A Disciples Church in Downtown Chico
First Christian Church sits at 295 E. Washington Avenue in Chico, on the eastern edge of the city next to Chico Junior High and the Chico Cemetery. Across the years, this congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has built a reputation as an inclusive, affirming community where the catchphrase "All means all" is taken literally. Visitors arriving for worship, memorial services, weddings, or one of the many community groups hosted in the building find a sanctuary with pews, a fellowship hall called Koinonia Hall, a community garden, classrooms, and partners in ministry that include a Spanish-speaking Iglesia de Cristo congregation and a free medical clinic.
Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m.
Worship gathers in the main sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. The atmosphere is relaxed. People wear what they wear, and the music shifts week to week between guitars and an organ-piano pairing. Every service includes singing, Scripture reading, prayer, and at its heart a celebration of Holy Communion. The communion table is open to everyone - "the table belongs to Christ, not to us." Worship bulletins and children's bulletins are uploaded each week, and the same service is livestreamed on Facebook Live and Zoom, then archived on the church's YouTube channel the next business day.
The senior pastor is the Rev. Jesse Kearns, who has served the congregation since December 2007. He is an ordained Disciples minister with a background in outdoor ministry and a passion for camping, kayaking, caving, and hiking. His wife, Rev. Ch. Mary Kearns, is also an ordained Disciples pastor and an ACP-certified chaplain, and she occasionally preaches or presides at special services. Guest preachers fill the pulpit on rotation; recent guest speakers have included Rev. Eileen O. Brownell, Max Feiler (M.Div.), Joe Rogers, Charlotte Thompson, Rev. Georgeanne Bennett, Rev. Gail Hill of neighboring Chico First Baptist Church, and Rev. Dr. LaMarco Antonio Cable. The congregation regularly worships jointly with Chico First Baptist Church, including a shared Christmas Eve candlelight service and an Epiphany potluck.
Sermons are rooted in the lectionary and travel through extended series. One long-running study, "What Disciples Do," has produced titles such as Live for Jesus, Live the Dream, Live By Faith, Practice Hope, Put Away Our Judgy-Bits, Wrestle With God, Plan Ahead Be Flexible, Take Their Faith Home, Live Generously, Seeking Others, and Radical Commitment. Recent sermons have drawn on texts from Romans, Matthew, Genesis, Acts, Luke, John, and Ephesians, with titles including "Wait, That's Not Fair!," "The Math of Forgiveness," "Restorative Justice," "Pretending or Becoming," "Living Sacrifices," and "It's All About Grace."
"All Means All"
The phrase "All means all," heard across Disciples of Christ churches, is central to First Christian's identity. The congregation is open about being an LGBTQI-inclusive and affirming church. "Pastor Jesse is deeply committed to justice around sexual orientation and gender identity," the church states. The building has hosted Trans Awareness Week training with Stonewall Alliance of Chico, and same-sex couples have married in the sanctuary.
The welcome extends to people across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, and ability. Newcomers can expect to be greeted individually; no one is asked to stand up and introduce themselves to the whole congregation unless they want to. Childcare is provided for children ages seven and under during the 10:00 a.m. service for most of the year.
Adult Christian Education
Two adult education offerings anchor the church's week.
Sacred Grounds, the Sunday morning discussion group, meets at 8:30 a.m. in Room 6 and on Zoom during the hour before worship. The group blends Bible study, current-events discussion, and book study, with an emphasis on building an inclusive society. No preparation is needed; drop-ins are welcome.
Bible Study runs in 8 to 10-week sessions throughout the year, meeting on Zoom and in person in Room 6 on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Recent courses have included "It's Clobberin' Time!," a seven-week introduction to hermeneutics - the art and practice of interpreting Scripture - led by Pastor Jesse, which wrestles with passages often used as theological weapons: "Women Should Be Silent," "Homosexuality Is an Abomination," and "Prepare For the Rapture." Past studies have included Michele Norris's Our Hidden Conversations, Alan Wolfelt's Understanding Your Grief, studies on the Kings of Israel, the Book of Revelation, "First Isaiah" from Mary Donavan Turner's New Interpreter's Bible commentary, wisdom literature, and a study of Jesus and the Prophets led by Rev. Gail Hill. Bible study is offered jointly with Chico First Baptist, alternating between the two congregations.
