What We Believe

The First church is a fellowship of concerned people, committed to searching for truth and the way of love without being encumbered by dogmatism, pietism, religious or social exclusiveness. The First Church affirms the responsibility of every generation to make the historic faith its own reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. The church seeks to serve the entire local community be fulfilling people's basic and religious needs.  We welcome all people as the children of God.  The church accepts as members all those who are searching for truth; avoiding narrow dogmatism, it will endeavor, with affirmations that are positive, to provide a religious home of wide spectrum of belief. The statement of faith of this church shall be the statement of faith of the United Church of Christ, not as a test of faith but as a guide to what the church generally believes - subject to individual interpretation.

The Statement of faith of The United Church of Christ

We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, who is made known to us in Jesus our brother, and to whose deeds we testify:

God calls the worlds into being, creates humankind in the divine image, and sets before us the ways of life and death.

God seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

God judges all humanity and all nations by that will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, God has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator.

God bestows upon us the Holy Sprit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

God calls us into the Church to accept the cost of joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism an eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

God promises to all who trust in the gospel forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God.

Amen.