An Open and Affirming Church on High Street
Set on the historic town green in Suffield, Connecticut, First Church of Christ, Congregational, United Church of Christ, is a long-standing congregation with a porch open to anyone who walks through it. The church's mission statement reads: "As disciples of Jesus and stewards of God's creation, we joyfully worship, faithfully serve, and generously give so lives may be transformed." Three descriptors guide that mission: First Church is an Open and Affirming congregation, an Accessible to All congregation, and a Green Church, and it belongs to the United Church of Christ.
The building sits at 81 High Street and houses a sanctuary, chapel, fellowship hall, conference rooms and offices, along with a Memorial Garden that overlooks the older cemetery behind the church. Inside, a three-part music program fills the sanctuary each Sunday. Outside, the congregation packs meals, knits prayer shawls, runs bake sales, and hosts recovery groups that meet week after week in the building's conference rooms.
Sunday Morning Worship at 10
Worship gathers in the sanctuary every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. The service is also livestreamed on YouTube, with previous services archived on the church's YouTube channel, and a weekly bulletin that can be viewed through a QR code in the sanctuary.
First Church describes its welcome in plain language: "You are created in the image of God and have many gifts to share with the world. With this belief, we gather to walk in the ways and teachings of Jesus Christ, so that we might bring light and love into a beautiful and hurting world." Visitors are encouraged to come as they are. On the question of dress, the church's own FAQ answers with a touch of humor: "Come worship however you feel comfortable, but perhaps not like Adam and Eve. Some people come in very casual attire, others in more formal dress, and we all worship together."
After worship, the congregation gathers in the Ebenezer Gay Room for Fellowship Time, with coffee, tea, and light refreshments. It is a regular chance to catch up with friends, greet newcomers, and learn more about the life of the church.
A Music Ministry with a Three-Part Sound
Music is central to worship at First Church. In any given Sunday you may hear the Chancel Choir, the Sonotori handbell choir, guest artists, or all three. Each group has its own personality and its own schedule.
The Chancel Choir, led by Director of Worship Arts Amy Pott, is a group of singers ranging from high school students to adults. Rehearsals are held on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The choir presents musical selections in weekly Sunday worship, draws on diverse styles, and joins other local groups for community events such as the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Third Baptist Church in Suffield. No audition is required; all are welcome.
The Sonotori Ringers, the church's handbell choir, perform a wide range of challenging arrangements from traditional hymns to contemporary pieces. Practices are on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m., and the church offers to teach anyone who would like to join but has no experience.
For singers who enjoy choral music but cannot commit to a weekly rehearsal, the Congregational Choir meets once a month prior to the Sunday service, learns a selection together, and presents it in worship that same morning. Members of the Chancel Choir are present to lend support, and there is no experience necessary.
Guest artists appear regularly. Past guests have included local students and professionals who have performed at Carnegie Hall. In addition, Amy Pott writes a weekly Arts Corner that highlights a topic in music, dance, visual art, theater, or literature, recent examples being a profile of composer Florence Price and a profile of glass artist Dale Chihuly.
Children at the Center of the Sanctuary
First Church states: "Right from birth, your children are spiritual beings, beloved by God." Children are invited to remain in the sanctuary throughout worship, and at a designated Time with the Children, Pastor Chris invites them to the front of the room to take part in a brief message together.
For very young children and those who need to move, the church maintains a Pray Ground at the back of the sanctuary. The Pray Ground is a developmentally appropriate space with soft toys, quiet toys, books, coloring pages, and other interactive options. There is also a Cozy Corner in the Ebenezer Gay Room for children who need a quieter setting. Kid's Worship Bags are available at both entrances to the sanctuary for any child who would like one.
Hands on Faith is the children's ministry program, offering fun and instructional activities during worship. The church also runs Pew Pal Parables, a weekly email series in which a small character named Pew Pal sends the congregation a short message and story.
Older children and youth in grades 7 through 12 are invited to take part in Confirmation, described by the church as a six-month journey of what it means to follow in the teachings of Jesus. Confirmation is presented as a lifelong process that begins at baptism and continues throughout a Christian's life.
Youth and young adults serve in visible ways. They assist with Hands on Faith, serve communion, usher, and help lead mission events. The church also points families toward United Church of Christ youth events across the Southern New England Conference.
Adult Faith Formation Beyond the Classroom
The Adult Faith Development ministry frames the spiritual life as a journey: "We all are on a spiritual journey. At First Church, we offer many opportunities for you to learn and grow in your faith." Questions and doubts are welcomed as part of growing.
Offerings include occasional book chats and studies on current event topics such as racism and immigration, as well as informal lunches at a local park, restaurant, or brewery for general conversation and faith-filled reflection. "Recognizing that gathering together is also a spiritual discipline" shapes the rhythm of these gatherings. A wine, cheese, and book evening in the Ebenezer Gay Room has been a recent example, with the congregation reading and discussing books like Fredrik Backman's Anxious People.
Missions That Travel Near and Far
First Church's Missions and Outreach team points to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 as the motivation behind its work: "to make disciples of all nations." The team organizes a steady stream of local, national, and international partnerships.
The Going the Extra Mile Offering is a long-standing monthly tradition. Each month the team designates an organization that aligns with the church's mission, and recent beneficiaries have included Church World Service, Heifer International, Revitalize CDC, and Cancer Hope House. An annual September offering honors the legacy of Dean and Virginia Caswell in support of Habitat for Humanity.
