New to First Congregational UCC? | First Congregational United Church of Christ Alexandria, MN

This page has been created so you can let people know what to expect when they visit your church.

Here are 4 ideas to help you get started:

How long is the service? It’s nice to know how long a service typically runs so people can plan accordingly.
What about kids? Visitors with children like to know what to do when they first walk in—should they head to the kid’s classrooms or bring them into the main service? Also, they want to know what kind of care their child will be receiving.
What’s the service like? Let people know the style of music, whether the service is formal or informal, and other details so they know what to expect. Try to make these details reflect the mission and values of your church.
How do people normally dress? People feel more comfortable in a new place when they don’t feel like they stand out.

Worship: Sundays at 10am

What happens during worship?

As you enter the church, a greeter will welcome you and answer any questions you might have. If you need assistance or to use the elevator, they will be happy to help. Once inside the sanctuary, an usher will give you a bulletin to help guide you through the 10 am service.

Our services feature reading, preaching, prayer, and music and are open to worshipers of every age. At times, you will be invited to stand, sing, pray, be in silence, or read responsively. First Congregational UCC likes to offer a mixture of different types of music and worship styles to help us achieve what is called a Blended Worship experience. We hope this keeps the ritual of worship fresh and of interest to all types of people.

First Congregational UCC is one church family that meets together to worship and hear God’s call to mission in the world. We are a diverse congregation of all ages, backgrounds, and tastes, which is reflected in our blended style of worship service.

There are red pew pads at the end of each aisle. Please fill it out to help us know of your presence. This is of course optional, but you might find it helpful to receive our Holy Hotline updates and to receive our monthly newsletters.

At our services, we maintain the ancient Christian practice of receiving an offering to support the church. We welcome your gifts and encourage everyone to live a life marked by generosity. If you are unable to give financially, please consider an offering of time or talent to the church, another organization, or a neighbor in need.

Can everyone participate in Communion?

The Sacrament of Communion is offered during the second Sunday of the month and special services like Ash Wednesday and Maundy Thursday. Our communion table is open to everyone – baptized or not.

Sharing communion with each other, children, and visitors is a special, sacred, shared event. We offer bread and grape juice for the elements, which are passed down the pews on plates for the congregation to serve themselves. Our tradition is to eat of the bread as an individual communion act and to hold the juice until all are served. We partake of the juice together when directed by the Pastor.

Do you have an area for children?

We have a modern nursery available for children, but please know that children of all ages are welcome in the worship service. There are worship bags with helpful materials for children available in the Narthex (area in the rear of the sanctuary). Please feel free to use them and know that we love to have all ages in worship.

Please note that if you or a child needs to leave the sanctuary during worship, there are speakers available in the Nursery and in the Cambridge Room so you may still hear the service.

Do you offer childcare or Sunday School?

We offer a program called F.R.O.G. power – ‘Fully Rely on God,’ one Sunday per month immediately following the worship service.

F.R.O.G. power is open to children of all ages during the school year (from the first Sunday in September through the Sunday in June after school ends). Adult education is offered periodically and will be announced in the newsletter and at worship services.

What happens after worship?

After each worship service, the Plymouth Room or the Fellowship Hall is open for a time of fellowship and refreshment. We invite you to stick around for an inter-generational social gathering for coffee, cookies and conversation (or juice, grapes, cheese, crackers and playtime). Strike up a conversation, and make some new friends.

Is the church handicap accessible?

Yes. First Congregational UCC offers a range of accessibility accommodations. There is handicap parking available on the non-street side of the church. We have a wheelchair ramp close to the handicap parking and an elevator near the east entrance. Worship information is shared on a large screen in the front of the sanctuary for easy viewing. We have unisex restrooms available and all signs have braille signage.

We have walkers, wheelchairs and canes available for use while in the church as well.

What should I wear?

We believe God cares more about the state of our hearts than the state of our attire, and encourage you to dress the way that feels most appropriate to you. Some people come dressed in their Sunday best, some wear jeans, other dress more casually.