Programs at the
John P. Webster Library!*
events are FREE unless otherwise mentioned. We ask that you register to secure a spot!
The John P. Webster Library (JPWL), along with First Church’s pastoral staff, sponsors frequent programs for adults. Programs on mental wellness, Islam, memoir-writing, antiracism, climate change, social justice, home improvement, and gardening are just a few of the topics we have explored in recent years. Some programs are offered in person in our beautiful facility, and others have a Zoom option.
*Some Co-Sponsored events are in different rooms, or off site
To stay up-to-date on adult faith formation classes and programs at the JPWL, please contact Jennifer deSimas, Library Director, at jpwebsterdir@westhartfordfirstchurch.org.
Click here for Adult Faith Formation info. which includes book groups, men’s group, exercise classes, monthly breakfast and more!
Maria Leda Souza Hogan is the eleventh of 14 children born to a Brazilian teenager. Her book tells of her life in the favelas (slums) of Brazil, where hunger, abuse, lack of opportunity, poor sanitation, and food scarcity triggered multiple defense mechanisms of survival: A samba of survival. Dr. Hogan now teaches Spanish at Litchfield High School and lives in West Hartford. Her mission is to share the story of how she broke the cycles of intergenerational misery to find a path to persevere and triumph. Her book is an indictment of a deeply unjust Brazilian society, as well as a heartwarming reflection on the human spirit of resilience. It’s an immigrant success story. Samba of Survival: My Light Within will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Free event; 
Join Jennifer Wednesday afternoons for 90 minutes of writing, reading, and friendly feedback. Writing enhances memory, helps process trying times, and clarifies thinking. It even improves your dreams! Space limited; please 
Located beneath the First Church Meeting House, the JPWL is the go-to place for books and media related to sermons, Sunday School, social justice issues, and so much more!