Who We Are and What We Believe

We are a theologically diverse community, joined by our love for Jesus and our desire to follow Jesus in loving God with all our heart, soul and strength and our loving our neighbors, far and near, as we love ourselves.

Our Mission Statement

We are a community of faith, gathered by God’s grace, following and modeling the way of Christ, as we celebrate, worship, serve and grow.

We are part of the United Church of Christ, the largest Protestant denomination in New England, with more than 5,100 churches and 1.1 million members across the U.S. In 1957, four denominations in the “free church” tradition merged to form the United church of Christ, with the motto  “…they may all be one” (John 17:21).

Athol Congregational Church Open and Affirming Statement

We, the members of the Athol Congregational Church, UCC are a people of faith, following Jesus and sharing God’s abundant love. We embrace all God’s children. Though individually we may differ in sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, race, ethnicity, economic status, religious tradition, or marital status, we are all united by the Holy Spirit. We continually strive to make accommodations, so that we are universally accessible to anyone who has known the pain of exclusion or discrimination by the church and society, whether it be physical, mental or emotional. With open hearts, open minds, and open doors we extend a warm welcome and invite all who seek God’s amazing grace to worship with our church family.

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith—adapted by Robert V. Moss

We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, who is made known to us in Jesus our brother, and to whose deeds we testify:

God calls the worlds into being, creates humankind in the divine image, and sets before us the ways of life and death.

God seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

God judges all humanity and all nations by that will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord,God has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator.

God bestows upon us the Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

God calls us into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

God promises to all who trust in the gospel forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God.

Amen.

Our By-Laws

As a church in the “congregational” or “free church” tradition, the members of Athol Congregational Church, UCC are responsible for our organization, administration, mission, worship and properties.  We rely upon prayerful discernment, respectful deliberation, our Covenant and our polity to guide us in all we do. Our By-Laws provide the organizational structure which assures freedom with order.