Church Life

Traditional Worship Service

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 full chancel choir, and periodically by a children’s 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.

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.

Fellowship
There is a collation (coffee, tea, punch, and snacks) following the worship service each Sunday.   Several times during the course of the year there is a “Big Brunch” that the leadership of the church (known as the Church Council)  hosts.  At the Big Brunch, lunch is provided, and the council communicates on current priorities, financial concerns, upcoming events, etc.  Various ministry teams talk about what they are doing and what help might be needed.  It is a great way to discover what is going on in the church, how you can plug in!

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.

Caring Community
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.

Bible Study Programs
Meets on Sunday Mornings from 9 to 9:45 AM in the library to discusses the Scripture being read at the morning worship.  Led by a church member, who is attending seminary.  This ongoing Sunday morning study does not meet on the first Sunday of the month.  We also offer shorter term bible studies in the evenings at specific times of the year (which are announced).

Women’s Groups
There is a women’s group that holds Bible or book studies during the course of the year and usually a women’s retreat held yearly.

Outreach Programs
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.  See the Bring a Beacon tab for more details.

Interfaith Food Pantry
The Interfaith Food Pantry is sponsored by the Swampscott Council on Aging. This ministry serves seniors both in the community at large, and seniors living in the two housing developments in town. Four Swampscott churches deliver food twice each year.  First Church delivers an average of 34 bags of groceries during the months of May and September.