A Guide to "Churchy" Words

A Guide to "Churchy" Words

If you don't have much experience with churches, it can seem like there are a lot of vocabulary words you're supposed to know. We're not going to hand out quizzes, but in case you've been wondering what something means, here's a handy guide to many of the "churchy" words you might hear around First Christian. If you hear a word that sounds "churchy" and it isn't listed here, please alert Pastor Rebecca immediately!

* denotes a First Christian Church original, that is, a word we created for something that we do. These words may mean something else somewhere else, or they may simply not be used anywhere else!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Advent ~ The liturgical season leading up to Christmas. While the season as a whole focuses on anticipation - of the birth of the Christ Child and the return of Christ at the end of the age - each of the four Sundays has its own theme as well: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. The traditional color for Advent is purple, relating it to the waiting season of Lent, but some churches use dark blue instead. The First Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the Liturgical Year.

Advent wreath ~ A traditional decoration used to celebrate the anticipation of Advent. The wreath is traditionally round and made of evergreens, to symbolize God's eternal love. It holds four candles, one for each Sunday. A new one is lit each week (along with the ones previously lit) to show the progression towards Christmas. There are usually three purple candles and one pink one. The Christ Candle is frequently in the middle of the wreath, and may not be lit until Christmas Eve. Alternately, it may stay lit through the whole season.

Alb ~ A particular kind of liturgical robe; the wrap-around look for clergy. What Pastor Rebecca wears most of the time on Sunday mornings.

Apostle ~ The word refers to a person who has been "sent out," as on a mission. Generally, the Church uses the word to refer to Jesus' twelve disciples and Paul, a major founder of the early church.

Baptism ~ Baptism is the ritual by which Christians join the Body of Christ. It represents a cleansing that helps one enter into a new life. At First Christian, we practice baptism by immersion, during which the candidate is fully immersed in water, symbolizing dying and rising with Christ. This step in a Christian journey happens at an "age of belief," that is, whenever you are old enough to choose for yourself. Usually candidates are at least 10 years old. Adults can also be baptized. First Christian also accepts members who have been baptized in other churches, regardless of age or method.

Baptistry ~ The baptistry is the special tank in the sanctuary in which baptisms are performed.

Benediction ~ A blessing said at the end of a service that dismisses the congregation.

*Big Brothers Big Sisters ~ A community agency that provides mentors to young people. Their Calhoun County office is in the basement of First Christian Church.

Bulletin ~ The program that shows the order of worship, the numbers of the songs, prayer concerns, etc.

Chalice ~ A chalice is any ceremonial cup that is used for serving or presenting communion. The Chalice is the logo of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It represents the centrality of the Lord's Supper to our tradition. The red color symbolizes the Holy Spirit and evangelism. The tilted cross is the cross of St. Andrew, which points to our roots in Scotland. You will see the Chalice at the top of our website.

Chalice Hymnal ~ The Chalice Hymnal is the book of songs published by the Christian Church that we use in worship. Congregations of the Christian Church are not required to use this particular book, but many choose to because of the special Disciples spirit and hard work that went into its creation.

Chancel ~ The front area of a sanctuary, usually raised, where the preaching, reading, etc. happen.

Children’s Church ~ After their talk with the pastor during worship, children under ten are invited back to the education wing for a lesson, crafts and playing. Children's Church is led by volunteers.

Christ Candle ~ The white pillar candle at the front of the sanctuary (or at any meeting) that reminds us of the presence of Christ in our midst.

Church Camp ~ Our Regional Church sponsors camps for kids from second grade through high school. Most of them are held at the Hargis YMCA camp in Chelsea (outside Birmingham). See the Region's website for more information.

*Church Family Table ~ This table, located in the Friendship Room, is the place to go to catch up with the life of our congregation. It includes a bulletin board with members' pictures, current sign-up sheets (including the Fellowship Hosting sign-up), recent booklets published and various other helpful pieces of information.

*Church in Covenant Table ~ This is the table in the Friendship Room (at the back of the sanctuary) where you can find information from the rest of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Newsletters from the Region and General Units are here, as well as the collection envelope for soup labels.