Children and Sunday School
During the 10:00 a.m. service, Sunday School is offered for children in fourth grade and younger. Childcare is provided in the nursery for children ages seven and under. Children's bulletins are printed each week so younger worshippers can follow along with the service.
Small Groups and Fellowship
- Upbeats Music Jam - a musical group that meets at 10 a.m. on Thursdays in Room 4, open to musicians of all levels.
- Disciple Women's Ministry (DWM) - a service group open to all women of the church, meeting on the third Tuesday of each month from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., September through May. The circle reaches out to homebound members at Christmas and Easter and hosts an annual bazaar on the first Saturday in November to fund kitchen supplies and outreach ministries.
- Koinonia Krafters - a crafting group that meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room.
- Healing Circle - meets on the fourth Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Bethany Room. Open to all members, particularly those journeying through chronic illness, caregivers, or anyone experiencing a stressful period. What is shared in the circle stays in the circle.
- Women's Bunco Group - meets on the fourth Friday at 7:00 p.m. A fun gathering; no experience necessary and no cost.
Uplift Boutique and Foster Family Support
In partnership with The Forgotten Initiative, First Christian operates the Uplift Boutique, a free family resource serving reunified families and RFA or kinship homes with active placements in Butte, Glenn, and Tehama counties. The boutique is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 10. Children's clothing, kitchen items, sheets, towels, and cleaning kits are available to qualifying community families at no charge.
Partners in Ministry
The church shares its building with several partners. Aqua Viva Iglesia de Cristo, a Spanish-speaking congregation, worships at 1 p.m. on Sundays in the sanctuary and hosts prayer vigils and other events there. Shalom Free Clinic provides free medical care; Pastor Jesse has served as the clinic's past Board President. Scouting America Pack 2 and Troop 2 meet weekly in the Fireside Room and Koinonia Hall.
The building also hosts a wide range of community support groups. Although First Christian has no formal affiliation with these groups, the church gladly provides meeting space:
- Al-Anon - Wednesdays 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. and Fridays 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Room 5
- Marijuana Anonymous - Wednesdays 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Room 5
- Sex Addicts Anonymous - Thursdays 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., Room 5
- Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous - Sundays 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Room 5
- Wellness Warriors - Tuesdays 11 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Room 5
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - Tuesdays 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., Room 6
- North Valley Intergroup - second Tuesday 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Room 5
- Journeys of the Heart Bereavement Group - Sundays 2:00 p.m., Spiritual Care Center
- North Valley Orchid Society - Sundays 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., five times a year
Outside the building, First Christian partners with Stonewall Alliance of Chico, Torres Shelter, Jesus Center, and the Forgotten Initiative. The Chico Area Interfaith Council lists Pastor Jesse as Vice President, and he hosts the Peace and Social Justice program on KZFR community radio on the third Friday of each month.
Community Garden
Behind the church building, a community garden offers assigned plots to members and friends of the church who agree to the Community Garden Covenant. First Christian provides water and serves as the governing authority. Gardeners follow water-wise guidelines, keep plots free of weeds and pests, clear plant material at season's end, and agree to a no-tolerance policy on alcohol, drugs, weapons, and pets. Plots are limited to plants that grow no higher than six feet, and invasive species like rosemary, bamboo, and mint are not allowed. Plot holders who fail to respond to two written notices lose gardening privileges for one year. The UC Master Gardeners of Butte County is referenced as a regional gardening resource.
Blue Cloud Arts Production
Blue Cloud Arts Production is the church's in-house devotional creation group. Contributions are invited from across the congregation: paintings, photography, quilts, knitting, embroidery, poetry, prose, and reflections on the faith journey. The group publishes a monthly zine, available in print and digital form.
