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First Congregational Church, of Rochester, is an Open and Affirming local church of the United Church of Christ. We are a "still speaking" church, believing that God, through our pastors, and through careful exegesis of scripture, still speaks to us in our contemporary times - that our 2000 year old Bible is not translated by 2000 year old thinking. Our philosophy is love for all and being a compassionate, Christ-centered, community church. Worship services are typically Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. in person or, if you cannot make it, we are live on YouTube. We encourage children to remain in worship, for we value their presence. A prayer ground for them with activities, and a "wiggle room" for a more quiet space, is available when we do not have our Prayer party happening!

"That they may all be one." John 17:21

So what will you experience on a Sunday morning?

Well, our worship begins at 10 a.m. As we’re lovingly known as the “church-of-the-last-minute,” a few stragglers always walk in during our opening few minutes… that’s totally okay. Our worship style is liturgically moderate meaning we’re not too high church (genuflecting or high-praise, jazz hands) and we’re not too low church meaning we’re so chill that coffee is served in the back to warm our brains. On any given Sunday, you may hear traditional hymns, some familiar hymn melodies with newer lyrics that fit the message, some talented hand bell ringers and vocalists, a worship band, or even a brass quintet.

Communion is served on the first Sunday of the month and our table of love is open to all - you need not be a member to partake in communion (the Lord's Supper).

We encourage you to “come as you are” . Be you, be bold. Because at FCC, love wins.

Greetings to you from First Congregational Church (FCC) of Rochester and welcome to our website.

We extend a welcome to FCC to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, gender fluid, filthy rich, comfortable or dirt poor.

We welcome wailing babies and excited toddlers. We welcome those who sing like Adele and those who just growl quietly to themselves. We welcome those who are just browsing, have just woken up or have just been released from prison.

We welcome those who attend church more than the Pope and those who have not darkened the doors of a church since they were on the way home from that Christmas party ten years ago.

We welcome those who are over 60 but haven't quite grown up and teenagers who seem to be growing up too fast. We welcome those who are in recovery or who are still addicted.

We welcome those who are having problems, down in the dumps, angry with God or who don't like 'organized religion'. We're not that struck on it either.

We welcome those who work too hard, those who don't work, can't work, can't spell, feel they aren't very good at stuff or are here because their mother is visiting for the weekend and it's more than their lives are worth not to go to church with her and look as though they're enjoying themselves.

We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, who have screwed up monumentally or who'd like to light a candle but don't quite know why.

We welcome those who find the whole idea of God a bit odd, who've been damaged by religion, who've had religion shoved down their throats as children and those who've wound up here by mistake.

We welcome pilgrims, tourists, migrants, asylum seekers, neighbors, explorers, doubters and those who prefer to travel rather than to arrive.

God - however you perceive him, her or it - welcomes you and we at FCC Rochester will try our level best to do the same.

If you'd like to know more about FCC Rochester, then do get in touch - our details are on the Contact Us Page.

Welcome to our FCC Family!