About Us

Our Mission

Our mission at First Congregational Church of Rochester is to be intentional followers of Jesus Christ who love unconditionally, serve selflessly, and worship joyfully.

Our Vision

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength - Mark 12:30

Heart

Integrating all aspects of the worship experience before and after a person attends a service to assure a welcoming, worshiping environment.

Soul

Connecting and caring for the congregation through regular fellowship and a wide variety of small groups — at church and in the surrounding community.

Mind

Overseeing the faithful communication of God's Word, the spiritual maturity in people, and the identification and training of emerging leadership.

Strength

Assessing the needs and providing identification, training, and pathways to ministries within the church, our communities, and beyond.

Our Core Values

At First Congregational Church of Rochester, we value:

Authentic Worship

We acknowledge God’s supreme value and worth through the centrality of God’s Word in our personal lives and in the corporate worship of our church. (Romans 12:1-2)

Biblical Teaching

We strive to teach and model God’s Word with integrity, authority, and relevance to people of every age so that they may more fully realize the guidance of the Holy Spirit and mature in Christ. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Great Commission Impact

We are committed to effectively communicating the transforming power of Jesus Christ to every nation, every people group, and every social concern, beginning with those closest to us. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Loving Community

We are committed to sharing our spiritual journey with others by doing all that we can to help every person we encounter to feel at home with us and in our church. (Romans 15:7)

Prevailing Prayer

We believe that through Jesus Christ we can enjoy personal, intimate access to God through prayer, and that persistent, believing prayer is critical to our effectiveness in carrying out Christ’s mission. (Matthew 7:7-11)

Missions

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." -- Matthew 28:19

We are a church that believes in fulfilling the Great Commission therefore we strongly support local and international missions. Please click HERE to read more about the missions we support.

Our Beliefs

The Holy Spirit is a divine person sent to dwell, guide, teach, and empower the believer and to convince the world of sin, righteousness, judgment and to discover freedom. (John 14:15–18, John 16:13; Acts 1:8, John 16:7–11, 1 Corinthians 3:17)

The fruit of the Spirit has nine by-products of a Spirit-filled life and is evidence of spiritual maturity. The gifts of the Spirit are different manifestations of the Spirit and exist to build up the body. We are instructed to diligently seek the gifts, but they must be exercised in an orderly way and in the context of love. (Galatians 5:22-23;1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1;1 Corinthians 14:26-33;1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

Humans were originally created in the image and likeness of God: they sinned through disobedience, incurring both physical and spiritual death. Therefore, all people are born with a sinful nature, are separated from God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. People who are unrepentant and unbelieving will exist forever in conscious torment. The believer exists in everlasting joy and bliss. (Genesis 1:27, Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:20–23, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:1–4)

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all people. Those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God. (Titus 3:4–7)

It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit, growing rapidly in faith, separating himself from sin and the world, fully dedicating himself to the will of God, and thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, Acts 1:8, Romans 6:1–14)

Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church. The Church is the body of Christ and has a three-fold purpose: to evangelize the world, to worship God, and to equip for ministry. (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Acts 1:8 & Mark 16:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:12)

The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His cleansing death and shed blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:22–23; Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 14:12)

There shall be a bodily resurrection of the just (believers) and of the unjust (unbelievers); for the former, a resurrection unto life; for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment. (1 Corinthians 15:20–23, John 5:28–29)

The second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal and visible. This is the believer’s blessed hope and is a vital truth that is an incentive to holy living and faithful service. (Hebrews 10:37, Luke 21:27, Titus 2:11–14)