Communion ~ Communion is the ritual at the center of our faith. It goes by many names; The Lord's Supper or Eucharist are two common ones. It is a time when we remember the meal Jesus shared with his disciples the night he was betrayed. But it is also a reminder of the feast of abundance all God's children will share at the end of time. Communion is many things - thanksgiving, remembrance, connection. It is where we bring all we have and meet Christ to be fed and filled.

Congregation ~ This is the word used to describe the people who make up a specific church. It also refers to any group gathered for worship.

*Coordinating Teams ~ Coordinating Teams are the groups that plan and carry out the ministries of First Christian Church. They are part of a ministry structure we began using on a 3-year trial basis in 2005. When the three years are over, we will decide if this new structure works well for us. The four Teams are Spiritual Formation, Mission, Fellowship and Stewardship. You can see who is who on the "Our Ministers" page. They meet 8 months out of the year.

*Council ~ The Council is the governing body of First Christian Church, as designated in our trial ministry structure (see above). It consists of the Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Secretary, and Treasurer of the congregation, representatives from each Coordinating Team, and the Chair of the Trustees. They meet once a quarter, in February, May, August and November.

Cross ~ The cross is one of the primary symbols of Christianity, representing the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It represents sacrifice, because it was on a cross that Jesus was killed, but it also represents the triumph of God's love over death, because the cross is empty!

CWF ~ These are the commonly-used initials of the Christian Women's Fellowship, sometimes known as Disciples Women. It is a group that meets monthly for study, worship, service and fellowship. All women are welcome. Our CWF meets in homes for our evening meetings and at church for our quarterly afternoon meetings.

Deacon ~ This is one of the special servant-leadership positions that members of our congregation take on within the church's ministry. Our Deacons are primarily responsible for preparing and serving communion. More widely, their role is one of service to the church and God's people in need. Many of our deacons serve in other roles as well. You can see who is currently serving in this role on the Our Ministers page.

Denomination ~ A denomination is any grouping of congregations that agree to join together structurally in belief, worship, and common ministry. Our denomination is the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), commonly referred to as "Disciples." Denominations are held together in different ways. The Christian Church is covenantal, which means that we choose to be in partnership, without any clear hierarchal control from one part of the church over another. We are primarily bonded for the purpose of common action, rather than because we believe exactly the same things. Some congregations are not part of a larger church body; these churches are referred to as "non-denominational."

DMF – Disciples Mission Fund ~ This is the name of our denomination's common fund. It supports the work of our congregations' primary partners, the Regions and the General Church Ministries, as well as our Disciples colleges, universities and seminaries. First Christian Church of Anniston tithes 10% of our receipts to the Disciples Mission Fund, as an expression of our trust in God and our gratitude for these covenantal relationships and as an example of faithful stewardship for our members.

Doxology ~ Literally, the word means "words of praise." Practically, it refers to one of several well-known versions of a short song praising God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We sing one version of this song each week in our Sunday morning worship service at First Christian. The Chalice Hymnal contains 3 traditional doxologies and numerous other short praise songs that are similar in spirit.

Easter ~ The most important day of the Christian year, Easter is when we re-live and celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead. It is a celebration of new life, of the power of love to overcome death, and of God's deep and abiding love for all of creation. Easter activities at First Christian vary from year to year, but they are always marked by joy and beauty.

Elder ~ The Elders in a Disciples congregation are those charged with spiritual leadership. Historically, the Elders were the governing body of most congregations, but these days, that is rarely true. The Elders at First Christian primarily serve by consecrating communion and visiting members who are home-bound to bring them the Lord's Supper. They also occasionally assist with worship leadership and teaching. You can see who serves in this capacity on the "Our Ministers" page.

Emeritus ~ This is a term of honor designating someone who served well in a particular position but is no longer active in that position.

Epistle ~ This word means "letter" and is used to refer to the writings in the second half of the New Testament of the Bible. After the four histories of Jesus' Good News (or Gospels) and one more history, "The Acts of the Apostles," the rest is letters from various church leaders to churches in different areas. Those letters are the Epistles, most of which are traditionally said to be written by Paul.

Fellowship Hall ~ This term is frequently used in churches to refer to a large space other than the sanctuary, most often suitable for meals. The Fellowship Hall at First Christian is the building behind the sanctuary, attached by a hall. It was built in 1993 and contains a central gathering space with adjustable dividers, three classrooms, the choir room, a kitchen and restrooms. It has a wheel-chair accessible ramp. Our Fellowship Hall is frequently used by community groups for meetings and special events.

