Ten Things You Will Find at First Mennonite Church...

You will find that First Mennonite is a good place to ask questions.
Doubts and questions do not need to be set aside before entering our church door. We are on this faith journey together and there are opportunities for challenge, struggle, searching and deepening of faith along the way.

You will find a welcoming and diverse group of people coming together as a Christian community.
We are a Mennonite congregation. However, many in our church family are not from a Mennonite background, and there is a diversity of perspectives on living out our faith. Although it takes work, we care about listening to each other and try to respect the different views within our church. We believe this is central to being a loving church family.

You will find a community of people coming together on Sunday morning to worship and share.
We value this time together with God and our worship services usually last 75 - 90 minutes. One hour isn't long enough for singing, praising, praying, preaching, sharing time, children's time and announcements. Child care for infants through preschoolers is available during worship.

You will see a variety of different people involved in worship each Sunday.
We encourage each other to explore and develop our gifts. We also place a high value on participation regardless of age or gender.

You will find opportunities for connecting with people outside of Sunday morning.
We enjoy fellowship and look forward to getting together for food, fun, and lively discussion. Small groups also meet during the year and provide opportunities for support, encouragement, and growth.

You will find many people with deep convictions about peace and justice.
Many of us believe that wholeness in Christ involves both a spiritual and social dimension. The Peace Institute at First Mennonite works to address peace and justice issues through education and action locally and globally. A number of people are also involved with organizations that work ar these issues within the community as well as the larger world.

You will hear concern for South America, the Middle East and other places in the world.
We value connections with the global church and want to learn from others experiences and perspectives. We are currently developing a relationship with El Divino Redentor, a Lutheran congregation in Bucaramanga, Columbia.

You will find people committed to prayer.
We believe that it plays a significant role in God's work. Our attempts to follow Christ, especially in areas of peace and justice, leave us burnt out and cynical when we don't encircle our work with prayer.

You will find a high commitment to nurturing children and youth.
They are a valued part of our church family. We strive to nurture their growth and faith through Christian Education, fellowship opportunities, mentor relationships, and participation during worship.

You will find active Christian Education participation by adults as well as children and youth.
We believe that learning and sharing together help to nurture faith at all ages. The children's program uses the Jubilee Curriculum. Adult classes are wide ranging and have included:

• Bible study and Bible history
• Topical classes on things such as: peace, money, relationships, grieving, arts & faith, and worship
• Book studies by authors such as: Richard Foster, Philip Yancey, Tom Sine, and Marcus Borg