About Us

Our History

First Congregational United Church of Christ in Alexandria is part of a larger national denomination often abbreviated the UCC. The UCC was formed by the merger of four very different church bodies. We trace our roots to the Pilgrims (Congregationalists), who seeking religious freedom, first set foot on Plymouth Rock in 1620.

The United Church of Christ is known for many “firsts” in America. With a high regard for education, we built the first colleges and universities such as Harvard and many prestigious colleges such as Carleton College in Northfield, MN. With a long held belief that all people are created equal in the image of God, our churches ordained the first women, the first people of color and the first gay and lesbian pastors. In August 2015, when Minnesota statutes allowed it, we celebrated the first marriage of a same sex couple here in Alexandria. 

First Congregational United Church of Christ has stood at the same location since 1867. We celebrated 150 years of ministry in Alexandria in July of 2017. We take pride in the fact that God has used us to communicate love, grace and hope to a hurting world for fifteen decades! By God’s grace, we are faithfully committed to pass that legacy of love on to the next generations.

The Douglas County Historical Society shared some early Easter pictures from the Boyd family from our church.  Please check it out.

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith

We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father, and to his deeds we testify: 

He calls the worlds into being, creates man in his own image and sets before him the ways of life and death.

He seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

He judges men and nations by his righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, he has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to himself.

He bestows upon us his Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

He calls us into his church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be his servants in the service of men, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

He promises to all who trust him forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, his presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in his kingdom which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto him.

Amen.

Our Faith

A feature of our church life that we particularly cherish is that we do not demand conformity in thought and belief among our members. Rather we encourage individuals to ask questions and to explore their faith believing that,

“No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” 

In addition we strongly believe that service to the community and world in the name of Jesus Christ, is of paramount importance.

About the UCC - A Church of Extravagant Welcome, Seeking a Just and Peaceful World

For over 400 years, the United Church of Christ has been the church of firsts, weaving God’s message of hope and extravagant welcome with action for justice and peace. We are a church where Jesus the healer meets Jesus the revolutionary, and where together, we grow a just and peaceful world.

Our history is filled with ways our faith and call for justice have effected change in our communities, and our response to the demands of our faith is woven into the history of our country.

Never place a period where God placed a comma.

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