Education/Ministries
Welcome to First Church!
Our varied ministries include those groups listed below. Our church family touches the
lives of hundreds of people with healing and hope. Please take a moment to browse our many
ministries. Explore where God calls you to serve, and join us as we travel on the journey
of faith together in a loving and supportive community.
Faithfully,
David
Taylor
Senior Pastor
Learn
more about our ministries:
Children
are important here at First Church. We want our children to
know they are special and loved by God. A dedicated group
of teachers lead our church school every Sunday morning at
9:00 a.m.
Church school is the beginning of a life long journey of faith. We learn about the
Bible, the life of Jesus, and how we are God's special creation. We develop meaningful
relationships to nurture faith in children.
(Note:
Child care is provided during the 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
service)
See our Christian Education page for more
information
Youth
Ministry
First
Church is proud of the two youth ministry programs it has
to offer. Our Junior (6th - 8th) and Senior High Fellowships
(9th - 12th) are an active and vital part of the life of this
congregation and greater community.
Professionally staffed with paid and volunteer workers, our program offers a safe and
open environment for young people to examine their faith and life experiences. Designed as
a ministry to and for youth, the First Church Fellowship program provides a balanced
schedule of meetings, weekend retreats, recreational activities, service projects, and
week-long mission trips.
With over one hundred young
people active in a program that is enthusiastically and actively supported
by the congregation, First Church is excited about its ministry to
youth and their families. For more information
visit the Youth Fellowship page.
The church has a strong commitment to strengthening and sustaining family life. This
includes pre-marital counseling, marriage counseling, and several programs throughout the
year especially for those interested in marriage enrichment.
In addition, there is a group for couples and individuals which meets from time to time
throughout the year for fellowship and social events or activities.
Music
is an integral part of our worship and community at First
Church. This broad ministry involves over one hundred participants
through an adult choir and oratorio choir, four children's
choirs, and an adult handbell choir. Check out
our
Choir Brochure
for more information on the many opportunities for choir participation
at First Church.
We
also have several concerts annually through our
Music at the Meetinghouse series. Together with the annual
Service of Lessons and Carols and Choir Benefit Concert, these
programs offer a rich variety of concert music for the whole
community.
Opportunities are available for instrumentalists in Sunday Worship as well.
Caring for one another is one way we experience First Church as our extended family.
Our pastoral staff is always available to church members during crises or special needs.
Learn more at the
Caring Ministries
page.
The Board of Lay Life and Ministry's mission is to nurture and care for our
church members and community by providing hospitality, social activities and
in-reach programs.
Potpourri Breakfast group meets regularly for fellowship.
Prayer & Share Group and
Spirituality Prayer Circle gather on a weekly basis for prayer and
discussion.
See our
Lay Life & Ministry
page for further information.
One of the strengths of
First Church is our outreach ministry into the community, the Hartford area,
and the world. For more information, check out our
Christian Service page.
Adult Education
is a lifelong process at First Church. During the year, a number of
opportunities are offered for groups to meet for Bible study, book discussions,
dialogue on the Sunday lectionary, Advent and Lenten programs, and walks on the
labyrinth, as wel as special events and workshops, all for the purpose of
learning, sharing and growing together in faith. The Adult Education Task Force
also supports the purchasing of books and DVDs for our Church Library.
The Church
Library, Room 200, is the resource center for Christian Education for all ages.
It provides adults, youth, and children with a wide variety of printed and video
resources from Bible stories and commentaries to books on prayer and healing,
death and grief, diversity and ecological issues, social justice and the UCC.
For more information, check out the
Adult
Education
page.
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