First Congregational Church of Wayne is a warm and welcoming fellowship dedicated to the mission of bringing God and people together to know and live the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are moving forward with this vision and mission and invite you to join us.
First Congregational offers meaningful worship services enhanced by a wonderful music program. Because of our commitment to the development of a solid Christian foundation, we offer a multitude of opportunities for all ages to grow in faith. We desire to strengthen the Body of Christ by sharing our spiritual gifts with our church, community and beyond.
It is our hope that you will find spiritual nourishment, supportive fellowship and opportunities to serve in Christ’'s name.
Sunday Church Services 10:30 AM
Sunday School 10:45 AM
Our Mission
The First Congregational Church of Wayne strives to be a place of acceptance, faith and love in Christ; worshipping, working and offering ourselves to God in Fellowship with one another and the community. We seek to serve with open minds, open hearts and open hands.
Vision Statement
We are open to all people as we grow in our unity in Christ, accepting that God guides us on this journey of faith. We accept that worship, prayer and study will enable us to grow and develop deeper relationships with God and with one another. Drawing on the deep traditions of our Congregational way, we reach out to our community with who we are and all that we have to offer. By doing so, we become a place of refuge and light for the community. As stewards of the resources with which God has graced us, the First Congregational Church of Wayne will support its Mission, Vision and Values through its governance and stewardship to ensure the endurance and the life of this church.
Values
Worship and Prayer, Christian Love, Faith, Forgiveness, Acceptance, Dignity and Respect, Service and Stewardship, Fellowship and Family
The First Congregational Church of Wayne
The First Congregational Church of Wayne was gathered on August 20, 1848. On this site in 1849, the first church building in Wayne was erected by the Church Society at a cost of $1,200. The original New England style meeting house underwent many additions and alterations faithfully serving the community until August 12, 1970 when it burned.
The present meetinghouse was dedicated in 1973 continuing the church's tradition of service to the community. Central to the church's mission is its responsibility to encourage the pursuit of truth known or to be made known, and to encourage action in matters of conscience and personal life. As an autonomous gathering of Christians, the Wayne church continues in the heritage of the Pilgrims.
The church stands as an autonomous gathering of Christians without outside judicial authority, save Jesus the Christ as sole head of the church. Persons of many faiths have found spiritual reassurance in our covenant preamble: We believe in the freedom and responsibility of the individual soul, and the right of private judgment.
On August 20, 1848, the First Congregational Church of Wayne was founded. Gold had just been discovered in California, the University of Michigan had 89 students, and Wayne was just a trading post along an Indian trail between Detroit and Chicago.
The first building used for services was a one-room schoolhouse with the Rev. J. C. Kidder as minister. The first church structure on the present property was built in 1849. It was also used by the Methodists for their services until 1862, when they built their first church building.
Many changes have been made to the church complex since that time. The main building and sanctuary were enlarged and a parlor was added. Stained glass windows were installed in 1910, and the parlor and basement were added in 1928.
In August of 1970, the original church structure was destroyed by fire, leaving only the church school building. The cornerstone of the present church building was laid in 1973, with this structure being built around the existing church school building.
Financially, the church has weathered many crises. Support came from gifts and pew rentals until 1894, when the present pledge system was adopted. These monies had to be supplemented by special projects and the hard work and dedication of its members to survive. During the depression in the 1930s it was this extra effort which kept the church from failing.
In the early years this was accomplished primarily by the women of the church through their Helping Hand Society, the forerunner of the present Women's Fellowship. The Men's Club was formed in 1911 and began to assist in this endeavor. Today the church has a hard-working congregation who raise money through the all-church fair, rummage sales, dinners, luncheons and breakfasts served to various groups, wedding and anniversary receptions, and funeral meals.
The church has been active through the years in supporting the spiritual life of its members. The early church did this through close supervision of its members to insure fastidious attention to the Articles of Faith and Covenant. Today, the spiritual needs of the congregation are met through the encouragement of spiritual growth and knowledge by way of the many programs of education, devotion and fellowship.
The church not only serves its members, but opens its doors to the community at large. Over the years the building has been used by the Red Cross during the two World Wars, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the Red Cross Blood Bank, the Interchurch Counseling Service, Big Brothers, and the Youth Living Centers.
The Cross in the present sanctuary was made from oak beams taken from the bell tower in the first church built on this site. It should remind us of our rich heritage and challenge us to a future of Christian love and service.
