2023 Spring Concert Series

First Congregational Church of Elgin invites the wider community to our annual Spring Concert Series, featuring four performances from local and international musical artists. All concerts are free admission and open to the public. A free-will offering will be collected for donations to the Music Program at First Congregational.

 

 

Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 4:00 PM

Lindsay Garritson, concert pianist

Dr. Lindsay Garritson has performed throughout the United States and abroad since the age of four. She has appeared on stages such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Place des Arts (Montreal), and has been featured as soloist with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra (Texas), Orchestre Métropolitain (Montreal), Atlantic Classical Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica Barra Mansa (Brazil), the Yale Philharmonic Orchestra, and the European Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. An award-winning performer, Lindsay has received top prizes at the Montreal International Piano Competition, USASU Bösendorfer International Piano Competition, and the Mozarteum International Chopin Competition (Salzburg).

 

Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 4:00 PM

Elgin Symphony String Quartet

Eleanor Bartsch is a violinist with a diverse and vibrant career as a chamber musician, orchestral musician, Concertmaster, soloist, educator, and entrepreneur. In addition to serving as Associate Concertmaster of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, she is Concertmaster of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, a performing member of the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2018 was named first violinist of the critically acclaimed Kontras Quartet.

Eric Pidluski is a native of Fairfield, CT, where he began playing the violin at age 9. He is currently a member of the first violin sections of Elgin and Rockford Symphonies. He attended the DePaul University School of Music, where he received a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, and a certificate in violin performance.

Rebecca Swan received her Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Heidi Castleman and Misha Amory. She is a member of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and is principal violist with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Philharmonic. She is also a member of the Elgin Symphony and Chicago Sinfonietta.

Sara Sitzer is an active and versatile freelance cellist and entrepreneur in Chicago. A member of the Elgin Symphony, Sara also performs regularly with orchestras and ensembles including the Milwaukee Symphony and Chicago Opera Theater. 

 

 

Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 4:00 PM

Harper College Steel Drum Band

Paul Ross, director

The Harper College Steel Bands have been entertaining audiences for over 35 years. They perform on a family of instruments called steel pans which were invented and developed in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. These instruments are hand crafted from 55 gallon oil drums/barrels. Harper owns ten steel pans made for them by legendary pan builder and Trinid native Cliff Alexis. Caribbean styles such as calypso, reggae, ska, cha cha, and mambo along with rock, bossa nova, samba, and pop make up the heart of their musical repertoire. Director Paul G. Ross arranges most of their music and has also written many original pieces for them over the years.

 

Friday, April 7, 2023 at 7:00 PM

Good Friday Choral Concert and Service

Several church choirs in the area join to perform Faure's Requiem, including liturgical elements of scriptures and prayer.

 

Our Beliefs

Friends and Neighbors,

 

We are not a “progressive” church that merely welcomes LGBTQ+ persons.
We recognize and honor the presence of God in all people and fully welcome them into our community to be members, leaders, teachers, and preachers.

 

We are not a “progressive” church that uses inclusive language to be politically correct.
We identify the limitations of a male-dominated society and seek to rediscover the gifts and strengths of the feminine in both our members and the sacred.

 

We are not a “progressive” church that is all intellectual and boring.
We celebrate with joy and laughter our faith through varieties of music, the arts, worship styles, and forms of service and action in the community.

 

We are not a “progressive” church that considers the Bible irrelevant for today.
We value these ancient stories of people’s experiences of God in different times and cultures by using them as entry points to experience the presence and guidance of God today.

 

We are not a “progressive” church that downplays the role of Jesus.
We respond to the Jesus we meet in scripture who calls us to take up our own crosses and follow in the steps of his life, message, and vision, not just his death.

 

We are not a “progressive” church that does not believe in eternal salvation.
We recognize that salvation is also an experience in the here and now through our participation in God’s work toward a world of more equality, compassion, and peace.

 

We are not a “progressive” church that says whatever way works for you is fine.
We simply recognize that Christianity is our way into the life of God but do not confuse that as being the only way into God who will not be defined by human barriers.

 

Maybe First Congregational Elgin is the church you’ve been looking for! 

Join us this Sunday for worship, and begin the journey of finding out.

 

Peace in Christ,

Rev. Dr. Jesse Tanner, Pastor

Worship Services

Sundays 9:30AM live-streaming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFCCElgin 

 

Worship services usually last about an hour. Communion is offered on the first Sunday of each month in both services.

 

This service includes the choir, bell choir, and special music throughout most of the year. You’ll frequently hear special music performances by our talented musicians as well as local and regional talent.  

 

We love Children at First Congregational Church.  They participate in a portion of the service and are then invited to attend Sunday School which is offered during service throughout the school year, August-May.

Families

Families of all sizes, shapes, and hues are welcome and cherished at First Congregational Church. We are a congregation of diverse backgrounds, living in families of various configurations, who hold in common a desire to see our children flourish as they discover a friend in Jesus.

 

Whether your child is teddy bear clutching, or gregarious, a boy who likes princess movies, or a girl who plays football, he or she will fit in fine! It is our joy to enfold all children—the fearless, the questioning, the sweet, the anxious, and the huggers—within the circle of God’s unending love.

 

Our Sunday School program is offered during the 9:30 service on Sunday mornings. All children and families gather together for worship during the first part of the worship service. Worship bags are available in the back of the sanctuary for children to use as they wait for worship to begin.

 

Parents are encouraged to help their children learn to worship by showing them how to follow along in the bulletin and join in singing the hymns. Just prior to the scripture reading the children are invited to attend their age appropriate Sunday School classes for a biblically based lesson.

 

Our program invites children to use their intelligence and imagination as they listen to the story, wonder and make meaning for themselves. We seek to nurture a faith in children that will grow with them as they mature.

 

Our Sunday School program is offered from September through May for newborns – senior high school. During the summer we encourage families to worship together. The nursery is provided year-round for infants – 3year olds.

Support During the Service

We offer large-print bulletins for those who forgot their reading glasses.

 

There is an elevator for access to Fellowship Hall and upper floor classrooms and meeting rooms.

 

Coffee Hour & Fellowship

We also have a friendly gathering for coffee and treats immediately following the 9:30 service in Fellowship Hall. Enjoy tasty healthy, and not-so-healthy, treats while you visit and catch up with your new friends.

 

 

Free Parking

On Sundays on the gravel lot on the east side of the church;


- Handicap parking is located on the north side of the church, with entrance on Center Street,

 

– In the municipal parking structure at the corner of E. Chicago and Spring St. and in the municipal lot on the corner of Geneva St. and Highland Ave.

 

– On all local streets except in the winter when 2” or more of snow has fallen. 

Recent Worship Videos

Click here for more worship videos