Welcome…

Each week a member or friend of our congregation volunteers to say a few words of welcome at the start of our worship service.  These "Welcomes" are treasured sharing’s that are as diverse and unique as the people sharing them.  Below is a sample from last Sunday.  

"Good Morning! Whatever has brought you to this place at this time, we welcome you, and hope that this hour we spend together in worship and prayer will refresh and renew you for the week ahead. We are pleased you have joined us this morning.   My name is Ross Shoger and I have been attending First UCC for about 49 years. Although we have worshipped with five different ministers and several interim ministers during that time, Jan and I and our three sons and their families have always felt at home here because although the membership has been constantly changing, as well as the leadership, there is always an attitude that stresses the importance of social service and also the personal care and love that has been extended to us.

This has never been more obvious to us that the many prayers and helping hands that have reached out to us in incredibly numerous ways during the last several months as we rebounded from a Christmas eve house fire. We have found a large caring and loving family in the members who gather here – something precious that we shall never forget or stop treasuring.

Thank God for the spirit that dwells in our midst."