First Congregational United Church of Christ Corvallis Oregon is a faith community that supports families, provides a variety of ministries

Children and Youth

Jaqui Eicher is our coordinator for the spiritual care of children, youth, and families. You can be kept up to date by the way the church is engaging these groups by signing up to receive our weekly newsletter. On Sunday mornings, we worship together in the sanctuary - this means we do not offer children's church or youth groups during our 10:30 a.m. service; rather, we cultivate different spaces for individuals to engage the service in ways that make sense to them. Our sanctuary is connected to a large, living room space where babies and toddlers are free to crawl and roam - children can engage developmentally-appropriate materials - and parents can cozy up on the sofa to be close to their children and within signt and sound of the service. Read more about how we nurture the spiritual lives of children here.

Religious Education time is offered for children ages 7-11 from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Sundays before worship in the Garden Room. If you have children in this age group, consider joining us!

Communities of Care

In a post-pandemic world, First Congo began to think creatively about what it means to be a community who cares for one another, as well as to re-think what it means to show up for folks and offer spiritual presence in a meaningful way. In 2022, we began a group called Communities of Care to help formulate ideas around how to hold sacred space for one another. We gather monthly to practice highly interactive ways of offering spiritual care to one another in ways that engage the heart (the soul) and the brain. By doing activities such as bearing witness to each other's burdens and sorrows, we learn what it means to really arrive to a space and give something very few places in our society offer: to be spiritually seen, heard, and held.

In the 2023-2024 program year, Communities of Care will shift the focus slightly to engage a support network across the congregation that invites more connection and support among congregants. Please see our newsletter for the current schedule and link to Zoom group. All are welcome.

Justice, Witness and Outreach

The way we show up in the world is a critical reflection of the theology we hold dear. Throughout our history we have worked in both the sacred and secular arena on behalf of environmental and economic justice, the LGBTQ communities, and with immigrant and refugee populations. Most recently, we have added working to become anti-racist allies, and just healthcare advocates to our social justice efforts.

This year, our lay-led Justice, Witness and Outreach teams are working in the areas of:

Race (Caroline Zaworski)
Immigration (Ken Crouse)
Poverty & Peace (Aleita Hass-Holcombe)
Healthcare for All (Mike Huntington)
Integrity of Creation (Larry Weymouth)

All of these teams provide opportunities to engage directly with affected populations in partnership with other organizations. If you are interested in joining the work of one of these groups, please connect with the church office.

Soul Care

Join Pastor Jen in the Fireplace Room on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. during the program year. We gather around specific texts to prompt conversation that allows us to explore our inner worlds and consider our own spirituality. There is no pressure to come prepared and no homework - it's your presence that matters.

Come as you are and join us in this informal setting. Check our calendar for the next Soul Care gathering. Meets at 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the Fireplace Room October through May. Led by Pastor Jen Butler.