God
is Still
Speaking...
Welcome to First Congregational Church!
Being proactive to defend against the spread of covid-19 is faithful stewardship of our community. Doing it with a spirit of faith, support, and good humor, is also good stewardship of our community:
IN-PERSON CHURCH AND ALL COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
ARE SUSPENDED
We are abiding by the direction of our Pacific Northwest United Church of Christ Conference Minister
To help contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, especially for the protection of those most vulnerable to infection we are suspending in-person Sunday Morning Worship.
View this week's sermon and pre-recorded worship service online and join a spirted live on-line gathering at 11 am Sunday! Please call the church office if you need help accessing these online services.
View Sermons and Worship Services here:
Contact the office or Pastor Nathaniel for info on how to join our
Sunday morning prayer group at 11:00am.
Our Vision & Mission
We are a congregation of diverse Christian believers empowered by love and guided by the Holy Spirit.
It is our mission to enable personal spiritual growth, collective outreach to the community, and stewardship of God's creation. We are an open and affirming church. Because of who you are and where you are on life's journey, YOU are welcome here!
Regarding the Covid-19 pandemic:
So far we have been abiding by the directives of county and state officials, as well as our UCC Pacific Northwest Conference. We will continue to monitor these directives for us in Walla Walla. Here is what we have been doing, and what we are preparing to do if needed:
- We have suspend in person worship and smaller church meetings.
- We will have a livestream of the sermon, some music, and prayers.
- We will have an email that serves like a bulletin, with written scriptures, links to the sermon and music, online giving, etc.
- We will offer a video meeting prayer group each week.
- We will have a phone tree to encourage everyone to stay connected and supportive.
- We will have "digital deacons" to assist those with the tech stuff. Volunteers welcome!
Holy Week:
Our Christian faith was born in a time of crisis and uncertainty. The ancient story cycle of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection has carried people through countless catastrophes, with a sense of God's presence enough to keep their hearts strong and open.
We hope you can join our church community from your home as we journey through Holy Week.
There will be special music offerings by Brenden Koch, Parke Thomas, Audrey Renaud, and others from our choir & music team.
Palm Sunday- April 5
10am - Video of the worship service will be available on our YouTube channel.
There will be a musical children's message.
The sermon will be "Facing Down the Monstrous: The Love Supreme, Spacious & Strong"
11am - Communion & Prayer via zoom videoconferencing.
B.Y.O. bread & juice
Email our office for info on how to connect.
Maundy Thursday- April 9
7-7:30pm
Commemoration of the Last Supper via zoom
B.Y.O. bread & wine
Email our office for info on how to connect.
Good Friday - April 10
Pastor Nathaniel will burn our lenten prayers in our prayer labyrinth and post the video at our YouTube channel.
Easter Sunday- April 12
10am - Video of the worship service will be available on our YouTube channel.
Christ is Risen!
11am - Prayer meeting via zoom videoconferencing.
The connecting info does not change week by week
We are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our voting to become Open & Affirming of the diverse sexual orientations and gender identities God has seen fit to imbue humanity.
This bold stance on behalf of the belovedness and blessedness of each and all of God's children has been a rich source of blessing and challenge for this congregation.
For the 20th Anniversary, we're exploring ways of honoring this year by lifting up the stories of LGBTQ people of faith and allies in town, and to further explore what an affirming faith means.
If you want to be a part of dreaming up how we can make this a special year please let us know!
Lenten Book Group:
The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
- SUSPENDED for now -
The group will explore what it means that Jesus was called “Christ” and how this can restore hope and meaning to our world.
Group gatherings will be weekly beginning Tuesday March 10th and ending Tuesday April 21st.
The March 10th gathering will be from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
The following weekly gatherings on Tuesdays will be from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
The book, along with the Companion Guide Work
Book, will be available to each participant.
If you would like to register to participate, or for more information, please contact the church office