Each week during our "Share the Message, Share our Message" campaign, a member of our congregation will share their message about why First Congregational is such a special place. Some of these messages will be archived on the menu to the right.
Manda Adams
 I was raised in a tradition that believes so strongly in the "priesthood of all believers" that they do not have ordained ministers. They believe that everyone is a minister. Well, at least everyone who is male. Even though I had to leave that tradition to be able to live into my calling to ministry, that idea that everyone is a minister has stayed with me. I believe that a sign of a healthy congregation is when its members are ministers.
I am proud to be a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ because this is a church where the members and participants are ministers - to one another, to the community, and to the world. Examples include our Wellness Ministry, Social Justice Ministry, and our connection with Allied Communities of Tarrant, just to name a few.
And there's one ministry of this congregation that has particular meaning for me. his congregation has a very important ministry of caring for students who are preparing for ordained ministry. I am a seminary student at Brite Divinity School, where there are only a handful of students in the United Church of Christ. Many of us have found a home in this congregation. We have been nurtured and challenged, allowed to explore and develop our gifts in pastoral leadership. This congregation helps to prepare people to go on to pastor other churches, where we in turn can empower those members to be ministers. I am grateful to be a part of the ministries of this congregation!
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