We are a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States. Presbyterians are a denomination of Christians rooted in the Reformed Tradition, which is to say we are connected to the reformation movements of the 1500s which emphasize: (1) Election - God elects the people of God for service as well as for salvation; (2) Covenantal Life - We are connected to God through the covenant made by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and life in that covenant is marked by concern for order in the church and world according to the Word of God; (3) Faithful Stewardship - We seek to use God’s gifts to humanity justly by caring for God’s creation, using all that is entrusted to us with thoughtful care, and shunning ostentatious displays of wealth, piety, or anything which would focus attention on the individual rather than God; and (4) Human Sinfulness - We recognize the tendency of all humans to idolatry and tyranny, therefore we work for the transformation of society by seeking justice and living in obedience to the Word of God.

As Presbyterians in the 21st Century, we continue to reform by remaining open to change as we explore what it means to be Christians in the world in which we live, listen for God’s voice still speaking and calling us to action, and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.

But, above everything else, the single principle that grounds us is Jesus.

As Christians, our faith in Jesus is the foundation of who we are as a community. When we say “Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior” we affirm that Jesus, as God incarnate, lived, died, and was resurrected to reconcile humanity with God, closing the door on death forever. Faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior is all it takes for membership in our church.

We also believe that Jesus is the head of the church and that the church is his body. As Christ’s body, the church continues the work of Christ through its mission and ministry.

We believe that Sacraments are “the Word of God enacted and sealed in the life of the Church.” The Presbyterian (U.S.A.) church administers two Sacraments - Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism - “Baptism is the sign and seal of our incorporation into Jesus Christ.” In the Presbyterian church, parents often present their infant children for baptism because we believe that God claims all of us, no matter our age. At their presentation for baptism, the child’s parents and the church commit to the child that they will help them grow in their faith by teaching them the stories of Jesus and walking beside them all of their lives. But not just infants are baptized! We also baptize children, teens, and adults, making the same commitment to walking beside them through their faith journey.

The Lord’s Supper - “The Lord’s Supper is the sign and seal of our communion with the crucified and risen Lord.” All are welcome at the table when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, whether or not you’re Presbyterian, whether or not you’ve attended our church before, or whether or not you claim a Christian identity (because we know that you can meet Christ at the table, leading to faith in Christ). First Presbyterian celebrates the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, recognizing that we, as the body of Christ, need to commune with Christ as often as possible if we are to live into our mission.

Gathering for worship is more than simple ritual, it is the center of Christian life and the means by which we are equipped to be the body of Christ; the ministry of the Church is built on Word, font, and table. We gather together in worship as a sign of the unity we have been given in Christ.

Worship, aside from special services, is held on Sunday in recognition that Jesus rose from the grave on Sunday, therefore each time we gather for worship we celebrate the resurrection.

Worship at First Presbyterian is participatory rather than a show or something to be observed. Our worship contains: A Call to Worship; Prayers; Confession and Assurance of Pardon; Hymns/Songs; Scripture Reading; Sermon; Affirmation of Faith; Communion; and Benediction. Some elements change each week, others stay the same; each invites us to take part in God’s work in the world as the body of Christ.

Central to our faith is the Book of Confessions, the second half of the constitution of The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The creeds and confessions therein guide the Church as it studies and interprets Scripture; summarize the essential tenets of the Reformed tradition; direct the Church’s maintenance of sound doctrine; and equip the Church for work of the proclamation of the gospel. Each creed or confession in the Book of Confessions is grounded in the historical witness of people of faith, written in response to particular circumstances within a specific time and place in order to appeal to the universal truth of the Gospel within the social and cultural assumptions of that time and place. Though each creed and confession affirms the tenets of the Reformed tradition, they also frequently stand in tension with one another, reminding us that our understanding of God, faith, the church, etc. will always change through time and experience. The Book of Confessions is also not final. From time to time the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) decides to add another creed or confession because of its unique and authoritative witness to the faith of a person/people at a critical time in human history.

The creeds/confessions currently in the “Book of Confessions” are: The Nicene Creed; The Apostles’ Creed; The Scots Confession; The Heidelberg Catechism; The Second Helvetic Confession; The Westminster Confession of Faith; The Westminster Shorter Catechism; The Westminster Larger Catechism; The Theological Declaration of Barmen; The Confession of 1967; The Confession of Belhar; and A Brief Statement of Faith—Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

One of the core principles of Presbyterians is “God alone is Lord of the conscience.” This means that we believe that people of good character can differ on aspects of their faith and how they live it. So, we won’t tell you what to believe or how to live your faith, that’s up to you in your personal faith journey. We also will never tell you how to vote - though we will also not shy away from current events that demand a faith based response. If you have questions about faith, we’re here to walk beside you, but we’ll never prescribe what you must do or believe to be a “real Christian.”

And because we won’t tell you how or what to believe, we exercise “mutual forbearance.” We believe that it is the duty of individuals and societies to exercise kindness and respect toward each other despite their differences in order to maintain the unity won for us in Christ.

Leadership in our church is shared. The pastor has specific duties only they can do, but everything else is done by church members. The congregation elects elders to serve on our governing board (the Session) for three year terms. Any member of the church who demonstrates wisdom and maturity of faith and who has skills in leadership and is compassionate in spirit can be an elder - men and women, young and old, gay and straight, rich and poor, conservative and liberal; God calls all to service in the church and beyond.

Beyond the local church, we are governed in councils made up, in equal number, of pastors and elders. The Presbytery governs a region of churches, the Synod governs a region of Presbyteries, and the General Assembly in the highest council of the church. This form of governance gives power to the people of the church while maintaining order.

Though we treasure the tenants of the Presbyterian Church and the Reformed tradition, we are welcoming of any who grew up outside of the Presbyterian church. We also cooperate with other faith traditions in service to the community because we believe that God calls us all to love and serve our neighbors.