Nathan Bynum preaches a sermon while juggling a tennis racket,

a baseball bat, and a bowling ball!

See videos of Nathan’s sermon on “Lessons of Life Learned Through Juggling”:

One of the most widely appreciated and effective programs in the life of First Church is the Initiation to Adulthood program, a two-year Rite of Passage for teenagers. The program utilizes various "mystery rites" adapted from cultures around the world and developed for use within First Church over the last twenty years. The mystery rites include the Rite of Separation, the Urban Adventure, the Masking Rite, the Sexuality Rite, the Wilderness Adventure, the Rite of Initiation, and various other rites and retreats which occur during the two years.

Two other groups, the Pre-Initiation Group (PIGs) and the Graduates round out the church's programs for teenagers. These less formal programs include many social activities -- such as bike trips to Block Island, sledding, movies, hikes, camping, whitewater rafting -- as well as examining life in the context of Christianity.

Initiate group preparing a meal for St. Vincent de Paul Place

The Initiate program continues on our 2nd year of a 2-year path of exploration of personal faith, growth and self-discovery. Similar, yet intrinsically different from a typical “confirmation program”, the focus is on helping young people channel their natural impulses into working on the soul-tasks of their stage in life. Learning areas include society, self, sexuality and spirituality. Various “mystery rites” serve as signposts as the teenagers make their psychological, social, and spiritual journey from childhood to adulthood.

Initiates retreat at Deer Lake in Killingworth