First Church Congregational
63 South Main Street, Rochester NH, 03867 (603) 332-1121
Welcome!
Welcome to the online home of First Church Congregational. We are glad you have found us here. Here, you can find links that will tell you more about our faith family, our history, beliefs, and the United Church of Christ. We look forward to hearing from you, ministering to you, and going along with you on your spiritual journey.
Our History
First Church Congregational, United Church of Christ, has proudly and faithfully served the Rochester community for over 275 years. In fact, First Church literally was the "first" church in Rochester. Over its long history, pastors, members, and friends of First Church have covenanted to be a committed Christian community of faith, hope, and love in the name and spirit of Jesus.
Open and Affirming
First Church is a friend to the LGBT community. Here is our Open and Affirming Statement of Inclusion approved at a meeting of the congregation March 17, 2002
First Church Congregational, U.C.C. is a diverse Christian faith community. We embrace, affirm, and celebrate this diversity with Christian love. We welcome and support all people equally, regardless of marital, social or economic status, race, ability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, age, or previous religious affiliation. We declare our openness and affirmation especially to all who have been diminished by prejudice, bigotry, and oppression. We offer all sacraments and rites to all who enter our circle of faith, and extend all responsibilities and privileges to those who choose covenant membership.
We honor human relationships that are based on love, responsibility, mutual respect, trust, and fidelity. Knowing that this commitment poses a spiritual challenge, we gently encourage each other to remove all barriers. We are secure in the knowledge that God's love is for everyone.
First Church is one of the more than 1,000 ONA churches in the UCC.
Just Peace
First Church believes strongly in being a just-peace church, which is defined as
"A congregation that engages in relevant issues and pursues meaningful action that can lead to the peace and justice vision that God reveals to us through the teachings and actions of Jesus Christ."
This ministry includes seeking nonviolence, solidarity with the poor, opposing oppression, conflict resolution, environmental stewardship, and many others.