Fellowship Time/Table ~ Fellowship Time is held after most Sunday morning worship services at First Christian. It is a time for people to share the news of their weeks with one another and get to know visitors better. Different members provide refreshments. The Fellowship Table is where the food is! If there is a fifth Sunday in a month, it's likely that we'll have a covered dish luncheon instead of Fellowship Time.

*Friendship Room ~ The official name of the space at the back of our sanctuary where we hold Sunday Fellowship Time and "Pause for Prayer" is the Franklin Carter Friendship Room, honoring our late minister emeritus. The name was suggested by Sara Shull as the winning entry in a contest to name the new space, which is a testament both to Sara's creativity and to the congregation's love for Franklin.

General Assembly ~ The General Assembly happens every two years when representatives from every congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are invited to meet for worship, business and fellowship. It provides a way for our denominational family to renew our covenantal ties, to strengthen our witness to the world and to discern our calling from God. Plus, we have a lot of fun!

General Church/Units ~ The denomination-wide portion of our church is referred to as the "general church," rather than the national church, because our church includes Canada. There are many ministries that happen at this level of the church, some of which are ongoing offices known as General Units. You can learn more about the structure at the General Church's website.

General Minister and President ~ The General Minister and President is the lead pastor of the Disciples church. This person is elected by the General Assembly to serve a six-year term, with the possibility of a second term. Our current GMP is Rev. Dr. Sharon K. Watkins, who was elected in Portland in 2005.

Good music ~ This is what most people prefer to hear and sing in worship services. Unfortunately, it usually means whatever was new and popular during the speaker's formative years, so the definition varies widely! That's why we try to use a variety of musical styles at First Christian Church, so everyone can be happy some of the time and expanding their horizons the rest of the time!

*Growing Sundays ~ On the last Sunday of each month, we focus on our responsibility to share the good news of Jesus Christ by inviting people to become part of the life of our church. Everyone who has made such an invitation that month is invited to stand or wave and be recognized.

*Humphries Parlor ~ This is the official title of the small room off the south side of the sanctuary, which is occasionally used for Sunday school classes or other small gatherings. It is named in memory of Mrs. Myree Humphries, who was an active member of First Christian Church and taught Sunday School for many years, the last few in that room. Her daughter, Julia Smith, is still a member of our congregation. You may also hear this room called "the South parlor."

Hymn/Hymnal ~ A hymn is a particular sort of song sung in worship. Most of the music sung in our services fits into this category. A hymnal is the book that contains the hymns. We use the "Chalice Hymnal," which is the most recently published Disciples collection. It contains some special readings and responsive Psalms in addition to hymns. We are also starting to use "Chalice Praise," which supplements the hymnal with praise songs.

Iglésia Cristiana ~ A congregation-in-formation of the Christian Church serving Calhoun County's Hispanic population that shares our facilities. They worship on Sunday afternoons. José Matos and Ana Rivera serve as pastors. They are missionary partners from the Christian Church in Puerto Rico. You can check out Iglésia's website here.

Indianapolis ~ Our General offices are mostly in Indianapolis, so this is sometimes used as a short-cut for referring to the General church. Some of our General Units are headquartered in St. Louis as well.

Intinction ~ This refers to a particular way of serving communion that is used primarily for special occasions at First Christian. People come forward and tear a piece of bread from the loaf offered and then dip it in the cup. Some people eat the bread separately and drink from the cup, but that is less common. Sometimes, each person receives and then takes the plate and cup and serves the person behind them. Anyone who cannot come forward is served in their seat when everyone has come through the line. This method of serving can also be affectionately called "dunk and go" or "rip and dip."

Invitation to Discipleship ~ The Invitation is a part of each worship service when anyone who wants to join the congregation is invited to come forward and say so. If they have not been baptized or joined a church before, they make a confession of faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and accept him as Lord and Savior. They are then received into fellowship and will be baptized on a subsequent Sunday. If the person has been a part of another church, the process only involves re-affirming their confession of faith in Jesus Christ and transferring their membership. We accept all baptisms. See the Worship Services page for more information.

