Welcome to the
First Congregational
United Church of Christ
HOPE
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and
mind. Love your neighbor as you love yourself
Matt:22:37-39
Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
Welcome! Whether you are a member of our church, or looking to try something new, we are glad to have you. We invite you to learn more about our ministries, view our recent sermons and newsletters in the archive, and reach out if we can answer any questions.
First Congregational UCC
Sunday Worship at 10am, with Rev. Bob Case preaching. (See below for Covid precautions.)
News and Events
Good news -- the Board of Directors has re-opened our sanctuary for 10 am Sunday worship beginning this week (Sept. 20).
However, there will be some necessary precautions and limitations which I call our new "Ten Commandments" of safe gathering:
(1) stay home if you have symptoms of cold/flu
(2) wear a facemask to enter the building
(3) use a squirt of hand sanitizer at the entrance you come in so no virus/germs enter on your hands
(4) greet people with a wave or a bow, do not shake hands nor hug them
(5) take a bulletin off the table
(6) be seated only in pews that are not roped off (which will allow 8-feet space in front of you)
(7) family groups can sit together, couples can sit together, but all others need to allow 6-feet of space beside them in the pew
(8) wear the facemask during the spoken and sung parts of the service (if you need a breathing break, you may take it off during the sermon since you will be neither speaking nor singing)
(9) stay in your pew until the Minister releases you so as not to congest the aisle
(10) do not congregate in the hallways, but go outside into the fresh air to visit with your friends.
Unfortunately, we will not host any coffee hour fellowship time after the service until we can do so safely.
The "virtual" worship services will continue to be up-loaded to our website for the foreseeable future, even though Sunday morning worship has resumed.
May you be safe and healthy at home, and equally safe and healthy as we gather in our sanctuary.
Rev. Paul Lance, Minister (for two more weeks)
(From the book) "God is Still Speaking"
365 Daily Devotionals
October 29th, 2020
Jesus said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."-From Mark 4:30-32
"Jesus, the master teacher, teaches us that mixing prayer, Bible study, fellowship, work for justice, forgiveness, with just a "smidgen" of hopeful expectation, persistence, and love brings forth the realm of God into our lives. With it, God transforms our weaknesses, failures, loneliness, disappointment, battles with illness, addiction, and grief that seem too hard to bear...into life's greatest masterpieces."-Ron Buford
Prayer: Gracious God, I'm trying this recipe and it's not feeling like a masterpiece yet. Help me to keep cooking until my life is a masterpiece from your perspective. Even if I cannot see it yet...I believe...a smidgen. May that smidgen make something of a masterpiece in my life today. Thank you. Amen.