The Congregational Churches
in the New World
Congregationalism came to America on the Mayflower to reestablish a Church on the New Testament pattern - a fellowship of persons who freely choose to be followers of Jesus Christ. The earliest Christians believed that wherever two or three were gathered together in the Name and Spirit of Jesus Christ, that Christ would be there with them. (Matthew 18:20)
The Mayflower Pilgrims also gathered together freely, committing themselves to worship and serve together as the spirit of God moved them. In matters of faith they accepted full responsibility for their personal relationship with God in Christ and allowed no outside authority to dictate how they should believe, worship or serve God.
Congregationalists expect each member to have a personal relationship with God and our expression of God's love in our lives.
Open Bible
Congregational Christians stand for an open Bible. It is the inspired Word of God, a guide for life. Through God's Word we learn and experience the power and love of a living God so Christ becomes the primary light in our daily lives.
The Holy Spirit
We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to understand and apply God's Word written in the Bible and experienced in our lives. The Spirit helps us develop as intelligent and joyful followers of Jesus Christ, expressing in our lives the fruit of God's Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
Christ Centered
Congregational Churches accept Christ alone as the head of the Church and are completely responsible for hearing and responding to Christ's guidance as they understand it. Each church is autonomous and self-governing, free from outside church authority to follow the leading of Christ's Spirit.
The relationship between Congregational Churches is one of mutual respect and kindred fellowship. Decisions are only recommendations and advice. They have only as much authority as there is truth in them.
When you join a Congregational Church, you accept the comprehensive view that all believers are one in Christ regardless of organizational affiliation.
Individual Conscience
Congregational Christians believe deeply in God, in Jesus Christ, in the guiding Spirit of God, in prayer, in the worth of worship, in the value of the sacraments, and in the power of God to triumph over all that is evil.
We do not accept any formal statement of faith as binding on all members. It's not because we think creeds do not matter, but because we believe authenticity of conviction demands intellectual freedom and a personal relationship with God.
Congregationalists have liberty and responsibility of conscience in interpreting the Gospel.
A common requirement for membership is sincere Christian conviction and honest desire to live in fellowship as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Our Relationship with God
Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39) God relates to us directly both individually and collectively. Congregationalists advocate following Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as individual conscience dictates.
In Congregationalism, while we each have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we also need the support of a loving community to grow to full maturity in Christ.
United by Covenant
Each Congregational Church has its own covenant with God and one another. We bring our different gifts and understandings of God as we walk, work, worship, pray and celebrate together.
The Covenant
We believe in the freedom and responsibility of the individual soul, and the right of private judgment. We hereby set forth the things most surely believed among us concerning faith.
We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, goodness and love; and in Jesus Christ, His son, our Lord and Savior, who for us and our salvation lived and died and rose again, and lives evermore; and in the Holy Spirit, who takes the things of Christ, and reveals them to us, renewing, comforting, and inspiring the souls of all.
We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known or to be made known to us.
We hold it to be the mission of the Church of Christ to proclaim the gospel to all, exalting the worship of the one true God, and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of peace, and the realization of human fellowship. Depending, as did generations of Christians before us, upon continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the transformation of the world into the Kingdom of God; and we look with faith for the triumph of righteousness and the life everlasting.
Britton Congregational Church, Britton
Bushnell Congregational Church, Detroit
Community Congregational Church, Lathrup Village
First Congregational Church, Ann Arbor
First Congregational, Clarkston
First Congregational Church, Detroit
First Congregational Church, Rockwood
First Congregational Church, Royal Oak
First Congregational Church, Wayne
Meadowbrook Congregational Church, Novi
Mount Hope Congregational Church, Livonia
North Congregational Church, Farmington Hills
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Bloomfield Hills
Pine Hill Congregational Church, West Bloomfield
Sturges Congregational Church, Port Huron
National Association of Congregational
Christian Churches
First Congregational Church of Wayne is a member church of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC). The NACCC is a voluntary membership of free churches supporting each other in Faith, Freedom and Fellowship.
The Association's primary mission is to serve member churches and deliver services in a variety of ways -- through the work of our committees, commissions, teams and staff. If personal attention is required or requested, we have a number of staff and regional representatives who offer caring and quality consulting in various areas of our churches work.
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad, a vast network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to the North and to Canada, was not run by any single organization or person, rather, it consisted of many individuals, white and black, who knew only of the local efforts to aid fugitives and not of the overall operation.
