Disciples of Christ    Springfield, IL

First Christian Church

Our Ministries

                  How We Serve

One way to evaluate any church is to review its commitment to and the spirituality of the programs and ministries that it supports. Some programs and ministries, although just as important, may not receive the recognition of the more traditional ones. As children of God we have been challenged to minister to all people including the underprivileged, the sick, those suffering from injustice, and the unsaved. First Christian Church takes God’s challenge very seriously. The following represents a sampling of the programs and ministries of First Christian Church including:

· Children’s ministries

· Youth ministries

· Adult ministries

· Small Group ministries

 

First Christian Church is a wonderful environment to raise children. Our caring and loving church family is blessed by the gifts our children bring. The following ministries are offered to children:

Nursery

Our nursery is colorful, clean and spacious. Two adults are in attendance during both Church School and Worship with ample toys and equipment for toddlers as well as appropriate furnishings for infants.

Preschool (Ages 3 to Kindergarten)

We learn about God’s love and how to share it with others. We learn through our weekly lessons, playing, singing, and sharing. This classroom is a fun environment for children to learn about the love of God. (This group meets for Church School and during Worship following the Children’s moment.)

Alpha Beta (First—Fourth Grades)

This group learns about God and the Bible through the “One Room Sunday School” curriculum. This multi-sensory experience allows youth to explore creatively the message of Jesus Christ for their lives. Through lessons, worship, crafts, and other activities, this class has a “hands-on” approach to learning. (This class meets during Church School and during Worship following the Children’s moment.)

These youth also have a fellowship group, Alpha Beta or Alpha Bees, which meets on the first Sunday every month after worship until 1:30 pm. Lunch is included. There are occasionally other supervised events outside of the church. We welcome all new faces!

First Christian Church supports many youth activities. We find our Youth Ministries to be a crucial part of faith and spiritual development. We encourage a wide range of activities from Bible Study to Fellowship to Outreach. The following programs are available to all youth:

Chi-Rho (Junior High School—Fifth thru Eighth Grades)

The youth in these grades meet for Church School in Room 301 on the third floor at 9:15 am. This group learns about God in relationship to their lives, especially in dealing with the complex issues of teenage development.

The Chi-Rho group meets the first and third Sundays of each month following worship (excluding summer). Check out our youth designed Chi-Rho room with comfortable furniture, a beautiful mural (painted by the youth), and the latest in electronic technology. It’s a great place to gather in fellowship with other Christian youth. Lunch is included for our regularly scheduled meetings. We also participate in several other activities both in fellowship an din outreach to our community. There are opportunities for church camp during the summer. We welcome all new faces! 

CYF—Christian Youth Fellowship (Senior High School)

The CYF youth (grades 9-12) meet in the youth recreation room located near the Fellowship Hall in the lower level of the church. The lessons include in-depth Bible Studies as well as topics that affect our youth today.

This group also meets every week for fellowship time. (excluding summer)

On the first and third Sundays, the CYF meets after worship until 1:30 pm (lunch included) and on the second and fourth Sundays from 4:00 –5:30 pm (excluding summer). There are also several exciting activities such as skiing, canoeing, concerts, and church camp. Come join us! 

Since we are always on a journey of spiritual growth and faith development, First Christian Church also supports several ministries for adults. The following programs are available to adults:

Adult Church School

Forum

The forum Class is geared toward our “golden year” adults. This class meets in the Library off of the Fellowship Hall for a traditional Bible Study. The members of this class also have an occasional social gathering. This class is facilitated by Tom Johnson.

3-D (Developing Deeper Disciples)

3-D meets in room 201 on the second level of the church. This class is open to adults of all ages. This class is facilitated by Marcia Monier and is currently studying an the Old Testament. Our Bibles, video, discussion, and participant books will guide our study. Newcomers and long-timers welcome!

Adult Fellowship Opportunities

Disciples Men

Disciples Men provides the opportunity for all men of First Christian Church to join in ministries of personal growth and service. Activities range from study and prayer to initiating building improvements.

Meetings are held monthly alternating the first Monday evening and the first Saturday morning. (See the calendar for exact dates and times).

All men are encouraged to join in this program of fellowship and service. Watch the Visitor (weekly newsletter) and the announcements page for details regarding meetings—you can also call the church office!)

Bookmarkables

This ladies group chooses a different fiction book each month, reads it individually and then meets for discussion and fellowship.

This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm...watch the announcements for  book title, location and hostess information. You can also always call the church office for details!

Craft N’ Chat

 This group is for any and all that love a variety of crafts and chatting! Each monthly meeting hosts a different theme! This group meets the 4th Monday of each month at 5:00 pm in the Gathering Place. 

