Our weekly Sunday 10 AM worship service leans toward the traditional in style, pacing, and hymnity. As a church that has accepted an Open and Affirming designation, we welcome all people into the life of the church. The Sunday service includes prayer, responsive readings, scripture and a sermon. This is complimented by a chancel choir. Musical offerings are accompanied by organ and/or piano, and occasionally by brass and string instruments. Lay leaders and older youth often read the scripture, and a prayer ministry team rotates in offering the pastoral prayers. A worship ministry team takes charge of the weekly ushering and monthly communion service. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month.
Special services through the year include Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and a community Thanksgiving Interfaith Service. We also have offered an All Souls and All Saints service in November, as well as a Blue Christmas service in December, which provide times to remember our loved ones, and to find some peace when life is chaotic.
There are coffee, tea, punch, and snacks, and conversation, on offer in Clark Hall following the worship service each Sunday. Several times during the course of the year we host a full lunch or pot luck. We are a social bunch, and host an annual talent show (with dinner), yard sale, fairs in November and February, perennial swap, and outdoor concerts in the summer. We also have various events held outside the church, such as retreats, and golf outings.
First Church has trained several church members to become Stephen Ministers, who can be assigned to those in our community who would value confidential, Christ-centered care during a difficult period in life. In general First Church is a caring and welcoming family. We maintain an active prayer chain, do visitations, offer meals when needed, as well as rides to those in need.
The First Church places high value on missions, and has a deep commitment to outreach, serving, engagement, and active involvement in our community, country, and world.
We seek to uphold our covenant by worshipping God, accepting Christ into our lives, celebrating the sacraments, guided in our daily lives by the scriptures and the example set forth by Jesus.
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