First Congregational Church of Bakersfield, UCC

"If God told you to do something that you really did not want to do, how would you respond? Do it anyway? Ignore God? Run away? Today we look at the story of Jonah, who tried to run in the opposite direction from where God wanted him to go." - Pastor Elizabeth Steele This week's Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:10-4:11 Visit our Website: https://fccbakersfield-ucc.org/... Submit Prayer Requests here: https://fccbakersfield-ucc.org/prayer-requests See more

"Today is both All Saints Day and communion. Together they remind us that hope in God’s promise of a better future is always available to us. And though we may not live with that hope fulfilled, it breaks into our world whenever someone looks at a part of the world that is broken and hurting and says, I can do something to make that better. - Pastor Elizabeth Steele This week's Scripture reading: Isaiah 25:6-9

Thank you Harry Love!

Thank you Peg Webb!

10.25.2020 Sunday Worship Service - Does God Need a House? "David's conversation with God about David's desire to build God a house is referred to as the Davidic Covenant. It ends with God's promise to David, a promise that shapes much of what happens in both the Old Testament and the New. But looking at the conversation itself raises an important question about how we respond to God." - Pastor Elizabeth Steele This week's Scripture Reading:... 2 Samuel 7:1-17 Visit our Website: https://fccbakersfield-ucc.org/ Submit Prayer Requests here: https://fccbakersfield-ucc.org/prayer-requests

To our Facebook friends, please share this post to help us reach as many people as possible in the Bakersfield area. First Congregational Church of Bakersfield will be distributing free bags of food in the church parking lot on Wednesday, October 28th, from 9 am - 11 am and from 5 pm - 7 pm. No registration or tickets are needed. Each food bag contains multiple meal items. This is a drive-through service only. Food bags will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis ...and while supplies last. To ensure everyone's safety, please remain in your vehicle, wear a facial mask, follow posted signs, and do not block traffic. For more information please Message us or contact us via email at [email protected] or leave a message at (661) 327-1609

All Saints' Day, on November 1st, is a Christian holiday celebrating the lives of all believers who have died. However, like many congregations, we expanded our celebration to include recognition of anyone we care about and have lost. We at FCC want to invite anyone who wants to submit a name for remembrance in our upcoming November 1st All Saints' Day Worship Service, to do so via the online form below. During the 'Commemoration' segment on Sunday, the names of the departed will scroll across the screen on our worship service on YouTube.

10.18.2020 Sunday Worship Service - Part 3 of the 3-week series - "The Different Ways of Being the Church" "We have talked about being a church of the people, a church that welcomes everyone. We also talked about being a church for people, a church where people care to help those around them. Today, we talk about being a church with people, a church that goes beyond welcoming those who come on their own or doing good for others. This is a church that takes seriously Jesus' call for us to make disciples. It’s a church that does as Jesus did and walks beside people in the hurting places of their lives." - Pastor Elizabeth Steele

Thank you Alice Rowles Brown!

"What is the role of works in our faith? Martin Luther emphasized the importance of God's Grace over the works we do (often referred to as works of righteousness or self-righteousness). But if grace is all-important, what does it mean for us to be salt of the earth or light in the darkness of the world?" - Pastor Elizabeth Steele

Thank you D Shay De Weese!

Thank you for sharing Martha Marty Ives Steinman!

Today is World Communion Sunday. Join us as we come to Christ's Table and start a new 3-week series on "Different ways of being the church." "It started, like so many things do, with a conversation. What is the difference between being a church of the people, a church for the people, and a church with the people? That seemed worth a longer series of discussions. Since the first Sunday in October is World Communion Sunday, a day when we remember that we come to Christ’s table from different nations, different traditions, speaking different languages, singing different songs; but all come as invited guests. At this table we come as equals, all called to be part of Christ’s body in this world. We’ll talk about being a church for the people and a church with the people in the coming weeks." - Pastor Elizabeth Steele