"No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here."
First Congregational United Church of Christ is an Open & Affirming community
SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:30 AM
NURSERY AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 10:30 AM
ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
Please bring your card with name(s) of your saints/pets to put in the collection as you come forward to receive communion on Sunday. Pastor Jay will lift them up for prayer and remembrance during the prayers of the people. Who are saints? - From the UCC website: All Saints’ Day is a very old observance of Christian Churches. In the Northern Hemisphere, it falls exactly midway between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice; the growing season has ended, the earth is turning away from the sun and entering a period of deep winter night. Losses of the past year—especially loved family and friends—are often felt keenly, as creation enters an empty, yet hopefully fallow, period,” said the Rev. Sue Blain, minister of worship and gospel arts. “Congregations often say the names aloud of those who have died, acknowledging them with candle lighting or ringing of chimes, comforting one another in this loss with prayers and presence and reminders of our faithful God. In addition to the opportunity to lament, Blain said the All Saints’ service “also may assert most poignantly our resurrection faith and celebrate the ‘Communion of Saints.’ This church tradition reminds us that it is the Holy Spirit that is building community among us—around the world, throughout time, and even through the passage of death itself. According to the Apostle Paul, a saint is any believer who is "sanctified in Christ Jesus," meaning set apart and holy because of their faith in Him. Paul addresses his letters to the "saints" at various churches, designating all who have called upon Jesus' name as saints, not just a select few or a posthumous honor. This "sainthood" is a gift of God's grace, and while saints are not sinless, their lives should reflect their new identity through their conduct, which is a lifelong process of becoming more holy.
First Congregational Church of Prescott, United Church of Christ, is an Open and Affirming congregation. We include all persons without regard to age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity, faith, marital status, or personal ability. We welcome all to share the celebrations and challenges of our congregation. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.
Our past worship services are now on the website! Click on the "past worship services" link on the opening page of the website and you will find all the services back to January of 2020! Thanks to Jim for letting us use his YouTube channel for easy access.
