First Congregational Church

General information

Will I be welcome here?
We are an “open and affirming church,” which means we are committed to welcoming people of every race, language, age, gender and gender identity, ethnicity, economic status, mental or physical ability, and sexual orientation into the full life and ministry of the church. At our church, you’ll worship with single people and married couples; families with two moms and those with a mom & a dad; seniors and twenty-somethings.

We recognize, celebrate, and give thanks for the many diverse gifts of God among us. We hold that discrimination is incompatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We commit ourselves to honor all people and to work diligently to end all oppression and discrimination that afflict God’s people in our society.

We’re an interfaith family. Is that okay?
Yes. We embrace interfaith families. Our denomination, the United Church of Christ, has a deep commitment to religious freedom. Our congregation includes interfaith families and visitors tell us that they feel welcome at our services. When mom is Protestant and dad is Catholic, or one partner is Christian and one is Jewish, it can be hard to feel “at home” in any worship space. We hope you will feel at home in ours. And everyone is invited to participate how and as much as feels “personally right.”

What if I’m not sure what I believe?
No problem. Everyone’s faith journey is different. Some members of our congregation are lifelong Christians for whom the United Church of Christ has always been a home. Others grew up in another denomination (a wide variety of denominations!), but feel at home here. And others have come to us from secular backgrounds. It’s not unusual to hear someone share that she or he is just now exploring emerging, spiritual feelings. If you are exploring faith, you are welcome here (and so are your questions).

When are services?
Our worship service is held on Sunday morning at 10:30 am. Worship lasts, on average, about an hour. Many gather right after worship in our fellowship hall for coffee and treats. This is a great way to get to know others. Join us as you are comfortable – no pressure. We understand that you might not be able to stay or feel comfortable staying at first, so don’t feel bad if you need to rush off!

What should I wear?
God doesn’t care what you wear to church, and neither do we! Dress as casually or formally as you feel comfortable. Most folks are somewhere in the middle.

Where should I park?
On Sunday mornings, we have a parking lot behind the church plus plenty of street parking surrounding the church. Handicap parking places are available.

What can I expect during the worship service?
We have a fairly traditional worship service that includes scripture, sermon, music, and prayer. We are proud of our organ and enjoy the traditional sacred music written for it, but we are open to various worship experiences that may include a jazz combo, guitar and drums, drama, etc.

Where do my children go?
Children of all ages are welcome in the sanctuary during our worship services. "Children's Time" is a favorite part of our worship where early in the service, Pastor Jay addresses the children with a fun and delightful message for all ages. The children are then escorted to Sunday School and go with Tabitha and Maria where they have prepared a lesson each week that is geared to a child's perspective.

For infants and toddlers, we provide child care during the service. Bonnie and Mary are delighted to care for your baby or toddler in a safe fun environment. They may be dropped of at the beginning of the service or participate with the "Children's Time" and then go with Bonnie and Mary. We offer these options so you can more easily participate in worship. If you so choose, an usher will be happy to give your young child a packet with activities and crayons while your child remains with you in the sanctuary. The choice is entirely up to you.