Equipped

We would love to have you join us for Equipped.

Equipped Adult Education Program
Our goal is to engage the hearts and minds of participants, equipping participants to be fully devoted disciples of Jesus.

Join us for classes and events that will deepen your understanding of Scripture, Theology, Church History, and Christian Living.

When: Sunday mornings, 10– 10:45am (September – May)

In addition to Sundays, we offer special events throughout the year as part of our “More Than Sunday” mission. We invite you to join us on Sunday mornings or at one of our special programs.

Sunday Mornings

From Eden to Patmos: The Bible and Migration
Class Leader: Dr. Daniel Carroll
Sunday, April 6 & 13 | 10-10:45am | Parlor

Class Description

From the opening chapters of Genesis to the book of Revelation migration is a constant reality in the Bible. This two-part series is designed to introduce the breadth of material on migration across the Old and New Testaments. The goal is to establish a biblical foundation that can orient current debates on this highly charged topic.
CLASS LEADER: Dr. Daniel Carroll R. (Rodas) is a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College. He is half-Guatemalan and was raised bilingual and bicultural. He spent summers growing up in Guatemala and later taught at a seminary in the capital city for many years. Since returning to the U.S. he has been involved in writing and speaking on the topic of the Bible and migration. He has authored The Bible and Borders: Hearing God’s Word on Immigration and co-edited two books on the topic. His most recent book from that perspective is Reading the Bible Latinamente: Latino/a Interpretation for the Life of the Church. He has been married to Joan for 48 years. They have two adult sons and five grandchildren.
Why Christians Keep Journals – and How to Do it!
Class Leaders: Dr. Jeffrey Barbeau & Joanne May
Sunday, April 27 & May 4 | 10-10:45am | Parlor

Class Description

Dr. Jeffrey Barbeau of Wheaton College returns and joins one of First Pres’ very own, Joanne May to lead this creative, imaginative, and meditative look at Journal-Keeping. Participants will learn why journaling is worthwhile, what Christians from the past thought about this spiritual discipline, and how to go about practicing it. There will even be an opportunity to give journaling a try. Please join us to gain an understanding of how journaling can be a practice that enriches us both creatively and spiritually.
CLASS LEADER: Joanne May, violinist and retired Professor of Music Education, has distinguished herself as an educator and international Paul Rolland String Pedagogy expert. A student of violin professor Paul Rolland while studying at the University of Illinois, May has incorporated Rolland pedagogy into all areas of her 44-year teaching career, and she has conducted orchestras and presented at conferences on the topic in the U.S., Wales, Spain, England, and online to teachers in several other parts of the world. Her interest in art began just 8 years ago as she learned watercolor and calligraphy through internet tutorials and taking a series of courses taught by internationally acclaimed calligrapher, Timothy Botts. Her current activities include founding and leading the new Creative Arts Community through First Presbyterian Church in Glen Ellyn. Joanne and her husband, Jack, live in Glen Ellyn. Their two adult children, Samantha and Zachary, are music educators and professional musicians, and Samantha is well known by her friends and family as a violinist and “stickie” artist, having published many of her stickie designs in an annual school journal and in a children’s book. Joanne is a member of the violin section of the DuPage Symphony Orchestra in Naperville, IL, and in addition to doing art and music she enjoys sewing, reading, and writing.
CLASS LEADER: Dr. Jeffrey Barbeau completed graduate degrees in theology and English literature before earning his PhD in religious studies at Marquette University. A professor for over twenty years, he loves working with students in coursework at the intersection of theology, history, and literature. He is the editor of The Coleridge Bulletin: The Journal of the Friends of Coleridge and author or editor of numerous books, the latest of which is on C. S. Lewis. He devotes almost all of his time to family, watching or playing basketball, and prairie walking.

More than Sunday Mornings