At the corner of Darrow Road and Kent Road, across from the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, First Christian Church of Stow has been gathering for worship since 1831. One of the oldest congregations in the city, the church sits at the geographical heart of Stow and describes itself as a friendly, welcoming, vibrant, musical church that offers ministries for the youngest child to the most seasoned adult. Its members belong to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement shaped by an open communion table, the priesthood of all believers, and a deep commitment to Christian unity. The congregation's full name, First Christian Church of Stow, is shortened in conversation to FCC Stow.
A Heritage Going Back to 1831
The story of First Christian Church of Stow begins in 1831, when the congregation was organized as the Stow Church of Christ. It is one of the oldest congregations in the city. Nearly two centuries later, that original impulse still defines the church: a community of believers that strives to share the love of God with others, as taught by the scriptures and illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
The congregation belongs to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement founded in the early 1800s in the United States. Its founders envisioned a united church of Jesus Christ modeled on the New Testament, structured around the biblical idea of covenant rather than obedience to human authority. The Disciples' red chalice with a white St. Andrew's Cross, the church's logo, holds that history visibly. The chalice symbolizes the centrality of communion in worship, and the X-shaped cross of the disciple Andrew serves as a reminder of the ministry of each person and the importance of evangelism, recalling the denomination's Scottish Presbyterian ancestry.
The Open Table and the Priesthood of All Believers
Two commitments shape the congregation's identity more than any others: the open table and the priesthood of all believers. At First Christian Church of Stow, Holy Communion is offered every Sunday to all who desire God's forgiveness and grace through the sacraments. Membership or church affiliation is not a requirement to partake. Grape juice is used instead of wine, and communion is available at the Sanctuary doors for those who wish to receive it as they come and go.
For Disciples, the open table is a powerful symbol of a deep commitment to Christian unity. It honors diversity even as it celebrates unity in Christ. "We don't stay at the table," the church teaches. "We move out into the world to fulfill our mission, to be and share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth."
The priesthood of all believers is celebrated each year on Laity Sunday, a long-held tradition at FCC Stow. On that day members are invited to take part in leading each element of the worship service, reinforcing the conviction that both ministers and lay persons lead in worship, service, and spiritual growth. The church rejoices in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the gift of leadership, which God has given for the common good.
Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary
Worship is at the center of life at First Christian Church of Stow. The Sunday Sanctuary Service is held at 10:30 a.m. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the summer schedule moves worship to 10:00 a.m. The 10:30 a.m. service is also livestreamed on Facebook Live for those who cannot be present.
Each Sunday service includes hymns, contemporary songs, scripture, sermon, prayer, and communion, with a Children's Message added at the 10:30 a.m. service. The worship blends traditional and contemporary elements, an intentional choice the church describes as "Not too big; Not too small." The music ministry at FCC Stow is wide-ranging, and the chancel choir, handbell choirs, children's choir, and praise band all contribute to the Sunday sound.
When a worshipper arrives, a greeter hands them a Sunday bulletin. A Sunday Connection Card inside the bulletin invites visitors to record their name, address, and phone number if they wish, and to share prayer requests or joys and concerns. Completed cards can be placed in the offering plate.
Special worship services mark the seasons of the Christian year. Christmas Eve brings a 7:00 pm Child-Friendly and Candlelight Service, followed by a 10:00 pm Candlelight Service with a musical prelude beginning at 9:30 pm. Ash Wednesday is observed with a 6:30 pm time of worship and a light soup dinner in the gym, including imposition of ashes on the forehead or hand. Maundy Thursday brings an Agape Service. Easter Sunday includes a 7:00 am Sunrise Service and the regular 10:30 am Worship. Laity Sunday each year is a particular highlight of congregational life.
A Music Ministry for Every Voice
Music is one of the most distinctive features of FCC Stow. The church describes itself as a "musical church," and there is a place for nearly everyone who wants to participate.
