We are First Congregational United Church of Christ.

We are a welcoming community in the heart of downtown Washington, DC which nurtures children, youth, and adults from all kinds of families.
We are a congregation that asks questions and seeks answers together.
We roll up our sleeves to do God’s good work of justice and compassion.
We call out the violence, prejudice, and systemic racism that we see all around us.
We are a place of study, peace, and spiritual renewal.
Together we experience our faith in nature, music, art, silence, laughter, hope, Spirit.

We are a part of the United Church of Christ denomination.

The United Church of Christ denomination is a network of congregations across the nation who cherish diversity, foster the spiritual life, follow the way of Jesus, and advocate for and care for the most vulnerable among us.

We are proud of our long and distinguished history.

First Church was founded by abolitionists in 1865. We were one of the first integrated churches in the city and our early members were instrumental in starting Howard University. For more than 150 years we have joined the struggles for racial and economic equality and for LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, civil rights, and justice for all.

We invite you to share our continuing adventure of building a just and loving community.

Visit us any Sunday at 10:30am when our community gathers for worship. We look forward to meeting you.

While we encourage in-person attendance for the vibrancy of worship in our beautifully designed sanctuary, First Church also provides access to its worship services online via Zoom. Join our 10:30am worship any Sunday on Zoom by clicking this link. Online access to each week’s Worship Folder is available here.

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

Perhaps you have been visiting for awhile and want to make First Church your spiritual home. Maybe you have only come a time or two. Either way, you are welcome and we hope you will consider becoming a member of our family of faith. As visitors, friends, or members, we invite you to share a living promise to expand relationships and to explore new ways to be about God’s work in the world.

If you want to learn more about membership, please reach out to a pastor and let them know you are interested. We ask that you join us at an Inquirers’ Gathering (held roughly once a month) to learn more about First Church, ask any questions you may have, and share your hopes. If you decide to join, the church welcomes new members during Sunday worship a few times a year. If you are not sure, we welcome you to just come to worship, get involved, and ask questions. Download our First Church welcome packet, which includes a welcome letter and information about our church.

COVENANT OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

In grateful response to the call of Jesus Christ, we covenant with God and with each other to be a Church of Christ.  We bind ourselves, in God’s Redeeming Presence, to walk together in ways revealed to us by the Holy Spirit in sacrament and Word, study and prayer, fellowship and mission.

We look forward to seeing you!