First Congregational Church of Wayne was right along the route that runaway slaves and their guides would take. Based on stories handed down from person to person, First Congregational Church of Wayne did play a role in the Underground Railroad. There are no written accounts of this activity; however, this was such a secret operation that it would have been dangerous for people or organizations to record such activity.
Old Historic First Congregational Church of Detroit has built the Underground Railroad Living Museum, which traces the tracks of the slaves once they got to Detroit on their way to Canada.
Rev. Daniel H. Vellinga
Senior Minister
Rev. Dan Vellinga is native to Iowa, and was brought up in First Congregational Church of Marshalltown. Having embraced the call to ministry in high school, he earned a Bachelor of Theology and a Master of Divinity degree at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
After seminary, he was ordained a Congregational minister in the Iowa-Nebraska Association of Congregational Christian Churches. He served as pastor of Roslindale Congregational Church of Boston, Massachusetts (6 years); the United Church of Kellogg, Idaho (7 years); and of Plain Congregational Church of Bowling Green, Ohio (11 years).
After his time as pastor of Plain Congregational Church, Dan participated as a chaplaincy resident at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center of Toledo, Ohio for a year. Rev. Dan Vellinga became the Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Wayne, Michigan in September, 2011.
Charles Pittman
Parish Associate
Charles graduated with honors from the University of West Virginia. He attended the University of Michigan for further education. Charles has attended First Congregational Church for many years and received his minister’'s license from the church in 1999. Following his licensure, Charles became the Parish Associate.
elainepittman_sbcglobal.net
Christian Education Coordinator
Dr. James Wagner
Director of Music
In 2006, James Wagner was appointed Director of Music and Organist at First Congregational Church of Wayne. He currently also serves as Adjunct Instructor of Organ at Eastern Michigan University and as Dean for the Ann Arbor Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In 2005, he graduated from the University of Michigan with a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Organ Performance/Church Music. Dr. Wagner has been a member of the Ypsilanti Community Band since 2005 and Assistant Conductor for the last three years. He has also composed various works including the opera, Anastasia, the Fanfare and Overture to Life for Wind Band, Transitions for String Quartet and Organ, and In Paradisum: Ten Meditations on the Entrance into Eternity for SATB Choir and Soloists, Organ, and Two Saxophones.
jwagner_aacrc.org
Linda Beasley
Office Administrator
Secretary/Office Administrator since 2000, Linda is a lifelong resident of Wayne, Michigan and member of First Congregational Church of Wayne since 1971. Linda graduated from Wayne Memorial High School and attended Eastern Michigan University for two years. In addition to her normal office duties, Linda manages the church website and is the editor of the monthly newsletter, The Tower.
lbeasley_tds.net
Rachel Valentine
Financial Secretary
Rachel has lived in Westland with her husband and three sons for 21 years. She graduated from Lutheran High West of Detroit and is a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Westland. Rachel has been the Financial Secretary since 2010.
rvalentine_tds.net
Ron Champney
Custodian
Ron is a graduate of Plymouth High School and is a longtime resident of Westland. He has been attending First Congregational Church for 30 years. Ron began working as one of the church custodians in 2008.
Norm Beasley
Norm is a lifelong resident of Wayne and a member of First Congregational Church since 1960. He graduated from Wayne Memorial High School. After serving in several capacities in the church, Norm began working as one of the church custodians in 2008.
December 2011 Tower.pdf
October 2011 Tower.pdf
November 2011 Tower.pdf
January 2012 Tower.pdf
November 6, 2011.pdf
November 13, 2011.pdf
November 20, 2011.pdf
November 27, 2011.pdf
December 18, 2011.pdf
December 4, 2011.pdf
December 11, 2011.pdf
January 8, 2012 communion.pdf
January 15, 2012.pdf
January 22, 2012.pdf
Board of Deacons
Members of the Board of Deacons assist the Minister in the preparation and administration of the sacraments, in caring for the sick, the sorrowing, and the stranger, and in ministering to spiritual interests of the Church and community. They elect delegates with alternates to represent the Church at the National Association meetings, the Michigan Conference, and the Southeastern Michigan Association meetings and other similar fellowship occasions. The Board of Deacons take final action upon all applications for Church membership, are responsible for the provision of flowers and for the appointment of an Usher Committee.
Board of Trustees
The Trustees see that the Church is legally constituted under the laws of the state. The Board is also administrators of the property of the Church, and superintends the raising of funds for the expenses of the Church and disburses the same through the Treasurer.
