This year Christmas Eve will look a little different at First Congregational UCC. On Christmas Eve we will broadcast the same Christmas Eve Service at both 5 pm and 10 pm on Facebook Live and YouTubeLive. We are pre-recording the service to include chestnuts from last year along with new pieces from this year.
We invite you and your family to join us, comment along in the chat, sing, read, pray, and light a candle alongside our amazing team of musicians, worship leaders, and staff. Check back Christmas week to save the links to the Christmas Eve Service! Or if you’d like to have the links sent directly to your inbox sign up for the Tower/Bridge Email list here!
Press play to hear Pastor Craig’s message about Let Light Shine Celebration!
Join us this Sunday for the Let Light Shine Celebration! Pr. Craig will kick the morning off with a tour of the window restoration, inside and outside, weather permitting. The celebration continues throughout worship with jazz music by the Mossman Quartet and celebrating the generosity of our Let Light Shine contributors. After worship make your way downstairs for a Mardi Gras jazz brunch with Jambalaya, red beans & rice, mac & cheese, corn bread, fruit, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake celebrating the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday and Lent. Thank you for your faithful generosity!
The beauty of our stained glass windows, though dimmed, adds to the richness of our worship life together. We have grown accustomed to the dimming of the light, but we are now ready to Let Light Shine, unobstructed and brilliant.
“Squeezy” Wes Miller accordion music, magicians, FREE BOUNCE HOUSE.
Volunteers Needed!
Help share the fun-loving joy of our congregation with our neighbors by helping to host the party (32 volunteers needed to fill 2 hour shifts) or contribute to support this important outreach to our community. Click the button below!
I write to you with a joyful heart. As the rising Son of Easter approaches we can look forward not only in hope but in faith, that we will be able to gather together in person soon. And there is so much for us to talk about!
Once we are able to gather safely, we will fellowship with a purpose – having the discussions and dreaming the visions that will propel this congregation forward into the future. There are so many questions for us to wrestle with together…
Who are you, the faithful of First Congregational Church UCC? How have you changed over the years? Who has left and joined in that time and why? What do you value most as a community of faith? Where do you feel called in ministry? Who do you feel called to minister with and to? How is God moving here?
Answering these questions will make preparing a profile an easier and much smoother process. More importantly, it will help ensure your next pastorate is a successful one. These are good things for sure! This work will also be hard. That’s a lot of talking. And all this discernment will sometimes feel as if you are sitting still. But all of that we can get through together.
While we are doing all that work however, we still need to carry on. We need to offer meaningful worship, compassionate pastoral care, keep the lights on and the heat running, pay our dedicated staff, and minister to our community.
To that end I ask that you discern an additional gift to FCC in this interim period. This is a time of investment – of our dreams, our time, our talent, our commitment, and yes, our pocketbooks. Ministry may be of God but it happens on worldly terms.
I pray Easter hope will fill you from head to toe this next week and I pray that hope will seep into every area of your life. And I pray that the hope that surrounds you will inspire you to keep the faith – not just in God but in this congregation.
Humbly, Pastor Becky
Please return the Easter Envelope you received in the mail to: First Congregational UCC 2201 7th Avenue Moline, IL 61265
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we have re-configured our worship space, socially distanced from others, so that you can attend safely. We have also implemented cleaning precautions for your safety. In order to maintain social distancing, reservations are now required to attend worship. 50 spots are available each service on a first come first reserved basis. Reservations for Holy Week service are open 12am on Monday and will close at 11:59pm on Wednesday.
We look forward to having you join us soon!
Please read the details below before registering.
You must register every person (adult and child) who plans to attend.
Once you pass the health questionnaire you can choose which services you plan to attend. You must register separately for the Family Outdoor Easter Service and Easter Egg Hunt here.
Doors will open 15 minutes prior to service.
Please maintain 6 feet social distancing while entering and exiting the building and throughout the entirety of the service.
Face coverings are required for everyone, including children over the age of 2 years old.
Face covering MUST be worn at ALL times.
All must remain in their pews for the entire service.
