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About Us >Who We Are  Who We Are About the UCC The United Church of Christ is a mainline protestant denomination, formed in 1957 by the merger of two denominations, the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Christian Church. Its roots as a denomination can be traced back to the Pilgrims and Puritans. UCC is known as a united and uniting church with a progressive stance on social issues. As we are children of blended traditions, the logic of our church structure and governance is confusing to many. There are principles, though, that we emphasize, taking them from "United Church of Christ: Who We Are, What We Believe -- The Priesthood of All Believers."  All members of the United Church of Christ are called to minister to others and to participate as equals in the common worship of God, each with direct access to the mercies of God through personal prayer and devotion. Recognition is given to those among us who have received special training in pastoral, priestly, educational, and administrative functions, but these persons are regarded as servants rather than as persons in authority. Their task is to guide, to instruct, and to enable the ministry of all Christians rather than to do the work of ministry for us. Congregations choose their own pastors, and are responsible for organizing their own governance. Visit the United Church of Christ's national web site: http://www.ucc.org/ Visit the Prairie Association web site: http://www.prairieucc.org/   About First Congregational UCC If you're looking for "the right fit" in a church, you just might find it when you visit First Congregational UCC. To use the metaphor of a recipe, a church can be thought of as a blending of "ingredients." Since everyone's tastes are different, here's a list of a few ingredients that go into the experience of First Congregational . . . DeKalb's "friendly church." Thought-provoking sermons by a pair of compassionate, approachable and scholarly pastors. No hell-fire-and-brimstone here, but rather engaging commentary on Biblical texts and what they mean to our lives and our spirituality.  Focus on Children  Just after the opening hymn, liturgy, and prayers, children eagerly come to the front of the sanctuary for the children's sermon and gather around the pastor. Instead of squirming in the pews, they head off to a fun and enlightening Sunday School for the remainder of the service. After the service, there are always donut holes and juice. And, we offer many family-oriented events throughout the year. For babies and toddlers, we have a nursery and a room where you can retreat with a crying baby and still hear and see the service. Outstanding Music  Music has always been an integral part of our worship, and our choir presents a wide variety of offerings from the Renaissance to contemporary. The 56-rank Gress-Miles pipe organ was renovated in 1996. We sing both familiar and contemporary protestant hymns. Our close association with the Northern Illinois University School of Music brings talented performers on many occasions. Diverse Congregation  We are a medium-sized congregation, drawing members from DeKalb and all across northern Illinois. You'll meet long-time members who helped build our current building more than 50 years ago as well as young families. We are a compassionate and open-minded church -- not judgemental or dogmatic.  We welcome into our faith community people of any race, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, economic status, or physical or mental condition. Meeting your individual needs and interests  Want to be more active in your community? You can participate in any of our social outreach programs. Wish to engage in dialogues on spiritual and life issues? Take part in our weekly adult education sessions.  And much more . . . Wherever you are on life's journey, you are always welcome here.