Board of Christian Education
The Board of Christian Education supervises the direction of the educational and youth work of the Church.
The Board is in charge of many activities including the distribution of the Palms on Palm Sunday, All-Church Picnic, Rally Sunday in the fall, Forefathers Potluck at Thanksgiving, Children's Christmas Pageant, plus more.
The Board of Christian Education also oversees Adult Education, i.e. Sunday morning Bible studies, other Bible studies throughout the week, and the Serendipity Group, which includes the Serendipity Players, and other adult activities.
Christian Service Committee
This committee is responsible for dispersing the benevolence funds to local, community, national and world organizations that serve the populace and those that are less fortunate. Contributions are collected for local needs i.e. Salvation Army, Veterans Haven, Community Food Pantries, etc. Monies are also collected for national and international disasters i.e. Hurricane Katrina and Haiti Earthquake and Church World Service.
Memorials Committee
The Memorials Committee is responsible for overseeing the funds donated to the church in honor of a deceased loved one. Some donations are designated to be used in a certain area while others have no designation.
Fine Arts Committee
The Fine Arts Committee is to oversee the care and upkeep of the instruments in the church. They also work with the Director of Music in organizing music for special services.
Archives Committee
The committee's duties are to preserve the history of the church and to communicate church history today, relevant to the past.
The First Congregational Church of Wayne has a long, interesting past. It is a landmark church along the Indian Trail, which later became Michigan Avenue.
The Archives Committee takes extra care in the preservation of books, pictures, records, artifacts and other pertinent memorabilia. This committee seeks to educate the congregation on church history through displays, presentations, workshops, programs and literature.
Visitation Committee
The Visitation Committee is made up of a group of people committed to keeping in touch with our home bound members. This Committee meets once a month and reports to the minister on the status of the people.
Women's Fellowship
Women's Fellowship is made up of all women of the church who wish to participate, and meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m., except July and August. Some of the items Women's Fellowship deal with are:
• Joint luncheon with the women of the First United Methodist Church of Wayne, which is held in January.
• Sponsor two American Red Cross blood drives each year.
• Sponsor Blanket Sunday on Mother's Day, which is a part of Church World Service.
• Sponsor two rummage sales/bake sales each year, one in the spring and one in the fall.
• Sponsor the annual Church Fair, which is held in November. This activity is the main fund raiser for the Women's Fellowship, which helps to fund their pledge to the church.
• Participate in the Wayne-Westland F.I.S.H. program, which feeds the area needy. Four churches are involved in this program: Westland Free Methodist Church, First Congregational Church, St. Michael's Lutheran Church and First United Methodist Church.
• Sponsors annual Salad Luncheon served to the public.
Women's Fellowship pays for most repairs of kitchen equipment, maintains the parlor furnishings, gives money to the minister for his discretionary fund, prepares Men's Club dinners, prepares and serves funeral dinners and other luncheons and dinners e.g. bridal and baby showers, wedding dinners, Boy Scout Banquet, and other specialty luncheons and dinners.
Friendship West
This group includes all women of the church. They meet on the first Wednesday of the month at noon for a potluck lunch. Friendship West has a business meeting and then a short program. Two of their programs include sending Valentines in February, and making fruit and cookie plates in December for our shut-ins.
Friendship West also sponsors the Friendly Quilters, who meet every Monday morning. Every year the quilters make a quilt which is donated to the church Fair to be the first prize in the Fair Raffle.
Congregators
" The goal of Congregators is to share good food, fellowship and fun." This group meets once a month on the third Friday at 6:30 p.m. and all are welcome to attend this potluck dinner/program activity. It is for all ages -- couples and families alike. The programs vary, some are geared toward adults and a few times a year the programs are geared toward families, such as a play presented by the Serendipity Players, an all-church talent show, or a program presented by the Sunday school children.
Attending Congregators is a great way to get better acquainted with fellow church members and to share great fellowship.
Each family is asked to provide their own place setting, a dish to pass and a $2.00 donation per person.
Socializer's Club
Socializer's Club is the newest group formed at the church and is geared toward the 20-50 year olds, but welcomes all who are young at heart. This group allows the young people of the church an opportunity to get better acquainted and build lasting relationships and special bonds between them and their church.
Almost every month the Socializer's Club has an activity planned e.g. bowling, theater/comedy club, corn maze, etc.
Men's Club
The Men's Club meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The Women's Fellowship provides the dinner and there is a program presented for afterwards. This group provides a great opportunity for the men of the church to bond and enjoy great fellowship.