Bless That Stitch

This group is FCC’s Prayer Shawl Ministry that takes the time and talent to help create the peace and security of a blanket for those in need. Imagine the power of a shawl that has been made with a specific person in mind. This shawl has been prayed over as is the recipient of this gift of unconditional love.

This is a brand new ministry open to anyone who would like to participate. Bless That Stitch ministers by creating a shawl for those who are ill, homebound, or in need of comforting touch of their church family. Regardless of your knitting or crocheting ability, there are opportunities for anyone! This is a powerful ministry opportunity that can bring so much healing to so many! If you are interested in this ministry, please join us  in the Gathering Place. (This group meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 10:00 am and the 4th Monday of each month at 5:00 pm.)

Room Service

This wonderful group of ladies prepares meals in advance and serves members of our congregation with meals when they are coming home from the hospital or other times of need.

Community is one of the most vital parts of the Christian faith. Jesus viewed fellowship as a sacred and holy activity. Koinonia is the Greek word meaning fellowship. But it is more than just a gathering of people. It is a group of people who have a deep understanding of each other; this partnership has God at its foundation. It is a group that shares with one another, becomes vulnerable with one another, and is honest and caring. The group is compassionate and helpful. The members are accountable to one another and to all of God’s people. There are many dynamics that the group takes on which cannot be listed in one short paragraph. The goal of koinonia is to develop a spiritual wholeness which focuses on God, God’s Words, and the dynamic lives of God’s people.

Koinonia occurs in many aspects of the Church’s life—worship, fellowship activities, meals and even committee meetings!

New Small Group opportunities are available all the time. Come share and grow with us!

First Christian Church believes that God commands us to help others. As such, we have a very active outreach program.

The World and Local Outreach Department serves as a congregational resource for interpreting budgeted Basic Mission Finance giving and creatively encouraging individual giving (Special Day Offering). This department strives to educate the congregation on both world and local service opportunities, promote participation in General, Regional, and Cluster events and maintain a scholarship program for students who are members of our congregation to attend Disciple’s colleges and seminaries. Outreach promotes use of the church building for community programs, coordinates in-church outreach projects, and encourages service work in the community.

First Christian Church has an extensive collection of spiritual and inspirational books in its library. Mary Moyer, a retired librarian and member of First Christian Church, with the assistance of volunteers, catalogued and labeled the entire book collection in the 1970s. At the time, the collection was displayed in many areas of the church. In 1997, the library was consolidated and relocated to the lower level of the church. Currently, there are more than 10,000 volumes of books, videos, compact disks, audio cassettes and a few phonograph records and CD-ROMs. The library has been automated under the watchful eye of current librarian, Marianne Stowers, who welcomes all church attendees to use this great resource. The library operates on a self-service basis. (Other helpful hands in the library: Joanne Hott & Eileen Hahn).

The Marriage Ministry

We believe that First Christian Church has one of the best marriage ministries in the Springfield area. This belief is validated by the numerous weddings conducted by Reverends Irwin & Sundquist each year. Word has spread in the Springfield community about our beautiful sanctuary and elegant ceremonies.

Couples are required to attend an eight week component class called “Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts” (SYMBIS) prior to their weddings. We believe that this class is valuable in preparing the bride and groom for their future life together. Participants from past classes have given the class very high marks.

The wedding ministry at First Christian Church is attracting many new couples as the calendar for 2008 is filling very rapidly. Many of the couples from this program have become active members of First Christian Church.

Contact First Christian Church for additional information. You can also see the Wedding page for information on guidelines, fees and policies.

First Christian Church is wonderfully blessed with an outstanding music ministry. For many years, our choirs have provided our congregation with a variety of musical experiences, including choral and instrumental music for regular worship services, seasonal cantatas, full production musicals, and concerts on Christmas Eve and other special occasions. We take pride that our musical history includes all types of music ranging from classical to gospel to contemporary.

Our music staff includes; choir director, Marty Harris, organists, David Mitchell and Alaina Heitz, pianist and director of the “Grateful Bread” band (which includes Rev. Rick Irwin on the bass and Stacy Chastain on the drums), Jane Hartman Irwin.

Guided by the music staff, our congregation joins together to raise their musical talents through praise choruses, hymns, anthems, and vocal &/or instrumental ensembles. We desire to blend the best music styles from traditional hymns to contemporary expressions of worship and praise.

First Christian Church has two adult choirs, one vocal and one handbell choir; both share a deep commitment to music in worship. Comprised of adults, college and high school students, both groups practice every Wednesday evening (excluding Summer). All are invited to serve and share their talents in music by joining a choir.

The church is blessed to have a magnificent 44-rank Moeller-Dial pipe organ which has been enlarged to include some new pipe work and state of the art electronics. We also possess a three-octave set of Schulmerich handbells, as well as a set of Malmark Choir chimes.

· Outreach Ministries

· Music Ministries

· Library