Church brochure
85 Upper Main Street
PO Box 475
Morrisville,Vermont 05661
To contact us:
The First Congregational Church
Who We Are And What We Believe
This church is a congregation of believers bound together by a covenant rather than by a creed. We encourage unity without uniformity. We count among our membership persons who have been raised in other traditions, such as Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran and Roman Catholic. This diversity in our backgrounds enriches our perspective.
We acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Head, and find in the Holy Scriptures, interpreted by the Divine Spirit through reason, faith, and conscience, our guide in all matters of Christian faith, order and discipline.
This church recognizes the Bible as the guide in faith and practice, and holds that living in accordance with the life and spirit of Jesus Christ is the true test of fellowship. Each member shall have the undisturbed right to follow the Word of God according to the dictates of one’s own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.
Our History
On July 15, 1807, 13 people in Morristown Corners united in Church covenant and assumed the name: The First Congregational Church. This church met in many buildings on several sites over the years. The current site was chosen in 1839. A portion of that building, added on to several times, still stands.
This congregation voted to be a part of the merger of the General Council of Congregational Churches and the Christian Churches in 1932. It voted to become a congregation of the United Church of Christ in 1961.
The Our United Church of Christ Connection
The First Congregational United Church of Christ is a member of the Northeast Association of Churches and Ministers, the Vermont Conference, and the General Synod of the United Church of Christ.
The United Church of Christ was formed in 1957 by a merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The Congregationalists, English in origin, were centered most heavily in New England, while the E & R’s, German in origin, were concentrated in Pennsylvania and the midwest.
So we are descended from the English reformers and separatists and the Pilgrims and Puritans as well as the Swiss reformers Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin.
The United Church of Christ is a United and Uniting Church, seeking to engage other churches in common ministries.
First Congregational
United Church of Christ
85 Upper Main Street
Morrisville, Vermont
“Our mission is to promote the worship of God as revealed through Jesus Christ and to promote the study of scripture. Relying on scripture and prayer as our guides, we strive to serve humanity.”
Office: 802-888-2225
Pastor: 802-888-2990
Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM
Our Purpose in Worship is to experience God’s love for us and our love for God.
Service of the Word with Communion on the First Sunday of Each Month
Sunday Morning Discovery Hour at 10:00 beginning in worship and proceeding to classes for all children.
Adults are offered a variety of experiences including Bible Studies, Conversation Evenings on Contemporary Issues, and other faith enhancing and learning opportunities throughout the year.
Youth Fellowship is offered at scheduled times. Call the pastor’s line if you have interest in this vital ministry.
Women’s Fellowship meets monthly from September through May with a program schedule available.
Our mission purpose is to serve families of every size and makeup.
We offer Pooped Parents Night Out four times a year, in order to give parents free childcare so that they may spend time away from their demands and responsibilities. We offer this to single and double parent families.
We are a PINS (Partners-in-Service) participant with the local Department of Families and Children and supply them with clothing and other needs for families An example is our “Undie Sundays” in the fall, and Christmas presents for children.
We are part of the Food Shelf Ministry.
We support our Conference and National Church through Our Churches Wider Mission giving Basic Support (our per capita dues) as well as our National Offerings:
One Great Hour of Sharing
Neighbors in Need
And Strengthen our Church.
We are a Five out of Five Church
Our Christian Education also teaches our children to give to such ministries as Heifer Project International.
Our Women’s Group and congregation support Church World Service.
We support Community Action of Morrisville, which in turn helps families with major financial crises.
As people of The United Church of Christ we seek unity “that they may all be one” (John 17:21). We also welcome diversity.
We gather for coffee hour every Sunday after worship.
We develop community through fundraisers such as our 4th of July Yard Sale, Food Sale and Strawberry Shortcake, Fall Ham Dinners, and monthly Sunday brunches.
We have periodic workbees for our building and grounds.
We build community by caring for our families when they need meals or other help. This is a ministry of our Deacons.
We host receptions after funerals of church members and friends.
We meet in committees and boards to do the work of the church, including Executive Council, Trustees, Deacons, Christian Education, Mission, By-Laws, and Personnel and Parish Relations.
We have a Senior choir that sings every Sunday during worship. Our children sing in a Junior choir for holidays during worship. We welcome all who would like to sing or who play an instrument.