A Statement of Acts of Faith That Comprise Our Church Vision

We are a community of faith in the Christian tradition as reflected in the Statement of Who We Are.

1) Acts of Worship
First Congregational UCC is a dynamic community of faith that truly believes “God is still speaking.” To us, worship is much more than an expression of our devotion through religious rite. It is an expression of “our hope,” as Michael Durall described, “to build a church with transformative power.” Worship can provide an appropriate and ideal catalyst for that transforming and growing spirituality.

2) Acts of Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth is growth in faith through worship, learning, and action in mission and faith-based citizenship that occurs in a community of believers. Spiritual growth is also growth on our individual faith journeys through prayer, reading, meditation, discernment, spiritual direction and small group encounters.

3) Acts of Learning
Through Christian education we nurture children, youth and adults in spiritual and faith development. As God in Christ and in Spirit continues to work in our lives and in the world, so we continue to learn to live as faithful disciples and further Christ’s mission in the world.

4) Acts of Mission
First Congregational UCC creates opportunities for face to face mission with people who represent increasingly diverse parts of society. This increases the likelihood that we will be transformed, consistent with our belief that mission is a two-way street. We actively seek out ways to be generous and to assist individual members in using all of their gifts in mission work.

5) Acts of Faith-Based Citizenship
The members of First Congregational UCC believe that our faith calls us to be citizens who seek to advance the cause of social justice in the world. A just society is one that respects the equal rights and opportunities of all citizens and that works to remedy the causes of inequality, including poverty, disability, discrimination, and other barriers to full citizenship. We are called to work for social justice through witness and participation.

6) Acts of Welcoming
Paul in I Corinthians says “All the members of the body, though many, are one body . . .” and “There are varieties of gifts . . . varieties of services . . . varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” There are many ways to be a member of First Congregational UCC. We invite all members and prospective members to find their own ways to contribute to the vitality of our church.

A Statement of Where We Are

We believe that First Congregational UCC is who we are and what we do much more than where we are. Yet, our building defines, enriches, and limits us in various ways. Full use of our space for activities consonant with our mission is stewardship. Openness and sharing of our space with the surrounding community is hospitality. Acting and witnessing in the world outside our building takes faith into the world.