Nursery is not available at this time.
Children are encouraged to attend worship with their families and are expected to stay in their seats throughout worship, under parent supervision.
Despite our safety measures, there is a possibility that you could be exposed to COVID-19 by attending a service. By registering to attend, you acknowledge this situation and assume the risk of potential exposure.
Please follow the parking lot and entrance instructions provided in your confirmation email.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you this weekend!
Use the button below to reserve your seats for the the limited in-person Holy Week Services.
Registration Opens 12 am Monday March 29th – 11:59 pm on Wednesday March 31st
The theme for this year OGHS is Let Love Flow and what a need we have to be joyful and overflowing, with love and generosity!
How can you give?
A special offering will be taken during worship on Sunday April 11th, 2021.
You can also give online by clicking the green “Give Online” button.
You can also mail in your donation to: First Congregational UCC 2201 7th Avenue Moline, IL 61265
Special One Great Hour of Sharing offering envelopes will be available on Easter and Sunday April 11th.
A Note from the UCC
The theme for the 2021 One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) offering is “Let Love Flow.” When you share your gifts to OGHS, you Let Love Flow. Your generosity ensures that, even in the midst of uncertainty, the transforming power of love will continue to change the lives of those who are most vulnerable among us. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare structural inequities that contribute to increased poverty and injustice. On full display is the plight of the working poor who have lost jobs, are on the brink of homelessness, and are waiting for hours in long lines at food pantries.
Deadly wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and wars have left people homeless, families grieving loss of loved ones and entire communities awaiting assistance for long term disaster recovery. Refugees and asylum seekers are left in limbo, languishing at borders waiting for welcome. Many have been displaced by economic conditions, war and climate change. Among the millions of refugees are families looking for safe places that they can call home. In the midst of these despairing moments, the United Church of Christ is able to offer hope as we stand in solidarity and mutuality with communities suffering and in need. Through Wider Church Ministries, the United Church of Christ fulfills its commitment to respond to a variety of global and local concerns by providing advocacy, sustainable development resources, long term disaster recovery support, and assistance for refugee and asylum seekers, working in collaboration with our partners locally and globally.
“Sandra, a Congolese refugee, was welcomed and resettled in 2018. She is one of more than a dozen refugee women using skills she learned in RefugeeOne’s Sewing Studio to make face masks as a way of giving back to the place she now calls home. RefugeeOne is one of the partners engaged in refugee and sustainable development programs supported by your generous donations to One Great Hour of Sharing.
With your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, we are able to be present for the long term in disaster recovery, as we partner with churches and organizations around the world to walk with families as they rebuild their homes and lives. Thank you for your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, as together we build a just world for all.
With Gratitude and Hope, Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson AGM, Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive Global Ministries
What is One Great Hour of Sharing?
In addition to Our Church’s Wider Mission (Basic Support), the United Church of Christ has 4 Special Mission Offerings (SMOs). These offerings exist to allow congregations and individuals to meet people at points of critical need in their lives. Though many options exist for direct, individual support of these needs, the SMOs allow a common witness and make a collective positive impact. Our church has identified four areas where these critical human needs exist:
One Great Hour of Sharing—in places lacking health and educational resources and/or where disaster has struck;
Neighbors in Need—within systems of injustice which oppress daily life and opportunity;
Strengthen the Church—in the nurture of youth and congregations just beginning their lives of faith;
The Christmas Fund—in the lives of church leaders without sufficient resources to live with dignity;
We believe these SMOs collectively serve to lift people closer to the abundance and wholeness to which Jesus Christ has called us to work together to bring about. Join the other 1,000 churches that have made the decision to become 5 for 5 congregations, supporting OCWM and all four of the Special Mission Offerings.
Holy Week will look a little different this year as we are continuing to with partial in-person worship. Registration for Holy Week and Easter services will be available Monday March 29th at 12 am through Wednesday March 31st 11:59 pm. You can register for all 3 limited in-person Holy Week Services together. Link is at the bottom of the below.
Holy Week Reservations Open Monday March 29th 12 am through Wednesday March 31st 11:59 pm.
