Expressing Our Faith

Faith and Justice in Action

Support for LGBTQ+

We have marched in our local Gay Pride parade every year here in Santa Rosa and sometimes in SF too.

We're a Just Peace Church

On Sunday, August 7, First Congregational Church Santa Rosa observed the 77th anniversary of one of the saddest days in human history – the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the death of 200,000 human beings. Since 1945, hydrogen bombs, more than 3,000 times as powerful as the Hiroshima bomb, have been developed. Detonate one and burn greater New York City to a crisp. Detonate a few and condemn our planet to a nuclear winter ending life as we know it.

Redwood Empire Food Bank

Our church supports Redwood Empire Food Bank in several ways, including monetary donations. Our Outreach Team also arranges group work days from time to time there! If you're interested in joining us next time, email our church office at secty@sonic.net and we will contact you. It's a fun, busy, and day and rewarding day!

Black Lives Matter

Our congregation has and continues to support racial justice including Black Lives Matter.

Our Peace Pole

Our church has a Peace Pole in the front of our sanctuary. A Peace Pole is an internationally recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth.

www.worldpeace.org/peacepoleproject

Agencies We Support

Our congregation and members consistently support many local, national, and worldwide groups that provide outreach in different communities.

Some of the agencies we support locally include:

FISH (Friends in Service Here) food pantry –http://www.fish-of-santa-rosa.org

Redwood Empire Food Bank – http://refb.org

SAY – Social Advocates for Youth: https://www.saysc.org

North Bay Organizing Project: http://northbayop.org

Catholic Charities – The Family Support Center and Caritas Village – http://www.srcharities.org/

The Living Room - https://thelivingroomsc.org/

YWCA Women’s Shelter –http://www.ywcasc.org/

Alternate Christmas Giving including Heifer International Catalogs – https://www.heifer.org/

The Secret Santa/Giving Tree –http://secretsantanow.org/

Once per month we sell Life Pax during Coffee Hour for members to share with people experiencing homelessness. Life Pax are small bags filled with granola bars, fruit, a drink, etc.

We participate annually in SF Gay Pride Parade and enter floats in the City of Santa Rosa's Rose Parade.

For immediate needs anyone in Sonoma County can call 211 or click here for more information.

UCC Five for Five

We are a “Five for Five” church within our denomination meaning our congregation supports all special and mission offerings during the church year.

"Five for Five" churches are supporting local, national, and international efforts. These special offerings are

Our Church’s Wider Mission plus these four special mission offerings during the year:

One Great Hour of Sharing

Neighbors in Need

Strengthen the Church

The Christmas Fund

For more information on any of the above: www.ucc.org/ocwm

Serving Within

Music

Our church glorifies God through many forms of musical expression. The music you’ll hear here includes traditional hymns, choral music, jazz piano, pipe organ, flute, percussion instruments and acoustic guitar. The choir, a diverse group of folks who like to sing, provides music for most Sunday services during the year.

We celebrate our music program annually with Music Sunday, which is often accompanied by instrumentalists.

The choir rehearses on performance Sundays 9:00-10:10am, and on scheduled Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00pm. Singers of all abilities are welcome; come join the fun!

For more information or to get involved in music at our church, contact Director of Music, William O’Neill at woneill41@yahoo.com.

Liturgical Art

Artistic-minded members are encouraged to express themselves through First Congregational’s Liturgical Art.

Meeting periodically throughout the year with the pastor, there's a brainstorming of ideas to express love of God through artistic expression. Creating banners, murals, liturgical cloths, etc, we enjoy working together and experiencing the joy and satisfaction of seeing our ideas come to life and glorify God in their completion. Some of our projects have included paper cranes for the altar on Peace Sunday, suspended dream-catchers, Pentecost streamers, and Advent Art that inspires us all throughout the season. Come and express yourself with our artists!

Council and Committees

Serving on committees and church council is a very important part of an active church.

Most church activities are impossible without a structure supporting them. Our council, which is a governing board, and the committees provide that structure. If you're interested in serving on a committee, please let our pastor or moderator know.

Meal Train

When a member of our church family has a need for help with meals, we get the Meal Train going! We can always use volunteers to prepare meals (or get Take Out) for those in need.

Please contact the church office to learn more or email Judy Adams.

Other Opportunities to Serve

Our congregation has many ways to serve. Is something calling you? Listen inside yourself. Might it be helping with hospitality, praying for others, assisting with special projects, sending cards, etc? Whatever is calling you, we hope you'll trust the spirit and respond "Yes!"