First Congregational Church

The core outreach/inreach for ministries at First Congregational Church of Fresno, United Church of Christ, are directed by five Ministry teams.

• Ministry of Christian Education
• Ministry of Church Life
• Ministry of Community Outreach
• Ministry of Resources
• Ministry of Worship

Ministry of Christian Education

The Ministry of Christian Education initiates, directs, and supports opportunities for faith formation/religious education for all ages.  These opportunities happen at a variety of times throughout the week and year.

Sunday mornings

• Nursery, pre-school, elementary, junior and senior high graded learning environments, 10:00 a.m.
• Minister’s Sermon Seminar, 8:30 a.m.,  examines  the preaching scripture text for that Sunday in depth with the day’s preacher.
• Learning Circle, 11:30 a.m. (third Sunday of each month) becomes a learning vehicle to explore relevant community concerns/issues/ecumenical or interfaith opportunities.

Mid-week

• Youth Group (Junior and Senior High) meet for dinner, reflection, community service and/or activity the first and third Wednesday of each month, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Youth meet each Friday at The Review in the Tower District for conversation and social interactions in an environment that is safe and supervised.
• Sacred Pursuits:  A Wednesday evening program for adults, presented in a modular block of five to six weeks.  Each module will have a particular focus, usually related to deepening biblical literacy, theological understanding, history of the faith, and devotional tools.
• Another Voice Bible Study: meets the first and third Thursday of the month, with a particular focus on how scripture is relevant to those of the LGBTQ community, and how good biblical scholarship  can offset ways in which scripture has sometimes been used to diminish or demean.

Seasonal Study

During the Lenten season, each Wednesday evening the church gathers for a meal followed by study.  Each of the Ministry teams host a meal during the sequence. Youth who are being confirmed meet with the Pastor, while other youth  and adults join in a multi-generational emphasis.

Confirmation

Confirmation, in the United Church of Christ, serves two purposes: (a) it provides an opportunity for young people to take upon themselves promises made on their behalf at the time of their baptizing; or, if never baptized, to make those promises on their own; (b) receives young people into the congregation as members of full standing.  Confirmation is never intended to be a test of faith, but does elicit testimonies of faith as part of a life journey as a Christian.

Big Red Camp

This is a partnership of First Congregational Church of Fresno, and Autism-Fresno in which we provide space and volunteers (under the supervision of a paid professional special needs educator and associate) to serve children and families during those times when school is not in session.  The Big Red Camp is held over the three week Christmas  and the one week Spring Break, as well as the four week summer hiatus.

KIDmunity Music/Arts Camp

KIDmunity Music/Arts Camp is a special event program for elementary age children held in early summer.  Utilizing the Orff methodologies of music learning, children learn basic music skills now lost due to public school cutbacks and ending of programs.  The director, Catherine Cooper, and a big staff of church volunteers, reach out into the immediate community to offer this very popular and successful ministry of the church.

Outdoor and Wider Church Opportunities

A core principle of the Ministry of Christian Education is that of participating in outdoor ministry settings provided through the Sequoia Association and the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ (NCNCUCC).

• Camp Tamarack is a week-long Sierra wilderness camp for junior and senior high youths  respectively.  This has long been a tradition for youth of our church.  For 2011: Tam Junior/Junior High (grades 5-8), July 24-30; Tam Senior High (grades 9-12), July 31-Aug 6.
• Camp Cazadero (Russian River area camp) will offer an  Adult Spiritual Retreat (ages 18+), Aug 12-14.
• “Mid-winter Retreat” (junior high), and “Feb Camp” (senior high) are always popular events to which youth from across the NCNCUCC  eagerly look.
• Annual Gathering of the NCNCUCC occurs in May of each year, which youth and adults regularly participate.  Special youth events are planned, along with youth participation in the discernment and policy discussions of the Conference.  We typically have one of the larger contingents present at annual gathering.
• Interfaith Scholar Weekend is an annual event (Friday evening, Saturday, Sunday morning) held in Fresno featuring a nationally-recognized scholar who brings relevant critical focus to issues that affect Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities of faith.  First Congregational Church is a co-sponsor of this event, and has hosted several of the speakers at our Sunday morning  worship.
• Taizé Prayer Weekend is an annual Friday evening/Saturday event featuring workshops, singing, and prayer in the Taize fashion.

