About First Christian Church
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With the Peace and Grace of Christ, hello, and welcome to First Christian Church!
“This church practices union, has no creed, seeks to make religion as intelligent as science, as appealing as art, as vital as the day’s work,
as intimate as home, and as inspiring as love.”
- – from a 1940 bulletin cover
“…so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known…” (Ephesians 3:10)
Like most Christians, Disciples affirm:
Jesus Christ is the son of the Living God, and offers saving grace to all
All persons are God’s children
Beliefs and Practices of Disciples:
Open Communion. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion is celebrated in weekly worship. It is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
Freedom of Belief. Disciples are called together around one essential of faith: belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Persons are free to follow their consciences guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, study and prayer, and are expected to extend that freedom to others.
Baptism by Immersion. In baptism the old self-centered life is set aside, and a new life of trust in God begins. Although Disciples practice baptism by immersion, other baptism traditions are honored.
Belief in the Oneness of the Church. All Christians are called to be one in Christ and to seek opportunities for common witness and service.
The Ministry of Believers. Both ministers and lay persons lead in worship, service and spiritual growth.
“Then he took a cup,
and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying,
‘Drink from it, all of you…’” (Matthew 26:27)
The symbol of the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) denomination is the “chalice” (a communion cup) with the X-shaped cross of St. Andrew superimposed upon it.
The chalice symbol, which is red, represents our faith in the vitality, spirit, and sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
The chalice symbolizes the central place of communion in worship.
The cross of St. Andrew reflects the emphasis on evangelism that Andrew stressed in the Bible. This cross also focuses on the Scott-Irish roots of those early Christian leaders who began the movement in the late 1790′s that became our denomination.
“And the Word became flesh
and lived among us…” (John 1:14)
Creation comes into being because God speaks a Word, “Let!” Just as God allowed, we who are created in the image of God, should also “let” or allow. In keeping with the grace of God that says, “Let!” we allow many interpretations of scripture, knowing that all are welcome around the Table of Christ.
As a “People of the Book,” we take scripture seriously and authoritatively. That God deigned to become flesh and live among us, also speaks to the importance of lived human experience. There is and always will be a tension that exists between experience and scripture.
21st-century life is vastly different than biblical times. Just as those who have gone before us interpreted and applied God’s Word for their times and place, we are obliged to interpret the Word of God afresh for our own lives. In other words, the Word is a created event (becomes flesh), that happens in each and every moment of time and place. The Word of God is always, “In the beginning…”
For the Word to be a Living Word we must be open and receptive to what God is saying in our midst today!
