Grow with Us — Adult Opportunities
Our church provides a range of educational opportunities and meaningful ministries for all ages. There’s something for everyone to help grow your relationship with faith, with God, and with one another.

In Solidarity: An Anti-Racism Workshop
Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23
The Missions, Justice, and Community (MJC) Work Area of Downers Grove First United Methodist Church invites all to an “In Solidarity Workshop” led by Rev. Joan Crawford on September 22 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.) and September 23 (9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) to promote interracial healing and dialogue. Learn more about the workshop.
Suggested reading before the workshop is The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson. The book is available on audiobooks, at the Downers Grove Library, Anderson’s Bookshop, on Amazon, or at the MJC table after worship on Sundays.
The workshop fee is $25 and includes lunch on Saturday. Sign up to attend using the provided QR code and pay the registration fee at dgfumc.org/giving.

Bible and Book Studies
As we follow Jesus, it is important for all to grow in our knowledge and understanding of who God is and what God is calling us to do. We offer various kinds of Bible studies and book studies for adults as a way to grow in faith. This is not only a wonderful way of learning more about our faith, but also a way of connecting together in sacred community as we build deeper relationships with one another and God. We offer short-term and long-term Bible study classes and we often offer studies of particular books that focus on the Bible, issues of faith, and topics for serving others and making change. We invite you to consider joining a group and growing in your walk with Jesus. Visit the calendar for opportunities.
Fall Book Discussion Group – Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out by Jim Burns, Ph.D.
United Women in Faith
This community of women has the purpose to know God and to develop a creative, supportive fellowship driven by God’s love. United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women or UMW) focuses on ministries dedicated to the needs of women, children, and youth. The group’s overall goals are to support mission in our community, country, and world; discover and respond to issues of the day; and to involve women of varying interests, ages, and lifestyles. They meet in large and small groups.
Two general meetings are held each year when the entire UW Faith group gets together for fellowship and a program of interest to all – a spring meeting and a December meeting. Each meeting is held at a different times of the day to meet all schedules. Free babysitting is provided at all general meetings, and at any meeting upon request. For more information about United Women in Faith, contact Shelly Davenport, UWFaith president, at sdavenportarch@gmail.com.
Circle Groups
United Women in Faith offers small-group gatherings called “circles.” One circle group meets once a month on the fourth Thursday in the afternoon and one group meets once a month on the fourth Monday evening. Watch the calendar for meeting dates and United Women in Faith efforts to help women and children.