Faith that Frees
Women's Bible-Book Study Group
This group meets every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the church parlor. All ladies of the church are welcome to join in the discussion of a selected book, spiritual story, women of the Bible study, or other related texts. From time to time this group gets together off site for an outing.
The Friendly Quilters
The Friendly Quilters are a group of women who meet every Monday morning to piece and stitch handmade quilts. Each year the completed quilt is donated to the Church Fair as the first prize in the Fair Raffle. The quilters generously donate the proceeds from the raffle to the Elevator Fund, which helps to take care of the monthly service contact and any necessary repairs.
The Friendly Quilters have a rich past at First Congregational Church and a book of their history can be found in the church library.
In Solid Rock City we use the Rotation Model, which allows the children to rotate from station to station to enhance all the senses while learning a particular lesson.
2. Next is Palestine Players to act out part of the lesson
1. The children visit Noah's Art room for an art project
3. Almost there, a visit to the Temple Room allows the children to learn their Bible verses and participate in their own worship service
4. Finally, a stop in the Moab Movie House is especially fun when there is a video that relates to the lesson
Junior High Sunday School
Students in sixth through eighth grade make up Junior High Sunday School. Their curriculum is chosen by the Director of Christian Education with the guidance of the minister and the Board of Christian Education.
The students attend the first part of the worship service with their family and then go to their class in the Jr. High room. Their class studies are geared toward their age group.
The first Sunday of each month is Youth Sunday. The students take part in the Sunday service with greeting, reading the scriptures and hosting a bake sale/coffee hour following worship.
Senior High Sunday School
Students in ninth through twelfth grades make up Senior High Sunday School. Their curriculum and studies are chosen carefully to incorporate current faith issues and events relative to their age group.
The students attend the first part of the worship service with their family and then go to their class in the youth room.
We refer to our youth group as the Pilgrim Fellowship or P.F., and they meet on Sunday evenings. The Youth Leader plans activities encompassing the values which are the underlying philosophy of our Congregational heritage. The goal is to offer our youth the opportunity to learn and grow in their faith as they develop friendships, a support group and a connection with our church in a Christian setting.
The group has a monthly bake sale as a fund raiser (as well as others), participates in lock-ins, takes their turn at hosting the State retreat, has discussions about Christian morality, and enjoys many fun activities, including the ever popular annual trip to Cedar Point.
www.michiganpf.org
FCC website permission slip.pdf
The Scouting movement was founded in England by Robert Baden-Powell and brought to the United States in February of 1910. In 1913 a Boy Scout troop was formed here at the Congregational Church and was active for three years. Again in 1924 a troop was formed and served the young people of the community for four years. Back then it was known as Troop
W-1. In 1949, a group of concerned adults came together to form Troop W-6. In 1950, W-6 became Troop #1736 and exists today.
Boy Scout Troop #1736 has been serving this community continuously since 1940, a span of 70 years! More importantly, the members of the First Congregational Church of Wayne have seen fit to sponsor this activity and provide a meeting place, storage space and monetary support. By doing so, literally thousands of young men have benefited from the Scouting program, a program that teaches values and skills that last a lifetime.
The Scouts sponsor a Broom Sale at the church and rent out canopies for families who want to host outdoor activities.
If you are interested in renting a canopy, you can contact:
Scout Master, Mark Lewellyn at 734-722-1540
Church/Boy Scout Liaison, Larry Leitner, 734-812-8576
Make sure to watch The Tower for more information!
www.troop1736.com
Office Hours:
Sunday Church Services: 10:30 AM Sunday School: 10:45 AM
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
(Closed for lunch 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)
Summer Hours:
July & August: 9:00 AM 12:00 PM
Telephone: 734.729.7550
Fax: 734.729.7576
fccow_tds.net
eMail:
Do you have any questions? Are you interested in learning more about First Congregational Church of Wayne? Use the form below to request more information.
Copy the address below and paste into Mapquest (Google Maps doesn't work)
Address:
First Congregational Church of Wayne
2 Towne Square
Wayne, Michigan 48184
(Entrance off of Towne Square)
Read the message from the Minister, catch up on February birthdays, and get all the latest news!
Click below
February 2012 Tower.pdf
January 29, 2012.pdf
Bears on Parade
Sunday, Feb 12
Bring your Bear
These bears will be taken to organizations that give them to children in distress.
_______________
Youth Group.pdf
