The Friendly Church on the Hill
Set on Pleasant Street in Methuen, Massachusetts, First Church Congregational has long been known around town as "the friendly church on the hill." The congregation was organized on October 29, 1729, and has been in continuous worship ever since, making it one of the oldest congregations in the Merrimack Valley. Three meetinghouses have stood on or near the present site: the first was dedicated in 1728 near the old burial ground on Meeting House Hill, the second was dedicated in 1796 and relocated to the current property in 1832, and the present granite edifice, built of Pelham granite with hand-hewn timbers from the 1796 building still supporting the floor, was dedicated on October 3, 1855. Because of its historical significance and unique Gothic architecture, First Church is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
First Church is a progressive, inclusive mainline Protestant congregation and a member of the United Church of Christ. It is actively involved in the Northeast Association of the Southern New England Conference, UCC, and seeks conversation with other faith communities in the area through interfaith and ecumenical opportunities. Its three-fold mission, distilled into nine words, reads: Seeking God. Caring for Each Other. Improving Our Community.
Sunday Mornings at Ten
Sunday morning worship is the center of life at First Church. Services are held in person every Sunday at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary. Each week offers vibrant worship that connects scripture to everyday life, with preaching that engages both heart and mind. The bulletin is designed to be user-friendly, with all responses and prayers printed and gentle directions about when to stand, so that first-time worshipers feel at ease. The congregation embraces an open and affirming spirit, welcoming people of all races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, family structures, faith backgrounds, abilities, and economic circumstances into the full life and ministry of the church.
The Sacrament of Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month, with additional celebrations at other points in the liturgical year. The communion table is open to all, and grape juice is served, with water available for those who prefer it. Both regular and gluten-free crackers are offered for the bread. Baptisms are celebrated in the context of worship and can be arranged for children, youth, or adults; a deacon is always present to give guidance and support.
Children are a welcome part of worship. On Sunday School mornings, children spend the first part of the service with their families and then gather for a Children's Message before being excused to class. Infants are always welcome, and rocking chairs and a small activity table with books, coloring pages, and crayons are provided at the back of the sanctuary. Worship is followed by a coffee hour in the Parish Hall, or on the front lawn when weather permits, where many stay for thirty minutes or more to catch up with friends.
For those who cannot attend in person, services are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel.
Music That Spans Three Centuries
Music has always held a special place in the life of First Church. Even under the strict disciplines of its Puritan founders, congregational hymn singing was considered integral to worship. Today the music program, led by Minister of Music Emile R. "Mike" Boutin, Jr., spans everything from simple hymns to world music, African American spirituals, Baroque and Renaissance works, and contemporary composers such as Lloyd Larson and Mary MacDonald.
The Chancel Choir, made up of singers from high school through adult, rehearses on Sunday mornings at 8:30 AM and occasionally midweek in preparation for Music Sundays. A Children's Choir performs several times a year, and the First Church Bells handbell choir, directed by Paul DeLabruere, provides music on special Sundays throughout the year. Guest trumpets, flutes, cello, drums, and other instrumentalists regularly enrich worship, and professional singers and instrumentalists join for major services such as the Advent and Palm Sunday Cantatas.
The sanctuary is also home to one of the great treasures of American organbuilding. The 1886 James E. Treat Opus 1 pipe organ, originally built for Edward Searles' Great Barrington, Massachusetts, residence, was relocated to the church and dedicated on October 12, 1924. Its case, designed by the famous architect Henry Vaughan and built by the Hurd Brothers of Somerville, Massachusetts, is constructed of solid, carved English oak. The organ contains three manuals (keyboards) and pedal, with 44 ranks of pipes, and is maintained today by Foley-Baker of Connecticut. The sanctuary also holds the "Resurrection Window" by the artist John La Farge, fashioned of opalescent glass and well known for its special beauty; the apse was designed by the artist's son to complement the window.
The Tuesday Evening Food Pantry
The church's most visible community ministry grew from a simple idea. In 2017, members of the Outreach Committee learned there was a great need in Methuen for supplemental food for working families who could not easily get to a daytime pantry. Partnering with Neighbors in Need, First Church helped launch the first evening food pantry in the area, opening in October 2017. The first night it served ten families; it now serves more than 350 registered families each week, making it one of the largest food pantries in the Merrimack Valley and the only evening pantry in the region. Food is distributed from the church parking lot on Tuesdays.
