We welcome all, no matter where you are on life’s journey.
First Congregational United Church of Christ is a spiritual home to people from all walks and stations of life, believers and questioners, people from a range of backgrounds and faith perspectives, who cometogether to worship God, and serve God’s creation.
We recognize that many people who visit a church for the first time do so with a bit of anxiety. We offer these points of information about our Sunday morning activities and service with the hope that you will feel more at ease as you consider whether we are the right fit for you.
Worship is at 10 am on Sunday mornings.
Childcare is available in the Blue and Yellow rooms on the main floor.
Large print bulletins, Bibles, song sheets, and hearing assist earphones are available in the area just before entering the sanctuary. Ask an usher for assistance.
Our communion table is open to everyone—baptized or not.
Pew Bibles are available in the area just before entering the sanctuary. Please feel free to bring them to worship.
Sunday School and Adult Education is at 9 a.m.
Classes are available for all age groups during the school year, and are open to anyone. During the summer, please check the calendar for occasional classes.
Fellowship/Coffee Hour is at 11 a.m.
Gather for coffee, tea and cookies, or juice and crackers in the children’s area. We gather either in the upstairs lobby or downstairs in the Fellowship Hall, just follow the crowd.
If you want to receive the Daily All Church emails, or have questions, please fill out the Contact Form below:
What happens during worship?
As you enter the church, a greeter will welcome you and offer to provide you a name tag. Then an usher will give you a bulletin for guidance during the 10 a.m. service. Our services are open to worshipers of every age and feature reading, preaching, prayer, and music. At times, you will be invited to stand, sing, pray, be in silence, or read responsively. FCC likes to offer a mixture of different types of music and worship styles to help us achieve what is called a Blended Worship experience. We hope this keeps the ritual of worship fresh and of interest to all types of people. First Congregational Church is one church family that meets together to worship and hear God’s call to mission in the world. We are a diverse congregation of all ages, backgrounds, and tastes, which is reflected in our blended style of worship service. Please note that if you or a child needs to leave the sanctuary during worship, there are speakers available in the Wheeler Room so you may still hear the service.
Childcare is available for those with children, infants through kindergarten in the Blue and Yellow rooms on the main level. We welcome children 1st grade and up to join their parents in the worship service.
There are worship bags and clipboards with helpful materials for children available in the area at the rear of the sanctuary called the Narthex. Please feel free to utilize them and know that we love to have all ages in worship.
There are blue “Welcome” cards in the pew rack to fill out to help us know of your presence and there is a Digital Pew Card here. This is optional but you might find it helpful to receive our weekly emails and monthly newsletters.
At our services we maintain the ancient Christian practice of receiving an offering to support the church’s ministries. We welcome your gifts and encourage everyone to live a life marked by generosity. If you are unable to give financially, please consider an offering of time or talent to the church, another organization, or a neighbor in need.
Can everyone participate in Communion?
Yes, our communion table is open to everyone—baptized or not. The Sacrament of Communion is offered during the first Sunday of the month and special services like Maundy Thursday.
Sharing communion with each other, children, and visitors is a special, sacred, shared event. We offer bread, a gluten-free option, and grape juice for the elements which are shared in a variety of ways. By walking to the front of the sanctuary to pick up your elements, or staying seated as they are passed down the pews on plates for the congregation to serve themselves. Our tradition is to hold the elements until all are served, and partake together when directed by the Pastor.
Do you offer childcare or Sunday School?
We offer classes for all ages on Sunday at 9 a.m. during the school year (In September after school begins, until school ends in June). Adult education classes change periodically and are posted on Adult Education. Childcare and Sunday school for children are held in the same classrooms each week by age-level.
Is there a coffee hour or fellowship time after church?
After each worship service, the Fellowship Hall is open for a time of fellowship and refreshment. We invite you to stick around for an intergenerational social gathering for coffee, cookies and conversation (or juice, crackers, and playtime). Strike up a conversation, and make some new friends!
What should I wear?
We believe that God cares more about the state of our hearts than the state of our attire, and encourage you to dress the way that feels most appropriate to you. Some people come dressed in their Sunday best, and others in jeans and a tee shirt.
Is the church handicap accessible?
Yes. FCC offers a range of accessibility accommodations. There is handicap parking available in our upper and lower parking lots and the building is fully accessible by way of our elevator located next to the Fellowship Hall downstairs and the Sanctuary upstairs. Large print bulletins, Bibles, song sheets, and hearing assist devices are available in the area just outside the sanctuary.
In this series, we will read and discuss essays written for the “Democracy Series”, published by The Charter for Compassion. This series asks us to understand the responsibility each of us has to make democracy work...
Nancy Mills of the League of Women Voters will offer a presentation on the voting process in Oregon in the context of the traditional voting process and current political news about voting. Voter registration will be...
Can you believe it, fall is here?! Women’s Fellowship looks forward to gathering the second Sunday of every month starting October 11 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. in the Wheeler Room. We will share summer memories,...
Dear Friends, Our Rooted for the Future stewardship campaign is underway, and we are so excited by the generosity, enthusiasm, and momentum we are already feeling throughout our congregation. Over the next several weeks, we will...
Did you see how many children and youth we had on Sunday? What a delightful Celebration at FCC! We have openings for one volunteer in Kids Community this Sunday, 9:30-11:30, and one after church for our new Middle...
Our FCC Global Mission to Tasajera, El Salvador is lifted up and celebrated on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday of October. Since 2007, we have partnered with the rural fishing community of Tasajera, El Salvador....
Our Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Sybil Donley, gathered with her UCC Cohort in Kansas City in September to learn more about ministering to children and families. They visited The Rabbit hOle, an Immersive Museum for Children’s Literature,...
Bring your best recipe. Spice it up. show us what you’ve got! Think your chili has what it takes? Enter it in our Chili Cook-Off and let the judging begin! JUDGING + PRIZES Or just come...
Potluck and multi-faith meeting happening this month at First Congregational Church’s Fellowship Hall! Let’s show up and be part of hosting this multi-faith meeting of hearts and minds. This month’s theme: The Use, Abuse, and Rejection...
Thank you for your very generous support for those who are hungry in our community! The pantry supplies are full, and peanut butter and jelly are overflowing the cupboard downstairs. 20% of children in Lane County...
We have have been providing lunch at Hosea Youth Services, a day center that supports unhoused youth, on the fourth Wednesday of each month. There is a new chance to sign up to bake cookies or...
The work to put the church business accounts in order continues. This includes a top priority of migrating the church’s books to QuickBooks Online instead of the program resident on the church computer. Financial reports going...
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