Lectionary ~ The lectionary is a way of dividing up the Bible to provide readings for each Sunday of the year. The Lectionary we use at First Christian uses a three-year cycle. Each new year starts on the first Sunday of Advent. Each week, four passages are suggested. Usually, they include a reading from the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament), a Psalm, a Gospel reading (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), and another New Testament reading (an Epistle). Pastor Rebecca uses the lectionary as a way of covering the breadth of the Bible, but departs from it occasionally for particular sermons. Even the lectionary doesn't cover the whole Bible.

Lent ~ Lent is the six week season of preparation that leads up to Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, forty days (not counting Sundays) before Easter, and goes through Holy Week. It is a time of reflective prayer and penitence. Some people give something up for Lent, to help them focus on Jesus' sacrifice. Another method is to take on a new spiritual discipline, adding something rather than subtracting something from your everyday life. We mark Lent in our worship by removing the joyous "Alleluias" from our services, draping the cross, and using somber altar decorations such as dry branches.

Litany ~ This is a word used for a part of a worship service that involves people reading words already written down. Sometimes a litany is responsive, meaning there is a leader who reads a line and then the congregation responds with a line and back and forth. The meanings of this word vary widely from church to church.

*Litany of Remembrance ~ This is a special litany that we say at First Christian Church every week at the end of our celebration of communion to remind ourselves of the meaning of what we've done. It is loosely based on the communion litanies of some more liturgical churches. It goes: Elder: By partaking in this meal, we remember that Christ was born. All: Christ died. Elder: Christ was raised. All: Christ will come again. Elder: This is the mystery of our faith. Amen. This litany is something particular to our congregation and is not used in other Disciples churches that we are aware of, though there may be something similar in some congregations.

Liturgical Seasons (and Colors) ~ Liturgical seasons are the way Christians mark time. Each seasons has a special color symbolizing the themes of that particular time. The year begins with Advent, four Sundays before Christmas, which is marked with purple or sometimes dark blue. Christmas Day's color is white and/or gold. White continues through the Day of Epiphany, which is January 6th, 12 days after Christmas and is the day dedicated to the arrival of the Wise Men at the stable. Between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, the color used is green, for growth. When Lent begins, 40 days before Easter, the color turns back to purple. Easter's color is white, which is used till Pentecost, 50 days after Easter. Pentecost Day's color is red, which is also frequently used on any occasion focusing on the presence of the Holy Spirit, especially ordinations. After Pentecost, "Ordinary Time" begins, using green again for new life. It lasts till Advent starts again. You will see the liturgical colors used in the paraments (fabric decorating the pulpit, the altar Bible and the communion table) and usually in the pastor's stole, depending on the day.

Liturgist ~ This is the person who assists in leading worship. At First Christian, the liturgist reads the responsive Call to Worship, the Prayer of Confession, the Assurance of Pardon, and the First Reading from scripture. This is a position of service that is open to anyone who is willing to read out loud in front of people. The Spiritual Formation Coordinating Team signs people up for this position. Please contact them if you are interested in serving in this way. Guidelines and hints are available for those doing this for the first time.

Lord’s Prayer ~ This is probably the best-known Christian prayer in the world, but there are lots of ways to pray it! It is based on Jesus' answer to his disciples when they asked him to teach them how to pray (Mt. 6:9-13 and Lk. 11:1-4). There are many ways to say and even to sing the Lord's Prayer, primarily differing in one particular phrase about forgiveness and in whether a closing line of praise is included or not. One of the most important things to remember about this prayer is that it's prayed with the word "we" instead of the word "I," pointing toward the communal nature of Christian faith.

Lord’s Supper ~ This is a common term, especially within the Christian Church, to refer to the communion meal. Since it was Jesus' last meal with his disciples before his crucifixion and it was an evening meal, we call it the Lord's Supper. It is used more commonly in formal situations, like the bulletin or order of worship; "communion" is used most often in conversation, presumably because it's easier to say.

*Ministry Teams ~ Ministry Teams work with the members of our Coordinating Teams on a short-term basis to accomplish a specific ministry project. These short-term teams give people a chance to explore the different aspects of ministry happening at First Christian.

Offering ~ This word usually refers to two things. An Offering is a gift of money someone gives to the church as an expression of gratitude for God's blessings. The Offering is the portion of the worship service when those gifts and others are collected and blessed. We encourage people to give at least a symbolic offering each time they worship.