Around that core ministry, the Outreach Committee organizes a remarkable range of programs. A Thanksgiving food distribution adds a $25 gift certificate, a pie, and two bags of groceries to the usual weekly bag. Since 2010, the church has partnered with Methuen Arlington Neighborhood (MAN) to outfit 75 children with a new outfit, sneakers, school supplies, and a healthy snack at back-to-school time; the children make thank-you cards for local first responders. Volunteers cook and deliver seven large pans of chicken pot pie each month to Bread & Roses Soup Kitchen in Lawrence. Other ongoing drives and programs include the Ray Benedix Souper Bowl of Caring, the annual "Pampered with Luvs" Diaper Drive with Communities Together, the "Let's Book It" book drive for Methuen Public Schools, the Mitten Tree with the Chapel School, the Gifts to the Manger and Adopt a Child toy drive, and teams for the Lazarus House Walk for Hope and the Samaritans Hike for Hope. One Sunday each spring is set aside for Mental Health Awareness, with a guest speaker taking part in worship. The church also reaches inward: the REACH ministry, begun in 2019 and standing for Reliable, Engaging, Able, Caring, and Heartfelt, assists parishioners facing sudden needs such as job loss, medical issues, or the death of a family member, with rides, visits, and practical help.
Christian Education for All Ages
First Church invites children and youth to Sunday School during the academic year. After the Children's Message at the start of worship, students ages two through high school head to class for the remainder of the service. The curriculum uses Sparkhouse from Augsburg Fortress Press, a Bible-based program. Sunday School teachers Lori Bennett and Sarah Palenkov lead the weekly lessons, and all teacher volunteers are CORI checked. Registration is required, and a registration form is available.
Youth ages 13 to 17 may take part in a Confirmation class, supported by the Christian Education Committee and Diaconate, and confirmands become full active members of First Church upon completion. For adults, the church encourages Bible Study, book studies, and other discussion groups, and anyone interested may contact the pastor or the CE Committee to express interest or suggest a topic.
The Chapel School
The Chapel School is a non-denominational preschool and outreach ministry of First Church, located on the church property and open to families in Methuen and the surrounding communities. Its philosophy of "learning through play" guides a day built around blocks, imaginative props, picture books, painting, art projects, table toys, and daily outdoor play on the playground. Teachers work with children one-on-one, in small groups, and as a whole class, with lesson plans modified to meet each child's needs. Younger children focus on social-emotional skills, while older students begin pre-writing, pre-literacy, and foundational math concepts. The school can be reached at 978-689-8414 or chapelschoolmethuen@gmail.com.
Weddings, Baptisms, and Funerals
First Church joyfully hosts weddings for couples of all ages, cultures, races, and sexual orientations, and the sanctuary is available to both members and non-members. The Pastor meets with couples for pre-marital preparation and reviews fees, which are available to members and non-members. Weddings are coordinated through the Office Manager, Roberta.
Baptisms are celebrated in the context of worship and offered to anyone seeking the sacrament. Membership is not required. Parents or guardians make the promises for infant baptism, with at least one person making the promises identifying as Christian. There is no fee, though a donation to the church is appreciated. Funeral and memorial services are likewise open to members and non-members, with a fee schedule and arrangements made through the Pastor.
Membership itself can take several forms: Affirmation of Faith, Re-Affirmation of Faith, Letter of Transfer from another Protestant church, or Confirmation. Associate membership and the informal category of Friend of First Church are also recognized, so that anyone who participates in the life and ministry of the church can find a way to belong.
Visiting First Church
Visitors and new members are welcome at any time. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (September through mid-June) and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to noon (mid-June through Labor Day), and the phone is answered at 978-687-1240. Parking lot doors are locked after 10:15 AM, and latecomers are asked to use the front wooden doors. A wheelchair lift is available at the parking lot entrance, and amplified headsets for those with hearing difficulties can be requested from any usher or deacon. Dress is whatever makes visitors comfortable. Coffee hour follows worship in the Parish Hall, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers on Wednesday afternoons in the Parlor. Anyone interested in the choir, handbells, Sunday School, or outreach is warmly invited to step in and join.