Ministry of Church Life

Ministry of Church Life is responsible for developing and strengthening relationships among members, as well as fostering covenantal life within the congregation.  Among the primary aims of this ministry is the integration of new members into the life of the church, creating and supporting events that promote Christian unity, fun, fellowship, and the ongoing mission of caring for one another.

Caring Communities are overseen by this ministry, as the congregation is divided into  four geographic zones, each administered by a primary facilitator.  The caring communities are able to provide real support in times of need due to death, a hospitalization, or other extenuating circumstance.

Church Life has also assisted in the assimilation of new members by hosting small group events intended to bring new and continuing members together.

Seasonal Events include hosting the annual Thanksgiving luncheon, held the Sunday prior to the actual holiday; and, the Annual Meeting Luncheon, which is held each January.

Ministry of Community Outreach

Ministry of Community Outreach seeks to extend the mission of the church near and far.  First Congregational Church participates, both through its pastor and its members, in numerous community-based partnerships.  Among these are Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministry (F.I.R.M.), Fresno Metro Ministry, and Faith In Community (PICO).

Additionally, First Congregational Church is an active partner with Poverello House and Naomi’s House, critical providers of shelter and services to men and women.  We provide continuing support throughout the year through service projects undertaken by youth and adults, as well as providing a special Christmas season project.

This ministry coordinates an annual yard sale (that coordinates with a general neighborhood yard sale event), from which proceeds are used to underwrite our continuing partnerships and other special projects.

Community Outreach each year develops its “Chip-Away” project, in which the church goes into the immediate neighborhood, identifying a house in need of exterior refurbishing and painting, and undertakes that task in collaboration with the home owner.

As part of its mission, Community Outreach will sponsor Learning Circles in which issues of justice, peace, and the environment are key components of our church’s needful awareness and action.  Community Outreach actively participates in Fresno’s annual Gay Pride Parade and Festival, including staffing a booth at which our church’s ministry and mission is shared.

Ministry of Resources

Ministry of Resources leads and advises in all matters regarding church operation and administration, budget management, record-keeping, and all matters related to the physical plant and equipment.  The Ministry of Resources (MOR) also makes recommendations to the Church Council regarding investments, the endowment, memorial gifts, and The Memorial Fund.  A final area of oversight is to work with church staff and the Chief Financial Officer to mobilize within the congregation the resources necessary to promote, carry out, and maintain the mission of the church.

Church Columbarium is a ministry of the church organized through MOR in which secured niches have been created within Minturn Chapel for the ash remains of church members and community members.  A Book of Memory is maintained, as well as providing an appealing  space in which family/friends may come to share quiet time and reflection.

Ministry of Worship

Ministry of Worship undertakes to collaborate with the pastor and other staff the creative resources necessary to foster spiritual formation and growth through worship, and to attend to the sacramental ministries of the church.  In particular, this ministry undertakes to enrich Congregational life through music and the arts.

The Chancel Choir and the Hand Bell choir actively participate in the worship, as do numerous solo vocalists and instrumentalists.  Special attention is paid to creating an ever-changing  visual chancel design that augments, rather than distracts from,  the overall worship environment.

Special annual events:

• Bachtober Concert features Organist and Music Director Scott in an early October Sunday afternoon performance on our Casavant Pipe Organ.
• Thrills and Chills Concert has become a favorite event each Hallowe’en, as the Chancel Choir and other musicians bring music from both the sacred literature and the Broadway stage to evoke the thrills and chills of this time of year.
• A Celebration of Christmas has become a long-standing favorite concert of the community, with performances of the Chancel Choir and Hand Bell Choir, and musical artists from among our congregation.  It is always offered the afternoon of the third Sunday in Advent.
• Christmas Eve Service of Lessons, Carols, and Candlelight, Preludial Music begins at 8: 30 p.m.; the service at 9:00 p.m.
• Evensong featuring Organist Scott Horton playing selections on the Casavant Pipe organ, and hymns sung by the congregation, is annually presented in either late January or early February.
• Music Sunday features both choirs and special musical guests from the congregation leading Sunday worship in early June.“Big Red”, White, and Blue Patriotic Concert  features the Chancel Choir, solo vocalists and instrumentalists, in a musical honoring of our nation’s heritage and service personnel a week prior to July 4.
• The Casavant Pipe Organ Restoration Concert Series occur throughout the year as a way of bringing quality musicians to the Fresno community.  Proceeds from free will offerings go to a fund that will eventually provide both restoration to, and upgrade of, our pipe organ.  A schedule of upcoming performances/artists can be found on the home page web site link to Pipes On Van Ness.