Other named partnerships include:
- Rise Against Hunger, a global effort to end hunger; the congregation periodically gathers to package dried meals.
- Cathedral in the Night, an outdoor Christian community in downtown Northampton, Massachusetts, that creates a safe place for people who are homeless or church-less. First Church prepares, transports, and serves a Sunday evening meal roughly once a quarter.
- Habitat for Humanity Faith Build days, with members volunteering alongside other faith groups.
- Loaves and Fishes in Enfield, Connecticut, a food pantry the congregation supports by donating sandwiches every Thursday, year-round.
- Church World Service, a faith-based organization working on hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster; the church holds annual collections of school kits and hygiene kits.
The church's Blessing Box sits in front of the building, stocked with free nonperishable food and toiletries for anyone in need. The Mary Memorial Garden front yard bin and its regular restocking connect First Church directly to neighbors walking or driving past on High Street.
Women of Faith Building Community
Women's Fellowship describes itself as "a community of women of all ages, gathering to grow our faith, support one another, and put God's love into action through meaningful service." Activities include social dinners and banquets, planning meetings in the chapel and online, and Fellowship Hours after Sunday worship.
The group supports missions throughout the year. Bake sales, auctions, basket raffles, and annual collections fund special mission events, with the annual Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event as a flagship project. Members also participate in flower dedications, outreach projects, and the Advent pancake breakfast, and they run booths at Christmas in Suffield.
On Sunday mornings, the Chancel Guild places floral arrangements in the sanctuary. Anyone can sponsor an arrangement for $35 to honor a milestone, remember a loved one, or simply offer a gift of beauty to the glory of God.
Parish Care, Prayer Shawls, and a Memorial Garden
Parish Care at First Church is a lay-led ministry. A team of volunteers makes home visits, sends greeting cards and letters, delivers flowers, and prays for members and friends in need. The team is, in the church's words, "an essential element of our congregation contributing to its core values of compassion, community and love."
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is a long-running expression of that care. A dedicated group of knitters and crocheters create shawls for those who are grieving or struggling, with a prayer attached to each one. New knitters are welcome; the church provides patterns and yarn, and shawls made at home can also be donated.
The Memorial Garden sits at the rear of the church, overlooking the older cemetery and offering views of Suffield. The church offers memorial services and burial in the Memorial Garden as a way to remember the lives of church members and the importance of the church in their lives.
For members who are homebound or infirm and unable to attend church, First Church offers Home Communion Visitation, bringing the sacrament to those who would like to receive it.
A Community Hub for Recovery and Resources
First Church has built a network of partnerships with local support groups, allowing it to host meetings and connect people to resources. The upstairs North Conference Room and the lower Fellowship Hall are regular meeting places for the congregation's community work.
- Phoenix Group AA meets Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the upstairs North Conference Room.
- Suffield Men's Group AA meets Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the lower Fellowship Hall.
- Families Anonymous, for family and friends affected by someone else's drug, alcohol, or related behavioral problems, meets Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. online.
The conference rooms also host occasional Narcotics Anonymous meetings and town-centered events. First Church connects people with Findhelp, Suffield Community Aid, food resources, and shelters in the area.
Accessibility Built Into the Building
First Church is fully accessible. The Sanctuary, Chapel, Preschool, Conference Rooms, Fellowship Hall, and Offices can all be reached without steps. A ramp at the main entrance and an elevator in the main lobby serve the lower Fellowship Hall, ground-floor lobby, Preschool and Chapel level, and Office and Conference Room floors. Fully accessible bathrooms are available in Fellowship Hall and the Sanctuary Narthex.
For worship, the church offers personal audio enhancement receivers and headphones in the Sanctuary, and large-print versions of the weekly bulletin are available on request from an usher.
Beliefs Rooted in the United Church of Christ
First Church's statement of welcome reads: "No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here." Four commitments shape the congregation's life: Welcoming, "by opening our hearts, hands and doors to all"; Accepting, "enriched and strengthened by our differences"; Faith-building, supporting one another in a deeper relationship with God and Jesus Christ; and Service-minded, following Jesus's example by ministering to and caring for all.
As an Open and Affirming congregation, First Church has made a public covenant of welcome into the full life and ministry of the church to people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions, grounded in Galatians 3:28: "In Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one."
The congregation belongs to the United Church of Christ and confesses faith in the triune God: Creator, resurrected Christ (the sole Head of the church), and the Holy Spirit, who guides and brings about the creative and redemptive work of God in the world.
Staff and Leadership
Pastor Chris Hart serves as Interim Minister and can be reached through the church office. Pastor Chris leads the Time with the Children each Sunday, hosts the summer S'more Wisdom campfire conversations on the church grounds, and preaches through the seasons of the church year.
Amy Pott is Director of Worship Arts, leading the Chancel Choir, organizing guest artists, and writing the weekly Arts Corner.
Amber Bigley is the Office Manager, and Zak Wosko is the Audio/Video Technician who supports the livestream.
The Office Manager and Audio/Video Technician keep the building, calendar, and Sunday livestream running week to week. Anyone interested in baptism, weddings, membership, or funeral arrangements is invited to reach out through the office by phone at (860) 668-7223 or by email at office@fcsuffield.org.