Weddings and Memorials
First Christian hosts weddings in its sanctuary, which seats over 250 in pews. An FCC minister must officiate, though other clergy may participate. Couples do not need to be church members. The sanctuary backs onto a balcony for unobtrusive photography during the ceremony; flash photography is not permitted during the service itself. The building is non-smoking, and rice, confetti, and similar materials may not be thrown. Estimated cost for a sanctuary wedding is $905; a sanctuary wedding with a reception in Koinonia Hall runs about $1,960.
The Memorial Planning Guide on the church's site encourages members to record their wishes in advance so families are not left making decisions during grief. The guide emphasizes that services should be a time of celebration and meaningful remembrance, and walks families through working with the church's minister and staff.
Music and Worship Leadership
Music at First Christian is led by organist and pianist Nancy Thompson, who also serves as Treasurer, and pianist Joshua Hegg. The Upbeats Music Jam gathers musicians of all levels on Thursday mornings, and the 10 a.m. Sunday service alternates between contemporary and traditional instrumentation.
Accessibility
The sanctuary, Koinonia Hall, classrooms, and most meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible, with doors 32 inches or wider and pew spaces for wheelchairs. The only wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are in Koinonia Hall. The basement, baptistry, upper room, some storage rooms, and some bathrooms are not wheelchair accessible.
Disciples of Christ Heritage
First Christian is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a denomination with roots in the United States and Canada and new churches in the Congo. Disciples congregations vary in style but share a commitment to unity and justice. Common practices include:
- Open Communion - celebrated in weekly worship and open to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
- Biblical Faith - loving the Bible and taking it seriously with both mind and heart.
- The Oneness of the Church - seeking common witness and service across Christian traditions.
- Freedom of Belief - no creed beyond Jesus as Lord and Savior; each person is free to follow conscience, guided by Bible study, the Holy Spirit, and prayer.
- Baptism by Immersion - while Disciples typically baptize by immersion, other baptism traditions are honored.
- The Priesthood of All Believers - men, women, and youth serve in all phases of church life.
- Mission - voices for justice, mercy, and peace, with time, talent, and money committed to that mission.
- Covenantal Relationships - each congregation is autonomous but chooses to be related in a distinctive covenant.
The church is part of the Northern California-Nevada region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Leadership and Governance
The congregation is led by Rev. Jesse Kearns, Senior Pastor, supported by a Board elected at the annual business meeting each November. The 2026 leaders include Maxwell Erwin (Moderator), Cynthia Cantwell (Vice-Moderator), Carolyn Driscoll (Secretary), Nancy Thompson (Treasurer), Peggy Davidson (Congregational Life), Georgia Nelson (Outreach), Georgeanne Bennett (Administrative Ministry Leader and Financial Secretary), Leslie Moore (Member At Large), and Carolyn Hicks (Endowment Trustee). Elders serving through December 31, 2027 are Barbara Poetker, Nancy Morgans-Ferguson, Jean McKay, Georgeanne Bennett, and Bill Peterson. Music ministry is led by organist Nancy Thompson and pianist Joshua Hegg.
Building and Facilities
The campus includes the Sanctuary (over 250 in pews), Koinonia Hall fellowship space (185 dining, 390 chairs; stage and sound system; available Fridays and Saturdays), the Chapel (35 seats), the Fireside Room (59 dining, 80 chairs), Room 6 (about 25, used for Sunday School and Bible Study), the Bethany Room, the kitchen (not commercial; requires training to use the dishwasher), and the community garden. Members and registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits may reserve space; the building is not available on Sundays. Fees range from $65 to $415 depending on the room and setup, with a $150 refundable deposit. An "Imagine More" capital campaign has raised $97,776 toward a $250,000 three-year goal, with painting and HVAC replacements already completed.
Stay Connected
First Christian publishes a monthly newsletter, The Caller, and a weekly shorter newsletter, the Callerito. Both can be received by email subscription. The church's online directory is hosted through ServantKeeper, accessible to members with a password from the church office. Sunday sermons appear on the YouTube channel the day after each service, and the church is active on Facebook and Instagram.