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Who We Are...
We are one of thousands of churches within the United Church of Christ (UCC) denomination.  The characteristics of the United Church of Christ can be summarized in part by the names of the original churches that formed to make our union: Christian, Reformed, Congregational and Evangelical.  By our very name, the United Church of Christ, we declare ourselves to be part of the Body of Christ - the Christian Church.  We continue the witness of the early disciples to the reality and power of the crucified and risen Christ, Jesus of Nazareth.

All four denominations arose from the tradition of the Protestant Reformers:  We confess the authority of one God.  We affirm the primacy of the scriptures, the doctrine of justification by faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the principle of Christian freedom.  We celebrate two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper (also called Holy Communion or the Eucharist).  The basic unit of the United Church of Christ is the congregation.  These congregations, in turn, exist in covenantal relationship with one another to form larger structures for more effective work.  Our covenanting emphasizes trustful relationships rather than legal agreements.

What We Believe...
That they may all be one. [John 17:21]  This motto of the United Church of Christ reflects the spirit of unity on which it is based and points toward the future efforts to heal the divisions in the body of Christ.  We are a uniting church as well as a united church.

In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity.  The unity that we seek requires neither an uncritical acceptance of any point of view, nor rigid formulation of doctrine.  It does not require mutual understanding and agreement as to which aspects of the Christian faith and life are essential.

The unity of the church is not of its own making.  It is a gift of God.  But expressions of that unity are as diverse as there are individuals.  The common thread that runs through all is love.

There is yet more light and truth to break forth from God's holy word.  This affirmation by one of the founders of the Congregational tradition assumes the primacy of the Bible as a source for understanding the Good News and as a foundation for all statements of faith.  It recognizes that the Bible, though written in specific historical times and places, still speaks to us in our present condition.  It declares that the study of the scriptures is not limited by past interpretations, but is pursued with the expectation of new insights and God's help for living today.

The Priesthood of All Believers.  All members of the United Church of Christ are called to minister to others and to participate as equals in the common worship of God, each with direct access to the mercies of God through personal prayer and devotion.  Recognition is given to those among us who have received special training in pastoral, priestly, educational and administrative functions, but these persons are regarded as servants - rather than persons in authority.  Their task is to guide, to instruct, to enable the ministry of all Christians rather than to do the work of ministry for us.

 

A Short History of the First Congregational Church of Geneva
The First Congregational Church actually has a long history in Geneva.  The Congregational Society of the town of Geneva was formally organized with thirteen members on December 19, 1849.  Although it was a small group at the start, the railroads and the gold rush of 1849 brought many travelers westward, rapidly expanding both the town and the congregation.  By 1854, the Congregational Society had become large enough that they had outgrown their borrowed Unitarian Church space, and purchased land on the corner of Fourth and Hamilton Streets to build a new church.  In 1855 the cornerstone was laid, and in July of 1856 the First Congregational Church of Geneva was dedicated.

Though many additions and changes affected both the town and the church building over the years, this historic structure has remained a place of Christian worship, education and growth.  As a faith community, we too find ourselves changing and growing as we work together to be God's people.