You will need to register separately for the Family Outdoor Easter Service and Easter Egg Hunt. Registration for the Family Outdoor Easter Service and Easter Egg Hunt is currently open until Wednesday March 31st 11:59 pm. Link is below.
Reserve your spot for Family Outdoor Easter Service HERE. Registration is open until 11:59 pm Wednesday March 31st.
Deadline to order Easter lilies is Wednesday March 17th. Easter Lilies will again adorn the sanctuary on Easter Sunday (April 4th). The church will order the Easter Lilies. A $15.00 donation is requested per Easter Lily.
Family Outdoor Easter Service and Easter Egg Hunt- FCC Youth will lead an early morning Easter worship service in the FCC north parking lot. All are welcome to rsvp and attend, then stay for an Easter Egg Hunt as we praise our Risen Lord, naturally masks and social distance are part of this event.
We look forward to having you join us soon! As we approach our tentative reopen date of March 7th, 2021, below are instructions on how you can reserve your seat for worship and our COVID Worship Policy.
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, we have re-configured our worship space, socially distanced from others, so that you can attend safely. We have also implemented cleaning precautions for your safety. In order to maintain social distancing, online reservations are now required to attend worship (Sunday mornings at 10 am.) 50 spots are available each week and are on a first come first reserved basis. Online Reservations will be open 12am on Tuesdays and will close at 11:59pm on Wednesdays.
Anyone with medical conditions placing them in the vulnerable category and who have not been fully vaccinated are encouraged to continue worshipping online. Fccmoline.org/fcclive
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or are in a high risk category for COVID-19 we ask that you wait to attend worship until you are symptom free and have not been in contact with a someone who has tested positive.
If you have a health condition that makes wearing a mask difficult we request that you not worship with us in person at this time. You can always watch online on FCCLive!
Please be aware that space is limited so seats are not guaranteed. After reading the COVID Worship Policy and completing the Health Questionnaire, if you are able to safely attend worship, you may reserve your seat online through the link below. Again, you must reserve your seat each week for the upcoming Sunday service through the online link below.
I deeply appreciate your willingness to cooperate with these guidelines. I realize this is not an ideal situation, but let us be grateful for the opportunity to gather for worship even in this limited capacity.
Rev. Becky David Interim Pastor
Please read the details below before registering:
When you arrive at church… Be aware that things will look and feel very different.
You must register every person (adult and child) who plans to attend.
Doors will open promptly 15 minutes before service.
Please maintain 6 feet social distancing while entering and exiting the building and throughout the entirety of the service.
Please follow the parking lot and entrance instructions provided in your confirmation email.
Face coverings are required for everyone, including children over the age of 2 years old.
Face covering MUST be worn at ALL times.
Everyone must remain in their pews for the entire service.
Nursery is not available at this time.
Children are encouraged to attend worship with their families and are expected to stay in their seats throughout worship, under parent supervision. (Children must remain in their seats for children’s time.)
No fellowship food/drink before or after the service.
Transportation via the church bus is not available at this time.
Despite our safety measures, there is a possibility that you could be exposed to COVID-19 by attending a service. By registering to attend, you acknowledge this situation and assume the risk of potential exposure.
To Reserve your Seat and to review our full COVID Worship Policy click the links below.
Reservations will open 12 am on Tuesday through 11:59 pm on Wednesday.
As we approach our 2021 Annual Meeting, I wanted to touch base with you all on our tentative reopening plan and several informational events leading up to our Annual Meeting on February 28th.
You may recall completing a survey in December regarding your personal comfort level with returning to church in-person. The results (93 responses) told Council that our members are pretty split on the choice, with slightly more individuals choosing to continue to stay at home. Gathering this information was extremely helpful. Additionally, Governor Pritzker has recently moved our Illinois region to Phase 4. This is the phase Council originally designated as when we would reopen our building to 50 people maximum.
