Sundays
Faith & Family: Growing Together
Weekly, 10:00am, Room 216
With Rachel Thompson Orfield & Liz Forney
This ongoing class creates space for parents of children and teens to reflect on faith, family life, and spiritual growth. Each week, we’ll engage in practical and theological topics that speak to the joys and challenges of parenting. Specific themes and guest leaders will be shared in advance, inviting rich conversation and shared wisdom for the journey of raising children in faith.
Contact Liz Forney Liz.Forney@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Songs of Faith: Music in the Christian Tradition
Sundays, April 12-26, 10:00am, Agape Classroom
With Various Speakers
This three-week class will discuss the impact of music in the Christian tradition. The first week (April 12) will provide an overview of how music functions in the Bible. The following two weeks will each feature a guest speaker. On April 19, Dr. Elizabeth Joyner will speak on Bach. On April 26, Dr. Michael Slon, Music Director of the Oratorio Society of Virginia, will speak on the Sacred Oratorio and Mendelssohn's 'Elijah.'
Creation Care
Sundays, April 12-26, 10:00am, Chapel
With Various Speakers
This three-week class focuses on our Christian commitment to follow God's direction of caring for the earth and all that is in it. We will discuss how scripture, moral imagination and Christian thought guide our understanding of environmental challenges and guest us to restoration and conservation. We will also reflect on the engagement of communities, law and environmental ethics as guideposts for following the teachings of God and Jesus Christ.
Speakers
April 12: Jonathan Cannon, Faculty Emeritus — UVA School of Law
April 19: Kimberly Barker, UVA Claude Moore Health Sciences Library
April 26: Willis Jenkins, UVA Department of Religious Studies
New Member Class
Sundays, April 19 & 26, 10:00am, Library
Interested in becoming a member of First Presbyterian Church? Join us for this two-week introduction to Presbyterianism, and what it means to be a member of First Presbyterian Church.
Contact Rachel Thompson Orfield rthompsonorfield@firstprescharlottesville.org if you have any questions.
VBS Workshop (all ages)
Sundays, May 10&17, 10:00am, Church-Wide
During the Sunday School hour on May 10 and 17, the congregation is invited to work together as we prepare to transform our church into Ancient Rome for this year's Vacation Bible School. VBS is a true mission of our church - a week of faith, learning, and joy. We anticipate that we will welcome 150 children, and some of these children will be hearing the story of Jesus for the first time. We can't do it without your help! There will be projects for all ages and ability levels. Please join us and help this important mission thrive.
Pentecost Parade
Sunday, May 24, 10:00am, Church Grounds
During the Sunday School hour, the congregation is invited to support the children of our church as they celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in a joyful Pentecost Parade. Children are invited to decorate strollers, bikes, scooters, wagons, etc. for the festivities. All are encouraged to wear red for Pentecost, get in the Spirit, and come ready to cheer our children on!
Mondays
Men's Lunch
The Men’s Luncheon Group is focused on fellowship, an opportunity for the men of the church to gather, break bread, and share a time of fellowship. We typically have a speaker at our meetings, church members and others who can share knowledge and experience on a wide variety of topics. We usually introduce our speakers around 1:00 pm, presentations are in the 30-to-45-minute range and with time for questions. We plan to be done by 2:00 pm.
Second Monday of each month at 12:30pm, Agape Classroom
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is a spiritual practice of scripture reading that involves both meditation and prayer. It promotes a time of communion with God and an ability to increase our knowledge of God's word. Traditionally Lectio has four separate steps: reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating. Each time the scripture is read, the group reflects upon its meaning which is then followed by prayer and contemplation on the Word of God. Contact Debbie Rexrode for the Zoom link.
Monday Evenings, 7:30pm - 8:30pm, Zoom
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Tuesday Morning Lectio Divina
Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00am, Zoom
Lectio Divina is the practice of reading scripture, meditating, and praying. Traditionally, it has four separate steps: read, meditate, pray, contemplate. It is not intended to be a study of God's Word but rather a way for each person reading or meditating to experience God's Word for them.
Elizabeth Circle
First Tuesdays, 12:30pm, Room 216
We come together with group concerns, prayer, business and Bible study. This year our Bible study will be presented by PW/Horizons. Mission projects vary yearly according to our group interests and community needs. We have consistently supported the World Fellowship of the Least Coin. Together we are a fun, caring group who support one an-other and love to welcome new members.
Presbyterian Women Circle 6
Second Tuesdays, 1:00pm
Circle 6 is a group of women who are interested in fellowship, thought-provoking discussion, developing close friendships and sharing Christ’s love through serving others. Please feel free to bring your lunch and come early for fellowship. This year we will focus on the PW/Horizon's Bible study. "Finding Resilience, Joy, and Our Identity in Jesus Christ". Our mission projects include providing floral arrangements during Advent for the homebound of our church, recycling cards for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Least Coin, Georgia’s Friends food pantry, and Meals on Wheels pet food pantry.
Coordinated by Susan Carl and Susan Howard Smith
Thursdays
Quilt Sowers
Thursdays, 10:00-4:00pm, Room 216
Quilt Sowers of First Pres enjoy the 3F’s—fellowship, friendship and field trips. We create and sew quilts for children being baptized, quilts for clients of Georgia’s Friends and colorful quilts of all sizes to sell throughout the year. Our sales go to benefit Georgia’s Friend’s - a Fist Pres mission partner. Their mission is to provide support for women suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.
Members bring a bag lunch and stay as long as their schedule allows. We try to hold 2-3 Sew-a-thons each year, enjoy tak-ing day-long field trips to quilt shows or “favorite” quilting shops, and sell our quilts twice a year during Fellowship Hour. The group likes to say “if you can sew a straight line, you can become a quilter”, and we love welcoming and mentoring “new-to-quilting” members!
Special Activities
Supper Club
Bi-annually
Led by Jill & Jim Campbell
Prior to the start date Jim and Jill Campbell invite all past and new participants to a kickoff gathering in Agape Hall for the Fall Supper Club after 11:00 Service on Sunday, January 25th. This informal event will feature a light lunch and the opportunity to meet others participating. At the gathering, participants will be assigned to groups of 7–8, with plans to meet monthly through 4 months for dinners hosted in members’ chosen places. Some Groups meet in homes, at Wineries, Restaurants or a combination of venues.
The Supper Club is a wonderful way to connect with fellow First Pres members of all ages, share meals, and build deeper relationships. Each group will decide on the dates and times that work best for them—there are no set rules!
Don’t miss this chance to enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. Please RSVP by January 18th to join the fun! To take part, contact Jill Campbell at jilldoov@comcast.net.
Weekly Women's Bible Study
LADIES! We’d love to have you join us! The Wednesday Women's Bible Study starts up our new year of study on Wednesday, September 10. We break for Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year, and Easter Celebrations. Using study guides, we enjoy scripture-based, discussion-based units of study on topics chosen by the group. There is a small fee to cover the cost of the guides. We will be studying 3 topics this year: The Sermon on the Mount, Heaven, and The Jesus Paul Knew.
For more information about our group and/or to order a study book, please contact Harriet Grosh. Please write “Wednesday Women’s Bible Study” in the subject line of your email. We look forward to hearing from you!
Wednesdays, 2:00-3:30pm, September - May 2026
Room 215 and Zoom
