First Presbyterian Church of Petaluma
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ADULT AND COMMUNITY MINISTRIES


Small groups and Bible studies

We gather in homes or on campus in a range of small groups to study, pray, and socialize. Contact the church office if you need additional information about one of the groups, or if you'd like to start a new one.


Type
Adult Sunday School
Young At Heart 
Women's Bible Study 
Women's Bible Study
Men's Bible Study
Location
Fireside Room
Church Campus
Homes
Homes
Fireside Room
Day/Time
Sundays, 8:30 am
Fourth Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m.
Tuesdays, 7:00 pm
Wednesdays, 9:00 am
Thursdays, 1:30 pm

On our campus

Book discussion group 
Interrupting Silence:
Wednesdays, September 26-November 14, 2018
5:30 soup and bread; 6:00 discussion

Each week is self-contained, so come as your schedule permits.
  • Sept. 26: Introduction and Chapter 1, The Oppressed Break Silence
  • Oct. 3: Chapter 2, Prophets Refuse to be Silenced
  • Oct. 10: Chapter 3, Silence Kills
  • Oct. 17: Chapter 4, Jesus Rudely Interrupted
  • Oct. 24: Chapter 5, Casting Out Silence
  • Oct. 31: Chapter 6, The Crowd as Silencer
  • Nov. 7: Chapter 7, Truth Speaks to Power
  • Nov. 14: Chapter 8, The Church as a Silencing Institution
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Other books we've read include:
  • Mr. Ives' Christmas, by Oscar Hijuelos
  • The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis
  • Mariette in Ecstasy, by Ron Hansen  
  • Fidelity, by Wendell Berry
  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson
​


Other activities

Special worship services
We offer special, non-Sunday worship services throughout the church year. These include services for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and a meditative "Longest Night" service during Advent. We also offered a service of healing and wholeness during Lent in 2017.

Art projects
During Advent in 2014, we cut a paper banner of artist Alice Masek's "Creation Star" to hang in the sanctuary for Christmas. Working together provided an opportunity to socialize, the process itself was meditative, and it was deeply satisfying to see the results of our labor enriching our Christmas worship.
​
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The following year, we created stars that have hung over the sanctuary at Christmas and into January every following year.

Beyond our walls

As a congregation, we support a number of annual or ongoing events and activities, some of which are shown here.  
Our members volunteer with many local nonprofit organizations and participate in activities sponsored by our Presbytery. 
​
Some of the organizations and events we support:
  • Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) programs
  • ConKerr Cancer sew-a-thon
  • Hope Counseling
  • ​​Hospice of Petaluma/Memorial Hospice -- St. Joseph Health
  • Mentor Me Petaluma
  • Multiple Sclerosis Walk
  • Operation Christmas Child
  • PC(USA)'s "Cents-Ability" hunger relief program
  • Pedal for Protein -- Presbytery fundraiser for food pantries
  • Petaluma Bounty
  • Petaluma Christmas Cheer
  • Petaluma Educational Foundation
  • Petaluma Food Pantry
  • Petaluma People Services Center
  • Salvation Army
  • Walk to End Alzheimer's

Advent matching gifts

In 2017, church members donated $2420 to the following organizations during Advent, and the church contributed an additional $2000 in matching grants. Thank you for your generosity in helping people in need in our community.
  • Christmas Cheer
  • Hope Counseling Services
  • Committee on the Shelterless (COTS)
  • ​Petaluma Peoples Services Center
  • 2017 North Bay Fire Relief
  • Community Matters
  • Giant Steps Equestrian Therapy Center
  • ​Mentor Me

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How you can serve
Our Mission Commission created a brochure to help you connect with agencies that are looking for volunteers. 
Click the image to view/print.


We also take part in activities -- including retreats -- organized by our Presbytery and its camp and conference center, Westminster Woods.

2017 North Bay Fire response

939 B Street, Petaluma, CA 94952   |   707-762-8269   
Sunday worship 9:45 a.m.