00 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian and Faithful Converse with Talkative 

Week 44 -- Thursday, November 4 -- 5:30 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Evangelist Reappears to Give Timely Warning
           Christian and Faithful on Trial at Vanity Fair
           Christian and Hopeful Converse with Byends


Week 45 -- Thursday, November 11 -- 12:00 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           The Silver Mine at the Hill Lucre
           The Monument to Lot's Wife
           Christian and Hopeful are Captured by Giant Despair 


Week 46 -- Thursday, November 18 -- 5:30 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian and Hopeful at the Delectable Mountain 
           Christian and Hopeful First Encounter Ignorance  

           The Terrifying End of Turnaway
           The Colorless Testimony of Little-Faith

Week 47 -- No Class

Week 48 -- Thursday, December 2 -- 5:30 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian and Hopeful Snared by the Flatterer
           Christian and Hopeful Meet Returning Atheist 
           Christian and Hopeful Cross the Enchanted Ground
                Hopeful Testifies to His Conversion at Vanity Fair
 

Week 48 -- Thursday, December 9 -- 12:00 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian and Hopeful Cross the Enchanted Ground
                Closer Acquaintance is Made with Ignorance
                Christian Recalls His Acquaintance with Temporary 

           The Comforting Delights of Beulah Land

Week 49 -- Thursday, December 16 -- 5:30 PM
     Read Pilgrim's Progress
           Christian and Hopeful Encounter the River of Death
           Christian and Hopeful Are Welcomed Into Heaven
           The Fearful End of Ignorance 

           The Conclusion
           A Further Defense 
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  • Reunion