An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ
Vision & Mission
Our church is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ. The UCC was founded in 1957 through the merger of 4 other denominations, including the Congregationalists of New England, from which our own heritage comes. With our fellow UCC congregations we covenant to support common ministries in our region, across the country, and around the globe. You can find out more about our denomination on the UCC’s website.
“The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion.” ~United Church of Christ Statement of Faith
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
"First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury (FCCS) is a vibrant, inclusive and compassionate community of worship and mission.
We want our faith to transcend the things that separate us, to be tangible to endure tests of life and time and to be environmentally responsible, protecting God’s creation. Led by the Holy Spirit, we look to Jesus Christ to guide us toward companionship, justice, and the inspiration to serve God and our community."
OUR VISION STATEMENT
We are an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation of the UCC. Open and Affirming is the United Church of Christ’s designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other bodies in the UCC which make a public covenant of welcome into their full life and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
“We, the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury, endeavor to live out the Great Commandment by loving, welcoming and affirming all people. We welcome and affirm everyone including people of all gender identities and expressions, sexual orientations, ages, races, cultures, family configurations, economic circumstances, physical, cognitive and emotional abilities, educational levels, spiritual and religious traditions. We invite all to share in the Christian life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings joys of our church family. We publicly commit ourselves to the ongoing work of being an open and affirming (ONA) congregation, listening to the still-speaking voice of God. We shall strive to fulfill this affirmation with God’s grace, journeying together in Christian faith.”
The First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury brings something meaningful to our lives. It is why we come back again and again. This community has strengths that feed our hearts, minds and souls. Now is a time of opportunity to share your strengths with the community that you love. A balance of give and take builds a healthy community.