The Chancel Choir is open to all adults and high school age students, rehearsing Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9. The choir generally sings every Sunday and at special holiday services. Spiritus, an advanced choral ensemble, is fulfilled by invited membership only.
Joy Bells is an advanced handbell choir for adults and high school students. Rehearsals are Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 7:15. Joy Bells plays once a month in church and at several outside events. Joyful Noise is the church's beginner and intermediate handbell ensemble. No experience is needed to start making a Joyful Noise. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. The Way is the church's praise band that performs during the worship service. Anyone who plays guitar, drum set, auxiliary percussion, or bass (acoustic or electric) is welcome to come and join on Sunday mornings. Resurrection Brass is a special ensemble that plays on Easter and other special events throughout the year. Silent Praise performs at the Christmas Eve Service, using sign language to tell the story of the Savior's birth as the congregation sings "Silent Night."
Children also have their own ensembles. The Children's Choir rehearses during Junior Church on Sunday mornings and sings in church once a month. The Children's Bell Choir, called Crusader Bells, meets on Sundays for 30 minutes, beginning ten minutes after the service ends. The Directors of Music are Dr. Ralph Lorenz and Cheryl Neff Lorenz. Andrea Drews serves as Organist and Accompanist.
FCC Kids: From Nursery through Fifth Grade
Children are always welcome in worship at First Christian Church of Stow. Child care is available for infants through pre-K during the worship service. Worship Activity Bags are available in the Sanctuary for children to use during the service.
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade begin worship in the Sanctuary with their families. After the Children's Message, they have the opportunity to attend Junior Church. All youth in fifth grade or older who have not been baptized or who want to make a reaffirmation of their baptism, together with their parents, are invited to be part of Pastor's Class during Lent.
Vacation Bible School is held one week in July in the evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Children three years old through fifth grade are welcome to join. The Directors of Christian Education are Richelle Aukeman and Anna Lloyd, who can be reached at christianed@firstchristianstow.org.
FCC Youth: Grades Six through Twelve
FCC Youth is open to all youth in sixth grade and up, along with their friends. The Youth Group meets every other week on Sundays after church for fellowship and fun. The Director of Youth Ministries is Emily Sanko.
Adults in Formation and Fellowship
Sunday School is offered at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. The class meets in Room 202; turn left at the library and it is the second door on the right. Over the past several years the class has studied both Old and New Testament books, taking a dual approach to each book, first from the perspective of the original audience and then looking for ways to apply the message to life in the present. The class approaches the Bible with humility, putting aside what they think they know and focusing on hearing the voice of the Lord.
The Christian Women's Fellowship (CWF) at FCC Stow includes all women of the congregation. Two active groups meet monthly. The Dorcas/Rebekah Guild meets on the second Thursday of each month at noon, and the Mary-Martha Circle meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm. An annual Women's Retreat is held each fall, either at the church or at an outside location. The CWF is part of the wider Disciples Women organization of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
A Heart for Stow: Outreach Ministries
Outreach is woven through the life of FCC Stow. Several standing partnerships shape the congregation's work beyond its walls.
Loaves & Fishes is a free community meal hosted on the third Sunday of each month from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The lower level entrance is used for the drive-thru and carry-out service. In January 2021 the takeout meal was expanded to include a bag with a selection of shelf-stable food items from the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank to help those in need stretch their food budget.
FCC Stow supports the Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldog Bags program. The first Bulldog Bags were sent to homes on January 29, 2016, and the program has continued to grow, now supporting more than 500 students in Pre-K through grade 10. Beyond the original weekend bag, with breakfast, lunch, and snack items, the program has expanded to include Bulldog Cupboards at the middle and high school levels and family-sized monthly Bulldog Boxes for continued support during the summer. Each month the congregation collects a specific item to be donated to Bulldog Bags for distribution.
First Christian Church of Stow is a supporting congregation for Family Promise of Summit County, working in partnership with a host church, St. Stephens Lutheran Church in Stow, to provide volunteers for about four weeks a year. Family Promise helps homeless families with children stay together and achieve sustainable independence.
Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. Each year in February, congregations across the two countries collect a special offering for Week of Compassion, and the church hosts a bake sale one Sunday in February with all proceeds going toward that offering.
The Christmas Ingathering program has existed for many years. It provides a box of nonperishable food, a $50 voucher for perishable groceries, gifts for children, and an adult gift for every adult in the household. In 2019, 50 families were served, including 42 families with children and a total of 97 children served. The program is sustained by the generosity of community sponsors and congregation members.
Fun and Fellowship Traditions
Several annual events have become beloved traditions at FCC Stow. The 4th of July Pancake Breakfast is held each July 4th from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m., a community fixture that the church describes as "not the 4th of July in Stow without hotdogs, hamburgers, fireworks, the biggest and best parade in the land, and of course PANCAKES."
The Winter Super Soup Cookoff is typically scheduled for a Sunday afternoon in January. Attendees come hungry and ready to vote for the best soup, with Gold, Silver, and Bronze spoons awarded to winners. FCC also hosts a free community Trunk or Treat event on a Sunday afternoon in October. Volunteers are needed to host trunks and help run the event.
Sketti & Skits is the church's annual spaghetti dinner and talent show, a time-honored tradition where the food is great and the entertainment is even better. All proceeds go toward Christian Education and the Youth Activity Fund.
Scouting at the Church
FCC Stow is a charter home for scouting. Cub Scout Pack 3169 from Highland Elementary School in Stow meets for Den Meetings at the church on Tuesday evenings. Boy Scout Troop 169 also meets at FCC Stow on Tuesday evenings.
The Pastoral Voice of Rev. Jonathan Rumburg
Senior Pastor Rev. Jonathan Rumburg, who encourages people to call him Jonathan, has served FCC Stow for more than ten years. A native Ohioan from Wooster, he was raised at Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and went on to earn a bachelor of arts in Religious Studies from Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia, before completing a Master of Divinity at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky. He served as Associate Pastor of First Christian Church of Wadsworth, Ohio, for more than six years before answering the call to come to FCC Stow.
Pastor Jonathan's preaching is conversational and scripturally rooted, with a regular rhythm of weekly sermons archived. He also writes the church's monthly Pathways newsletter, with issues going back more than a decade available as PDFs. The congregation is invited to subscribe to receive the newsletter electronically.
A prayer chain is also part of the church's pastoral care. Those interested in receiving prayer requests for the church family, their friends, family, and others for whom prayer is sought can join the Prayer Request Email List through a form on the prayer chain page.
What Visitors Can Expect
First Christian Church of Stow aims to be accessible to anyone who walks through its doors. The sanctuary sits at a familiar crossroads in the city, across Darrow Road from the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library. A greeter will hand each visitor a Sunday bulletin on arrival, and there is no dress code beyond comfortable clothing suitable for worship.
Children are welcome in worship, with Worship Activity Bags available and a Children's Message each week. Junior Church for kindergarten through fifth grade follows the Children's Message, and child care for infants through pre-K is provided during the service. Communion is open to all who confess their faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of membership, with grape juice available at the Sanctuary doors for those who prefer to receive it as they come or go.
Giving is available in several ways: secure electronic giving through Vanco, one-time giving through PayPal, and adding the church as a Bill Pay designation through a personal bank. The Pathways newsletter and Sunday bulletin are published regularly, and the weekly sermon archive is available online for catch-up or further reflection.
FCC Stow does not try to be all things to all people. Rather, as Pastor Jonathan often puts it, "we work really hard to be the church God calls us to be, because in the end, that's all God expects from us." From the open table at the heart of worship to the monthly community meal, from Junior Church on a Sunday morning to Boy Scouts on a Tuesday evening, from the chancel choir to Joyful Noise, the congregation offers a long heritage to anyone who comes looking for a community of faith at the crossroads of Kent and Darrow Roads.