Beliefs
GRACE
We are all on a journey of faith, but we are all at different points along the way. Scripture you read today may speak to you in one way, yet hold a completely new meaning five years from now, as life shapes our understanding and perspective.
At First Christian Church, we create a space for grace, where everyone can share their beliefs without fear of judgment or rejection. Rather than prescribing what you should believe, we invite you to join us in exploring God's Word together.
LOVE
We warmly invite you to the Lord's Table for open Communion, where all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are welcome. This is not our table—it is God’s table, a table of boundless love and grace.
No matter your tradition, we honor and accept all forms of baptism—whether it’s sprinkling or believer’s baptism. This is a space where God’s love brings us together as one family in Christ.
Come as you are and share in these sacred moments with us.
COMMUNITY
We strive to be a church family that reflects God’s love and grace. We invite those searching for hope and purpose to know God better by knowing us. Our doors are open to the community, creating a space where everyone is welcome.
We believe the church is the people not the building. We are a fellowship of believers living as the presence of Jesus in the world. By reaching beyond our walls to serve those in need, we fulfill His call, remembering, “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”
Here, everyone is accepted and loved. Our doors are open. All are welcome.
Our Mission, Vision and Confession
Our Identity
We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.
As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.
Our Vision
To be a faithful, growing church, that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice.
– Micah 6:8
Our Mission
To be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps “to the ends of the earth.”
– Acts 1:8
Our Confession
As members of the Christian Church, We confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. In Christ’s name and by his grace
we accept our mission of witness and service to all people.
We rejoice in God, maker of heaven and earth, and in God’s covenant of love which binds us to God and to one another.
Through baptism into Christ we enter into newness of life
and are made one with the whole people of God. In the communion of the Holy Spirit we are joined together in discipleship and in obedience to Christ. At the Table of the Lord we celebrate with thanksgiving the saving acts and presence of Christ. Within the universal church we receive the gift of ministry and the light of scripture. In the bonds of Christian faith we yield ourselves to God that we may serve the One whose kingdom has no end. Blessing, glory, and honor be to God forever. Amen.
FOUR TENETS OF OUR DENOMINATION
1. Freedom of Belief
Disciples are called together around the belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Persons are free to follow their consciences guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, study and prayer and are expected to extend that freedom to others. We hold the centrality of Scripture, recognizing that each person has the freedom and the responsibility = to study God’s Word within the community of the Church.
2. Baptism by Immersion
In Baptism the old self-centered life is set aside, and a new life of trust in God begins. Although Disciples practice baptism by immersion, other baptism traditions are honored.
3. Belief in Oneness of the Church
All Christians are called to be one in Christ and to seek opportunities for common witness and service.
4. The Ministry of All Believers
Both ministers and lay persons lead in worship, service, and spiritual growth. We affirm the priesthood of all believers. Rejoicing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. – which include the gifts of leadership – that God has given for the common good.
CHALICE SYMBOL
The symbol of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a red chalice with a white St. Andrew's Cross. The chalice represents the centrality of communion to the life of the church. The cross of Saint Andrew is a reminder of the ministry of each person and the importance of evangelism and recalls the denomination's Scottish Presbyterian ancestry.
SCRIPTURE
We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and a foundation for faith and daily life. We encourage each person to read and reflect on Scripture while also learning and growing together as a faith community.
We trust that the Holy Spirit guides us in understanding God’s truth and that different perspectives help deepen our faith. Rather than having tests of faith and creedal statements, we critically and thoughthtfully study scripture, taking into account the history and background – the context – in which it was written.
BAPTISM
Baptism is the beginning of an incredible journey. Baptism is a personal decision, and a declaration of your desire to follow Christ. We believe baptism is about accountability, so we do not baptize infants but instead offer infant dedications, allowing families to commit their children to God while giving them the opportunity to choose baptism for themselves when they are ready. There is no set timeline—baptism happens when the individual feels called, and we are here to walk with you when that time comes.
If you are deciding to follow Jesus and have never been baptized, we have a Pastor Class to teach about the biblical principles, and our denominational beliefs. Once you have completed the class, you are invited to come forward in worship and make a public confession of faith.
“Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and do profess Jesus to be your Lord and Savior?”
The following Sunday candidates will be baptized and may also join in church membership. If you have been baptized already, you may come forward during the service and ask to join the church. We accept all baptisms (sprinkle, immersed, and believers). You will not be re-baptized at First Christian. We trust God was at work in your life before you came here.
COMMUNION
We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.
At our church, Communion—also called the Lord’s Supper—is a deeply meaningful part of our worship. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the living Christ is met and received in the sharing of the bread and the cup, representative of the body and blood of Jesus. The presence of the living Lord is affirmed, and he is proclaimed to be the dominant power in our lives.
Even more important, the Lord’s Supper is a celebration of God’s unshakable love for us. No matter where you come from, what you believe, or what you’ve been through, nothing can separate you from that love.