Who We Are
What We Believe
Our Purpose
Christian, Reformed, Congregational, and Evangelical
The Characteristics of the UCC (United Church of Christ) can be summarized in part by the keywords in the names of the four denominations that formed our union: Christian Reformed, Congregational, Evangelical.
Christian: We declare our self to be part of the body of Christ, the universal Christian church.
Reformed: All four denominations arose from the tradition of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformers: We confess the authority of one triune God. We affirm the primacy of the Scriptures, the doctrine of justification of our faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the principle of Christian freedom. We celebrate baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Congregational: The basic unit of the UCC is the local church. Members of each congregation covenant with one another and with God as revealed in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Evangelical: The primary task of the church is the proclamation of the gospel or evangel, the good news of God’s love revealed with power in Jesus Christ. We proclaim this gospel by word and deed to individual persons and to society. We gather each Sunday for the worship of God, and through each week, we engage in the service of humankind.
At First Church You Will Find...
A diverse group of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds.
A loving, supporting, and inclusive church family.
Positive and practical teaching messages for all.
Community support for agencies and outside groups of which some meet on the church campus.
A commitment to Social Justice through outreach.
Providing non-perishable food for the Neighborhood Center, and
Hurricane Disaster Relief Kits, School supplies for a local elementary school.
Why? Because God Is Still Speaking . . .
Our faith is 2,000 years old. Our thinking is not.
We believe in God’s continuing testament. This is why we are committed to hearing God’s ancient story anew and afresh in our lives and in the world today. We try to remain attentive to God’s creative movement in the world. Religion and science are not mutually exclusive, and your head and heart are both welcomed into our places of worship. We prepare our members and leaders to be engaged in ministry in the present and future church, and we embrace all kinds of communities and new modes of thinking. Why? Because God is still speaking,
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
We believe in extravagant welcome. This is why we insist that God’s communion table is open, not closed, and God’s gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable. We advocate justice for all. Our congregations extend hospitality as a sign of God’s inclusive love. We teach that evangelism — offering bread to those in search of it — is God’s mission. Our perspective is global, not provincial. We work with — not against — people of other faiths. Why? Because God is still speaking,
Never place a period where God has placed a comma.
We believe the church’s mission is to change lives — individually, systemically, and globally. We work to make transformation possible, but trust in God’s grace. This is why we insist that churches must be places of vitality in worship, learning, and advocacy. We are committed to working for justice, and we believe that lives are changed through global experiences and friendships. Why? Because God is still speaking,