*One + One + One ~ This term, or its shorter version "1+1+1", refers to a special system we've created at First Christian to help people assess the quality of their spiritual lives. It suggests that you should be doing at least One thing for your own spiritual formation, One thing to build up the church, and One thing to serve God's people in the wider world. If you're already doing at least one in each category, it may be time to add One more in one or more categories. Our newsletter, "The Good News" uses special symbols to designate which aspect of our spiritual life each article relates to. There is also a symbol to remind us that particular events are great opportunities to invite a friend who is new to the church.

Ordinary Time ~ This is the word that refers to the longest portion of the liturgical year, the season of the church, between Pentecost (50 days after Easter) and Advent (4 Sundays before Christmas). It is called "ordinary" because there is no special holiday within it. But that doesn't mean it's boring; we find plenty of excuses to celebrate anyway!

Paraments ~ Paraments are the special fabric decorations that are used on the altar (the front part of the sanctuary or worship room). We have them in the liturgical colors and use them on the pulpit, the altar Bible and the communion table. They are decorated with some of the historical symbols for Christ.

*Partnership Word of the Week ~ Each week our Sunday morning bulletin (program for worship) includes one word and how to say it in Spanish, in recognition of our partnership with Iglésia Cristiana, the Hispanic Disciples congregation-in-formation that uses our facilities. Usually the word has something to do with the theme of worship that day or a special event.

*”Pass the Salt” ~ This is a special offering received on the first Sunday of each month at First Christian. It goes directly to Interfaith Ministries to help our neighbors in need with rent, utilities, emergency prescriptions, etc. Our congregation also sends a budgeted amount each month from the whole church. "Pass the Salt" is a way for individuals to give directly themselves. You can give to "Pass the Salt" any time during the month, as long as you make clear on your gift that it is for Interfaith, for instance, by putting "Pass the Salt" in the memo line of a check or noting such on an envelope.

Passing of the Peace of Christ ~ An ancient religious ritual of reconciliation, passing the peace of Christ is both a practical way to remind each other that we're worshipping in the presence of Christ, and a symbolic way to humble ourselves and reconcile in our hearts with anyone we may have a conflict with, before we come to God in worship. In this sense, the ritual fulfills the command of Jesus to lay down our gifts and be reconciled with our brother or sister before making our sacrifice to God (Mt. 5:23-24).

Paten ~ This is a fancy word for the plate that the communion bread sits on.

*”Pause for Prayer” ~ This is the name of our Wednesday evening prayer service. See the Worship Services page for more information.

Pentecost ~ Originally a Jewish holiday, this has become known as the birthday of the church in Christian tradition, for it was on this day, fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, that his disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit in the rush of the wind and tongues of fire. It was such a crazy moment that some observers thought they were drunk. Most people, though, were excited to hear the gospel in their own native languages, for the Holy Spirit had enabled the disciples to speak many different tongues so that the world might know the good news of Jesus Christ.

Pews ~ This is a name for the special benches in the sanctuaries (worship room) of many churches. Some people would say they're designed to keep you from falling asleep, but the ones at First Christian at least have cushions for underneath you! We also have a special section with enough room for a wheelchair. The antique pews at First Christian are specially curved to fit the shape of the room and are decorated with the rose that is a symbol for Christ.

Plate ~ You didn't know this was a "churchy" word, did you? Obviously, you know what a plate is. In churches, though, the phrase "the plate" is sometimes used to talk about the offering, as in "It's time to pass the plate." That doesn't mean they're about to feed you; it means it's time to focus on our response to God's generous blessings.

Prelude ~ The music the organist (or another musician) plays before the service begins. This is a time to quiet our hearts and prepare for worship.

Postlude ~ The music the organist (or another musician) plays at the end of the service. Some people like to stay seated and listen, but most folks take this chance to begin greeting their fellow worshippers. It's kind of like a cue that it's okay to get up and walk around and talk now.

Pulpit ~ The podium that the preacher uses. In our church, the liturgist also reads from the pulpit, but in many churches, there are two podiums and the smaller one is called a lectern.

Region ~ The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), our denomination, is divided into 33 Regions. Our Regional offices provide support, care, partnership and some oversight for the congregations in each geographical area through the ministries of the regional staff. Our congregation is part of the Christian Church in Alabama-Northwest Florida. Our Regional Ministers are John Mobley and Dale Braxton.

