Who We Are
First Congregational United Church of Christ is an open and affirming congregation, and a diverse, multi-generational community with an accepting, caring and nonjudgmental spirit. We welcome everyone regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, or physical/mental abilities. We celebrate family in all its diverse forms and honor all loving and committed relationships. As we like to say, whoever you are, wherever you are in life's journey, you are welcome here.
First Congregational United Church of Christ's mission statement - Welcoming all, we spread Christ's radical message of love and justice - sums up who we are as a congregation. We believe that it's not only about Sunday worship but also carrying what we learn each Sunday into our daily lives, and spreading Christ's message to the broader community and world.
The vision statement of the First Congregational, United Church of Christ in Naperville, is:
• to hold worship services and programs that refresh us, engage us, and enable us to go out into the world to do God’s work, while serving others;
• to always open our doors for participation by any and all, welcoming and accepting people with diverse ideas and cultural backgrounds;
• to be a community of believers who support each other in fellowship, in our faith journeys and in times of special need;
• to provide, for those who seek peace, sanctuary and opportunity to reach out to God;
• to have strong programs that focus on providing structure, guidance, and a safe place for questioning, for all our church family;
• to educate ourselves and our children through a strong Christian education program;
• to strive to achieve justice in the world and lead our communities in addressing social issues;
• to give generously of our time, talents and money for missions.
We are dedicated to justice and peace issues. As a Just Peace congregation, we have promised to make a difference in the lives of others who experience injustice and violence in our nation and the world. We live this belief by advancing God’s love and justice in the world in our everyday words and actions.
The concept of Just Peace stems from the Bible. The Old Testament speaks of “shalom” – the ordering of our lives for wholeness, healing, justice, peace, equality, unity, freedom and community. For more information, please visit the Just Peace page on the UCC website. (view our official statement)
Visit our history page for more information about the First Congregational United Church of Christ.
First Congregational is an amazing community of people who are warm, friendly and passionate about social justice. There is an openness and love for all people that I have not experienced anywhere else.
– Haley Wilson
