As we continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 virus, many of our groups meet only online.
Some small groups are meeting in person, following the safety protcols set forth by our leadership.

Subscribe to our email newsletter or follow us on social media to keep up.

For updates on recurring events and small groups, read our Full Circle Blog, https://www.fccb.net/blog/.

 

CONNECT

More information about all the ways to get involved


Music

Our Chancel Choir is not active at this time. Some of our smaller musical groups are meeting. Contact lucy@fccb.net for information.

CHANCEL CHOIR 

The choir is a diverse group of folks who like to sing, provides music for Sunday services from September through mid-June. Our Minister of Music Lucy Bledig leads this group. Rehearsals are at 8:00 am Sundays. Singers of all abilities are welcome; come join the fun!

HANDBELL CHOIR 

The Handbell Choir is a musical community that rings joyfully during worship services during the year. Rehearsals are held on Sundays after worship. Anyone is welcome to join, even if you don’t know how to read music. The bells carry the tune, so you don’t have to!

ONE ACCORD

One Accord is a small a capella group directed by church member Scott Ward. They bring a variety of different music styles to worship. Contact office@fccb.net for information.

UNBROKEN CIRCLE

 

 

 

 

ALL AGE MUSICIANS

Unbroken Circle is a bluegrass band, bringing acoustic music to our worship services. If you're interested in being involved in this group, contact the lucy@fccb.net for more information.

First Congregational Church's music ministry staff welcome the talents of members of all ages who play musical instruments of all kinds. We like to give our members the opportunity to share their gifts during worship. Whether you play a reed, brass, or percussion instrument, we want you to participate in worship! We also welcome vocalists of all ages to contribute to our worship. Whether you like to sing by yourself or with a group of friends, you are invited to bring your gifts to worship.


Families & Youth


Social & Creative

Many of our groups are meeting via Zoom. Contact office@fccb.net for more information.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

Knitters in our congregation make shawls, which are given to members and friends to aid in their healing and spiritual support. Contact the office@fccb.net for more information.

IN STITCHES QUILT MINISTRY

We are “In Stitches” at our meetings on a member's covered, open air patio with our quilting, embroidery, knitting, mending, and other needle work. We go to quilt shows, have classes, and learn new techniques. We have a quilt ministry for church members who need a little extra comfort. We are busy with our handiwork and exchange creative ideas, but mainly you can find us enjoying each other in fellowship. We enjoy new members and love introducing them to quilting!

MORNING KNITTERS

The Morning Knitters meet meet weekly on Zoom. We knit - prayer shawls for family, friends, and church use, or warm items for people experiencing homelessness. Some of us work on personal projects and at least one person brings mending. Mostly though, as women have always done in such circles, we share our lives -- the joys and sorrows. In the process we explore our faith journeys in a gentle way and become friends. Anyone is welcome to join us -- we will be happy to welcome you.

DISCOVERY CIRCLE

Discovery Circle participates in all women’s activities of the church, and shares a concern for our local and wider world communities. We desire to be a group in fellowship, supporting one another in life’s journeys. Dues are $25.00 a year. Join us in the Social Hall of the church on the second Tuesday of each month at noon. We welcome new members at any time!

DOTTY DALE CIRCLE

The Dotty Dale Circle is a women’s group focusing on education, spiritual, and emotional support to empower us to be discerning advocates for love, justice and compassion. They meet monthly on the second Sunday of the month following the church service. Our meetings include prayer, fellowship time, time for members to share action items, and a program focusing on renewal, resistance, and learning. Our membership consists of women from First Congregational Church, but is open to other women seeking a space to support each other in a spiritual context. There are no dues and no elected officers.

PILGRIM CIRCLE

Pilgrim Circle's purpose is to assist the church and the wider community through serving and money raising projects while growing through study and participation in timely programs. The circle conducts business virtually now, except for organizing donations to the Fresh Start Ministry. Meetings consist of business meeting, planned program, devotions, and supportive fellowship. Pilgrim Circle started and manages the Fresh Start ministry. Dues for the year are $10.


Serve The Community

Our service to the community contines even though our ability to meet in person is limited.

Contact office@fccb.net if you'd like to contribute to one of these ministries.

THE GROUND FLOOR

The remodel work is complete and The Ground Floor opened to serve clients January 2019.

BIRCHWOOD FOOD DESERT FIGHTERS

Food deserts are neighborhoods where people have limited access to healthful and affordable food due to having a low income or having to travel farther to find healthful food options. A food desert was created in the Birchwood neighborhood when Albertson’s sold their store with a covenant that no other grocery store could go in for 20 years. The Birchwood Food Desert Fighters is a group of neighbors trying to lift each other up to provide healthy food options and needed family supplies. We support this group with pantry drives and encouraging members to bring donations to the Share Place Food Store.

GARDENVIEW TINY HOME VILLAGE

This tiny home village is for people age 55+ experiencing homelessness, giving them a place to live while they transition to permanent housing. First Congregational Church helps provide meals for the residents on a regular basis. 

FAMILY PROMISE 

In conjunction with the Interfaith Coalition and the Family Promise Organization, First Congregational Church provides support to families experiencing homelessness. The COVID pandemic has necessarily changed the way Family Promise operates but First Congregational Church continues to support this work. For more information about the program visit their website: https://www.interfaith-coalition.org/family-promise.

FOOD BANK

The first Sunday of each month is Food First Sunday.  We collect monetary donations for the Food Bank because monetary donations allow the Food Bank to purchase perishable items and other items at discounted rates. The Bellingham Food Bank distributes food Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:30 to 3 pm and Wednesday evenings from 5:00–7:00 pm.  For more information about the food bank check out their website http://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org/home.