Regional Assembly ~ Our Regional church gathers every other year for worship, fellowship and a little business. This gathering is called the Regional Assembly. Some Regions meet on different schedules and have different names for this gathering, but Regional Assembly is the most common.

Robe ~ This is the common term for the primary piece of special clothing some ministers wear when they lead worship. There are many different kinds of robes, in a variety of styles and colors. The styles and colors have different historical significance, but frequently, they are more simply a reflection of the individual minister's personal preference. They derive from European academic robes in the Middle Ages.

Sanctuary ~ This is the churchy word for the room in which worship is held. As its more generic meaning implies, a sanctuary should be a place of safety and refuge. We strive to make our sanctuary welcoming and non-intimidating. While it is a place where faith is lived out seriously, it is not required to be somber, and though it is sometimes a place to be quiet, you are just as likely to find it filled with laughter.

Sermon ~ One of the longest portions of a traditional worship service, the sermon is usually a time for the pastor to speak to the congregation about one or more passages from the Bible and how they relate to our lives today. Pastor Rebecca uses a variety of methods to engage her listeners, including humor, metaphor, stories and questions, and she tries to avoid having her sermon last longer than the congregation's attention span.

Some People – as in “some people have been saying…” or "some people think..." ~ This is a phrase that is sometimes used to share one's opinion while simultaneously trying to avoid claiming the opinion and give it more weight by implying that you've taken a survey and lots of people agree. We try not to use this phrase at First Christian Church, preferring instead to take responsibility for our own opinions and not to speak for one another.

Soup Labels ~ The women's group at First Christian invites everyone to collect certain soup labels to support NBA Woodhaven, a Disciples agency that supports developmentally-disabled adults in Missouri. There is a list of eligible labels and an envelope to put them in on the Church-in-Covenant table in the Friendship Room. For more information, please see the Mission Outreach page.

Special Day Offerings ~ There are four Special Day Offerings that are received by the Christian Church every year. (There may also be a special offering taken at any time for a specific purpose, but it doesn't get capital letters.) These four offerings are: The Easter Special Offering, which supports the General Ministries of the Christian Church; the Pentecost Special Offering, which supports New Church Ministries; the Thanksgiving Special Offering, which supports Disciples colleges, universities and seminaries; and the Christmas Special Offering, which supports our Regional ministries.

Stole ~ A stole is the accessory worn over a ministerial robe. Pastor Rebecca has a few different stoles and usually wears one that matches the color of the current liturgical season (purple, white, green or red). A few of her stoles were special gifts from people she loves and some were woven in Guatemala. If you see one you like, ask about its story - she'd love to tell you!

Table ~ You know what a table is, but in church we sometimes use the word table with a capital "T" in which case it means sometime special. The Table is Christ's Table, the one we use for the Lord's Supper, when we share bread and juice to remember Jesus' last meal with his disciples when he gave them bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood which would soon be broken and shed. The mystery of Christian faith is that through the power of that brokenness, we are made whole. It is not the table itself that is special, but the fact that it is where we meet the presence of Christ as a community.

Tithe ~ Tithing is the practice of giving the first ten percent of your financial resources back to God. It reminds us that all we have comes from God, and that God will sustain us through all things. Since we can't actually hand those dollars directly to God to spend, we give them to the church, where the people discern together how to use those resources to further God's mission in the world. Gifts given beyond that ten percent are called offerings. We aim to have people give out of gratitude for God's blessing, rather than from a sense of duty.

Trustee ~ The trustees are those who carry legal responsibility for the congregation and its assets. First Christian has six trustees, who serve in three-year rotating terms. You can learn more about them on the Our Ministers page.

Vestments ~ Vestments is a general word used for the special clothes ministers wear while leading worship. They can include robes, albs, cassocks, chausables, stoles and more, though at First Christian, it's usually just a robe/alb and a stole. Vestments usually are coordinated with the liturgical season. This word is also sometimes used to refer to what the chancel wears, but the more accurate word for that is paraments.

Week of Compassion ~ Week of Compassion is the disaster and humanitarian relief fund of the Christian Church. Through this ministry, Disciples reach out with helping hands all around the world and in our own backyards. Many churches take work trips in partnership with WoC as well. We receive an annual offering for them, usually in February, but gifts are needed all year long for specific situations. Learn more at their website.