The congregation gathers for an outdoor procession on Palm Sunday." 

          First Church is a "medium-size" church. We have about 400 local and 50 out-of-area members, and about 200 pledging units (individuals or families). Average Sunday worship service attendance is about 100. Of those who attend regularly, over half are active in church leadership or other volunteer activities such as ushering, choir or church school. All age groups are well-represented, from infants all the way to those approaching the century mark!

          As a Congregational Church, First Church is governed locally by its members, assembled in a Congregational Meeting. The Executive Committee acts for the congregation between congregational meetings. It meets once a month, usually on the third Thursday of the month.  The meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend or has a concern to bring before the committee.

          First Church is a member of the United Church of Christ, which was organized in 1957 as a merger of two predecessor denominations, the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. We are a theologically "liberal" church, meaning that we interpret scripture in a spiritual or non-literal way, while affirming the basic insights of the Protestant Reformation. The individual members of our congregation, however, come from a variety of religious backgrounds - Protestant, Catholic, and non-Christian. We find much to appreciate in all of these traditions.

To learn about the national offices of the United Church of Christ, visit www.ucc.org.

To learn about the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, visit www.ctconfucc.org.

For directions to First Church, click here.

The mission of First Church is to engage and support people in worship, learning, fellowship, and service, so that all may find in our community the Spirit of the living Christ.  We are an Open and Affirming Church: All are welcome into the full life of our community regardless of their race, age, gender, nationality, marital status, economic situation, mental or physical ability, or sexual orientation.