FRESH START

The Fresh Start was started and is maintained by the Pilgrim Circle. This ministry assists the Interfaith Coalition by supplying household goods to Interfaith's temporary housing units. When residents of temporary housing move into their own homes, Fresh Start also provides household goods to help these families in their transition. Fresh Start always welcomes donations of new or gently used household goods, such as linens, dishes, and kitchen supplies.

COMMUNITY MEAL

The Community Meal is served one Saturday a month at Assumption Church. Five hundred meals are served each time. Volunteers from First Congregational Church volunteer to serve, set up or clean up for the Community Meal. Contact the church office for more information about the Community Meal.


Forums & Studies

WEDNESDAY ADULT FORUMS

Adult Forums are held via a Zoom link on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 pm. Topics have included handling the emotional difficulties of sheltering in place during a pandemic, end of life planning, and environmental justice. Faith formation activites are available for children during the adult forums. Contact the church office, office@fccb.net, for more information.

TUESDAY MORNING
BOOK CLUB

This Book Club meets monthly to discuss books on the reading list voted on by club members. Members take turns as presenter, who provides background on the book or author and leads discussion, and host, who provides a snack and prepares coffee. Books are usually available at Village Books, or from the Book Club lending library. This group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am on Zoom. All are welcome to come to all or some!

THURSDAY EVENING
BOOK GROUP

Members of this group find it a good way to learn more about living our faith, take a deep dive into religions. It is also an opportunity for each member to be challenged about what they believe and accompany each other on their faith exploration journey. This group meets on Zoom on the second and fourth Thursdays at 5:00 pm.

ALL CHURCH READ

Periodically, the congregation is given the opportunity to read a book and hold discussions about the book. The books often focus on a social justice concern, or an aspect of spirituality. Past All Church Reads are: Breakfast at Sally's: One Homeless Man’s Inspirational Journey by Richard Le Mieux, The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus’s Final Days in Jerusalem by Marcus Borg & John Dominic Crossan, and Spiritual Defiance by Robin Meyers.

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JESUS SEMINAR

The Jesus Seminar study group reads and discusses the written material of the Westar Institute, as well as watching DVDs of presentations at a Westar Institute national meetings. If you are committed to religious literacy, find growth in open discussion about our religious traditions, and enjoy sharing aspects of your faith journey in a safe place, then you are welcome here. The Jesus Seminar meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month from 1:15-3:15 pm in Rooms 12/14.


Caring For One Another

STEPHEN MINISTERS

Stephen Ministers offer the presence of a caring, nonjudgmental friend and the ongoing emotional and spiritual support that helps people who are facing difficult times. They receive fifty hours of training before they are commissioned and paired with a person in need. They also meet as a group twice a month during their active ministry to discuss challenges they may face and to explore issues through continuing education. 

PARISH VISITORS 

These visitors are compassionate volunteers from our church community, each of whom is paired with one to four church members who are relatively isolated. Volunteers receive training before an assignment is made and they meet and/or talk by phone regularly with the people with whom they are matched. The intention is to provide meaningful social connections to the church community. Visitors meet as a group every two months to discuss visits, general health issues and comfort level of those visited.

FAITH COMMUNITY NURSES

Faith Community Nurses are pastorally called, spiritually mature, licensed registered nurses commissioned to serve the congregation. Focusing on the intentional care of body, mind and spirit, Faith Community Nurses seek to enhance the quality of life for First Congregational Church members and friends. FCNs are recognized by the American Nurses Association as nursing care specialists, and their work is governed by the Nurse Practice Act.

MEAL MINISTRY

Our Meal Ministry provides hot meals, delivered to members of our church family who are experiencing difficult times. Anyone is welcome to sign up to help coordinate this ministry, or be available to make a meal.


Boards

ARTS IN WORSHIP 

The Arts in Worship board promotes & oversees the use of music, drama, visual arts, dance in worship; aids in choir recruitment; promotes youth involvement in choirs; maintains instruments in good condition; supports instrumental & vocal concerts.

COMMUNICATION

This board's tasks are to oversee communications about First Congregational Church activities, both internally and externally, including through the Full Circle, First Congregational Church website, social media, traditional media, and display and print communications (e.g.: bulletin boards or brochures).

DIACONATE

This board cooperates with the pastor(s) in ministering to the spiritual interests of the church & community.  They assist in preparing & administering the sacraments; develop & supervise a group of church members skilled in ministering to the needs of the congregation in times of bereavement, physical, emotional & family crises (Called to Care); inviting Ushers and Greeters for worship services.

FAITH FORMATION

This board develops and provides classes and activities to promote faith formation for all ages. 

MEMBERSHIP

The Membership Board helps the pastors plan & conduct classes for prospective members; introduce new members into the life of the church & encourage their participation in worship & the educational, social & action groups of the church; recruit, train & schedule welcomers; identify & reach out to less-active members. te something here.

MINISTRY RESOURCES​​​​​​​

This board conducts a continuing program of ministry resource and funding education & annual funding campaign; seek donations of time & talent from congregation.

MISSION & JUSTICE

This board is tasked to address social justice issues, plan & coordinate programs to educate, inform & involve the congregation; promote within the church “Our Church’s Wider Mission”; plan special all-church offerings to promote the church’s mission.

TRUSTEES

The Trustees supervise the finances of the church; responsible for the care & custody of the property & funds of the church; report the church’s current financial condition to the congregation; oversee Audit, Fiscal, Investment and Gifts & Endowments committees.