First Christian Church of Huntsville, Alabama
I was raised in . . . churches and schools, but over time, I grew weary of the disconnect of the church hierarchy, and the sameness of each service. When I married into First Christian, I discovered a small, friendly church that was congregation-ruled, where politics never entered the pulpit, and where it's OK if you think a little differently than the person next to you. . . . Brad, father of two (and something else)
Worship services
First Christian Church has two Sunday morning worship services: an informal service and a traditional service. Children's services are offered at the second service; details are below. You are invited to participate to any level that you feel comfortable, regardless of your church membership or faith background. You are especially invited to share our table as we celebrate communion at each worship service. Devices are now available for the hearing impaired. Please see one of our greeters to use one of these devices during worship.
Informal service
8:15 - 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Childcare is offered for infants through preschool. You can enjoy the rousing piano accompaniment by Wallace Lee.
Traditional service
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Sunday. You will find this service to be more formal. You can enjoy a full chancel choir led by Kristi Hill and accompanied by Marlene Brown. Childcare is offered for infants through preschool.
Children Worship & Wonder
During the 10:30 Sunday service your children age 4 through 2nd grade can explore worship in a different, more relaxed setting. This child-centered service is based on Children Worship & Wonder, a Montessori-based faith development program.
Children learn to quietly and respectfully gather in their own sanctuary. Children learn to praise through singing with sign language, ritual, and corporate prayer. The word of God is proclaimed through the sharing of a Bible story each week. Children are encouraged to ask "wondering" questions and then respond to the story through arts, crafts, and storytelling. This is followed by a feast and each child is sent out with a blessing to serve in God's name.
*Children Worship & Wonder is adapted from Young Children and Worship training by Sonja Stewart, professor of Christian Education at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, and Godly Play training by Jerome Berryman, director of the Center for the Theology of Childhood in Houston, TX.
Young Disciples Worship
Young Disciples Worship Services are offered every other Sunday at 10:30 for children in the third through fifth grades in order to transition kids from the Children Worship and Wonder experience to our adult services. YD follows the same order of worship as our adult services, with an age-appropriate Bible story told as the Morning’s Message which includes a time for questioning and reflection. True communion or a symbolic “feast" is offered in this service for children who have discussed the significance of communion with their parents and who may or may not have been baptized yet. Parents and children are encouraged to decide together which choice is the best for them. Children join their parents in adult worship on the Sundays that YD is not offered – as this adult worship participation is part of the transitioning experience.
Our sanctuary windows
Visit our sanctuary, and you can meditate under the soft glowing light of our sanctuary windows. You can find a booklet in the church foyer which explains the background and meaning of our windows.