Council has taken all of this into consideration and is tentatively planning to open the church building to a 50-person capacity for worship and other meetings starting Sunday, March 7th. Please know that your experience in the building will look very different than what you were acclimated to pre-pandemic. Council strongly encourages “high risk” individuals to continue worshipping online and participating in meetings via Zoom. There are still many details to iron out, so I encourage you to contact me with any questions you might have as those questions can help ensure we have everything in place to keep us all safe.
Attached to this communication is our 2020 Annual Report! A special “thank you” to our church leaders and office staff for compiling and assembling this very important document! Members who do not have email will be receiving the document through regular mail, so please be looking for that in your mailbox soon! Be sure to read through the report and reflect on the many wonderful things that have happened at FCC during such a “unique” year. The Annual Report will also prepare you for our busy February Sunday events coming up:
2/14, 9:00am – Endowment Committee Presentation
2/21, 9:00am – Preliminary Information for Annual Meeting
2/28, 9:00am – Celebrating 2020 with Pictures! 😀
2/28, 11:15am – Annual Meeting
These events will take place via Zoom, so please be looking for information coming your way on how to participate (you will be sent a Zoom link to access each meeting on your computer/device). I will also be reaching out to our members who do not use a computer to be sure they know they can participate in Zoom meetings through the phone. It is important that everyone has the capability to join in during these events!
In conclusion, I want to thank you all for your continued prayers and patience for your church leadership as we navigate through the unknown…what a year it has been!
Or When prompted enter the Meeting ID and Passcode:
Meeting ID: 825 4936 9206 Passcode: 750833
How to call in on your phone:
Dial by your location +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
When prompted enter the Meeting ID and Passcode: Meeting ID: 825 4936 9206 Passcode: 750833
Easter Lilies will again adorn the sanctuary on Easter Sunday (April 4th). The church will order the Easter Lilies. A $15.00 donation is requested per Easter Lily. Deadline to give a flower in memory of a loved one is Wednesday March 17th.
If you would like to give a flower in memory of a loved one:
You may return the Easter Lily Envelope received with your lenten booklet to the church office with cash or check. (coming in the mail by February 17th)
You may fill out the online form with your online payment below.
Deadline to order Easter lilies is Wednesday March 17th.
Return Easter Lily Envelope with Payment designated to Easter lily to: First Congregational United Church of Christ 2201 7th Avenue Moline, IL 61265
It feels like forever. It feels like forever since we have hugged our friends, heard the singing of our neighbors in our ears, broken bread together, sat in “our” pew with our family. And it’s not just Covid that weighs heavily on our hearts. Suffering and brokenness continue to find us. It feels like the cycle of isolation and suffering is on repeat.
It is at times like these that I find ritual to be transformative. Through actions we have shared many times before, we come to remember who we are and to whom we belong. And the rituals of Lent hold us, speak to us, heal us. While it is tempting at this point to simply get on with life and pretend everything is fine, sacred rituals invite us to slow down and savor the love of a God who whispers to us over and over, “I choose you, I love you, I will lead you to repair.”
I invite you to join your First Congregational family this Lent on a journey of encounter. Each Sunday we will rest in the truth of our human condition – that even though we doubt, mess up, and act out of self interest – again and again we are offered healing. Each Sunday we will be reminded that the story of Jesus is our story. Each Sunday we will lament in the reality of a world ruled by corruption and lovelessness – and we will rejoice in the truth that God breaks the cycle and offers us a new way forward. Again and Again.
As we begin Lent, it is unlikely that we will be worshipping in person. But that does not mean we cannot worship together. I hope you will join us online for worship as has been our custom. In addition, each household will be receiving a Lenten Devotional to enhance your family’s lenten experience. The devotional is designed to use at your own pace, alone or with loved ones. It is my hope that in the quiet of your own home and heart, you will encounter the God who keeps moving toward you, again and again and again.
Join us for Ash Wednesday service at 6 pm on FCCLive Wednesday February 17th, 2021.
Ash Wednesday Preparations: In order to prepare for the imposition of ashes at home, please set aside a small amount of potting soil or dirt. We will provide more directions for the imposition of ashes at home during our service.
A link to the service will be available on Tuesday February 16th, 2021.
