First Congregational Church of Western Springs

Join us for Week Four of our current sermon series: What does it mean to be the church? Where we look to scripture to help us discover the meaning of church in today’s world. So far we have read from the Gospels and the letter to the early church in Corinth. This week, we turn to the prophet Micah to gain some insights from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) with a focus on the question: What shall...

We continue our series exploring what it means to be the Church. Rev. Chrissy Tatum Williamson will explore the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and calling his disciples. Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRI-xNcE4I ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRRI-xNcE4I&t=1590s I...

If you missed Chrissy’ sermon last week, you’ll want to be sure to listen to it here: ( January 11, 2026 - Sermon - First Congregational Church of Western Springs | Podcast on Spotify ). We’ll continue her theme exploring what it means to Be the Church. We’ll hear the Prophet Isaiah’s words of assurance: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” and Paul’s words of encouragement...

This week we begin a series called “What does it mean to be church?” During the series we will read from the Gospels stories of Jesus’ early ministry, calling, training, and nurturing the disciples as they prepared to carry the mission forward. Though many years have passed, we carry that same Jesus-mission forward today! In this first week, we’ll read a portion of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” and...

This Sunday we gather to celebrate Epiphany. It is traditionally a time to tell the story of the Magi who travelled from the East to see Jesus and offer valuable gifts. Though the magi are the main characters in this ancient story, Herod looms large in the background, driving the narrative, directing the movement of the magi, and also the migration of the holy family away from Bethlehem. In this f...

Link to Livestream:⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyap4R5FhDQ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xyap4R5FhDQ&t=2319s If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to First Congo Online - First...

This fourth Sunday of Advent, we will light the Candle of Love and reflect on Joseph’s call to stay with Mary and name the child Jesus. We’ll also be blessed by special music from our Bell Choir. Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_pNiF8QKsI ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_pNi...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Crazy Quilt of Love "Crazy Quilt of Love" reminds us that every stich-like every act of grace-helps God mend our fragmented world through Christ. Stay for soup and fellowship as we celebrate the warmth of Advent. Look for the registrat...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Crazy Quilt of Love "Crazy Quilt of Love" reminds us that every stich-like every act of grace-helps God mend our fragmented world through Christ. Stay for soup and fellowship as we celebrate the warmth of Advent. Look for the registrat...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Crazy Quilt of Love "Crazy Quilt of Love" reminds us that every stich-like every act of grace-helps God mend our fragmented world through Christ. Stay for soup and fellowship as we celebrate the warmth of Advent. Look for the registrat...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Crazy Quilt of Love "Crazy Quilt of Love" reminds us that every stich-like every act of grace-helps God mend our fragmented world through Christ. Stay for soup and fellowship as we celebrate the warmth of Advent. Look for the registrat...

This week our Advent readings return to more traditional stories of angelic visitors announcing miraculous pregnancies and in so doing, inviting ordinary folk into an extraordinary calling. This week, that invitation is given to Mary, a teenage girl who is engaged to be married. Unlike her cousin Elizabeth, who is married and whose pregnancy can be understood for the most part, Mary’s news is a bi...

We continue our Advent theme of Insist on Hope, even in the midst of fear. This week the Gospel reading brings us once again to a story including John the Baptist. This time John is in prison and seems to be losing hope. Was it all worth it? Did anything I spent my life doing have meaning? Was it all for nothing? These are the questions John is asking as his life takes an unexpected turn. Most of...

This week begins the season of Advent which is a time of long-waiting and hopeful anticipation. This year our theme for the season (now through Christmas and Epiphany which we will celebrate on January 4) is What Do You Fear? Our exploration of this theme begins with the story of Zechariah who was a priest and the father of John the Baptist - but he doesn’t yet know about his son. So as we remembe...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Every City Is A Living Being Join us for an unforgettable evening where story and song bring the world's great cities to life. Featuring songs by Petula Clark, Billy Joel, Journey, The Eagles and more. Come wander with us. They say don't...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Every City Is A Living Being Join us for an unforgettable evening where story and song bring the world's great cities to life. Featuring songs by Petula Clark, Billy Joel, Journey, The Eagles and more. Come wander with us. They say don't...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Every City Is A Living Being Join us for an unforgettable evening where story and song bring the world's great cities to life. Featuring songs by Petula Clark, Billy Joel, Journey, The Eagles and more. Come wander with us. They say don't...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Every City Is A Living Being Join us for an unforgettable evening where story and song bring the world's great cities to life. Featuring songs by Petula Clark, Billy Joel, Journey, The Eagles and more. Come wander with us. They say don't...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Every City Is A Living Being Join us for an unforgettable evening where story and song bring the world's great cities to life. Featuring songs by Petula Clark, Billy Joel, Journey, The Eagles and more. Come wander with us. They say don't...

Our Words & Music Podcast brings the Words of our speakers directly to you in podcast format. The All in Band presents Words & Music Season 25-26: Every City Is A Living Being Join us for an unforgettable evening where story and song bring the world's great cities to life. Featuring songs by Petula Clark, Billy Joel, Journey, The Eagles and more. Come wander with us. They say don't...

Come and celebrate Accessibility Sunday! On this special day, we remember that sometimes people can feel left out because of stairs, or hard to read words, or not being able to hear, or because people don’t understand their needs. Sometimes we can’t see what someone needs but our calling as a church is to be like Jesus, making sure everyone is included, and that church is a place where no one feel...

Come and celebrate Accessibility Sunday! On this special day, we remember that sometimes people can feel left out because of stairs, or hard to read words, or not being able to hear, or because people don’t understand their needs. Sometimes we can’t see what someone needs but our calling as a church is to be like Jesus, making sure everyone is included, and that church is a place where no one feel...

Come and celebrate Accessibility Sunday! On this special day, we remember that sometimes people can feel left out because of stairs, or hard to read words, or not being able to hear, or because people don’t understand their needs. Sometimes we can’t see what someone needs but our calling as a church is to be like Jesus, making sure everyone is included, and that church is a place where no one feel...

Welcome to our Audio Podcast "Curious Kids Faithful Answers". Where one of Our Faith Leaders is asked questions by our Youth seeking Faithful Answers. This week we ask Our New Senior Minister Chrissy Tatum Williamson (chrissy@wscongo.org) two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: If you could have dinner with any Bible character, who would it be and...

We can’t wait for this Sunday as we celebrate and officially covenant with Rev. Chrissy Tatum Williamson, our new Senior Minister! It’s sure to be a joyful and spirit-filled morning as we welcome Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, a dear friend and former colleague of Rev. Chrissy, to the pulpit. We’re certain Amy will share faith-filled words for both Chrissy and our congregation to carry forward together. Lin...