"Imperfect People Welcomed Here"
By Rev. Jean Niven
Lenk
If you have ever
walked a lap at Halloran Park, or taken your (grand)children to play at the
CAPP playground, or otherwise found yourself in the Pierce Street neighborhood,
then you may have noticed a brick building set back a bit from the road.
Yes, you can see a
cross on the front of the building, and stained glassed windows, but there is
no steeple or white clapboard siding typical of a New England Congregational
church. But that’s what it is. And there will be other surprises in store
for anyone walking through the doors of the First Congregational Church of
Stoughton who equates “church” with being stuffy, formal, rigid, judgmental, or
dogmatic.
We hope you will
want to join us for Sunday morning worship at 10 o’clock. But don’t feel you have to get all dressed
up. Blue jeans and t-shirts are
fine. Dresses or suits are, too. Or somewhere in between. (Our only requirement is that you wear something.)
What isn’t required
is that you have a well-formed understanding of what you believe. If you do, that’s great. If you don’t know what you believe – or even if you believe – but are willing to
start figuring that all out, you will find people here to help you on that
journey.
Nor do you need to
know the Bible. In fact, it’s OK if you
have never even cracked opened the Good Book.
We do hope, however, that you will be receptive to hearing its eternal
wisdom, which is read each week during worship and serves as the focus of the Sunday
sermon. If you are interested in
learning more about the bible, we offer various Bible studies and other opportunities
to go deeper in a safe, supportive small group environment.
You don’t have to be
baptized to be part of the First Congregational Church of Stoughton. Perhaps you grew up in a faith tradition in
which baptism was not done, or you left before you were baptized. Perhaps you had no faith upbringing at
all. That’s fine! If you start coming to our church and find
that baptism is something you would like to learn more about, let’s talk! There is no “correct” age to be baptized in
our church (in fact, Jesus didn’t get baptized until the age of 30!).
We don’t say that
you “can’t be this” or “must be that” at our church. In fact, when you walk through our front
doors, the first thing you will see is our “Welcome Statement” which is printed
in large letters and framed on the wall so that you can’t miss it. We hope you will come by to read the whole
statement, but in short, it says all persons of every age, race,
nationality, ethnicity, faith background, marital status, family structure,
gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, socio-economic
status, physical or mental disability are welcome and invited into the full
life and ministry of our church.
You don’t have to be perfect to be part of the First
Congregational Church of Stoughton. In fact,
nobody is (except Jesus). I have several weaknesses and shortcomings
(quite a few, actually). And so does
everyone else who comes to our church.
Having to deal each other’s quirks and flaws can make being part of a
church community difficult – and that is also part of what makes it so
rewarding, because that’s when we can let God do something in us.
I don’t know for
certain, but I bet you’re not perfect either.
If that is the case, we would love for you to join us for worship on
Sunday mornings at 10 o’clock at the First Congregational Church of Stoughton,
76 Pierce Street. No matter who you are
or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here!
