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If you are looking for an inclusive welcoming faith community, where it is safe to bring your whole self, with your joys and struggles, where we ask hard questions, where we seek to follow God together, where we open ourselves to the Spirit in sacred texts, in our hearts, in our lives, and seek to live the Love and Justice of Jesus in the world, we might be the place for you. Or if you are just looking for a place to visit this Sunday, we are the place for you as well. And if you are not sure what you’re looking for in worship, we might be the place for you too.

We worship on Sunday morning at 10 AM. You are welcome to dress comfortably for you. You’ll see from jeans and shorts to a few jackets and ties, as well as dresses and skirts, and maybe even a kilt. At all of our worship services we seek to listen for God’s word, discern how God is calling us to live lives shaped by God’s Love and to share that in the world.

We are blessed with incredible music, led by our deeply gifted Music Director, Dana, who enlivens our worship with a wide range of musical styles. Our music deepens our worship. It grounds us in our past and empowers us to go forth and live the Good News into God’s future.

After worship you’ll often find a lively Coffee Hour with some goodies and wonderful fellowship. You may also want to join us for Adult Faith Formation, or Youth Group for 6th-12th graders, or Sunday School for K-6th graders, or Community Events for area children, or Service Work. You might find an easier introduction to First Church by joining worship online at our Facebook and YouTube. You can also contact me and I’d be happy to meet with you and share more about the life and ministry of First Church Bethel.

I look forward to meeting you and joining you on your journey of faith. As we say every Sunday morning and seek to truly live, “No matter who you are, or who you love, you are welcome here.”

Blessing, Pastor Ryan

As a people of God, we seek to educate ourselves and our children in the ways of Christ so we can learn to use our gifts to better our world and our community by spreading the Word of God. We seek to create a warm and friendly environment within the church which will encourage all peoples to come and share their gifts in the service of God. By nurturing and supporting individuals, small groups, and the church itself, we will effectively minister to specific human hurts and hopes in our Christian family, our local communities, and beyond.

We, the First Congregational Church of Bethel, United Church of Christ, are an Open and Affirming congregation, believing that each of us is created in God's image. Following the One who we believe is Sovereign and Savior, we affirm that each individual is a Child of God, and welcome into our faith community persons of every race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, family structure, faith background, mental and physical ability and economic circumstance.

All are welcome to participate fully in the life, leadership, ministry and mission of this congregation, as we seek to grow together in a safe and nurturing community of faith. We commit ourselves to the ongoing work of being an Open and Affirming congregation, one that lives out the belief that God is still speaking. With God's grace, we journey together in Christian faith.