First Congregational Church of Western Springs

We all know the phrase, “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” Many of us first heard it on the field or court, when coaches encouraged us to set aside our egos and work together. But as adults—especially within a church or community—that simple lesson can feel more complicated as our teams grow, shift, and change. This Sunday, we’ll turn to a familiar parable from Luke’s gospel to find if there is any good ne...

This Sunday at First Congo Rev. Chrissy Tatum Williamson will preach a sermon entitled: “The Difference Between Molding and Molded.”Everybody likes the idea of being transformed (past tense). Looking back on the past and seeing how we've grown and changed. Children exude pride when they begin a new school year, one grade more than when they left for summer break. As adults we sometimes look up...

Meredith will reflect on Jesus’s parable about the seating charts at the banquet, as we’re reminded to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind – and in doing so, we will be blessed. Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZxvTf4bTE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZxvTf4bTE&t=2115s If you are...

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 Senior Associate Minister Rev. Meredith Onion (meredith@wscongo.org) a question that curious kids are wondering about. Question this episode are: How old is the Church? What is the funniest thing that ever happened in a Church S...

Let us worship together and enjoy fellowship and wonderful food at our Annual picnic. Please Note : Due to technical difficulties the entire service was unable to be streamed/recorded. Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdIw5PDDzRU ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdIw5PDDzRU&t=1285s If you are new to our f...

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 Senior Associate Minister Rev. Meredith Onion (meredith@wscongo.org) a question that curious kids are wondering about. Question this episode are: What is your favorite Bible story? What is the hardest part about being a pastor?...

Friends, This Sunday I will offer my final Ask the Pastor reflection. Many of you know the idea; during the prelude you write down your question and the ushers will collect them (or send them to moderator@wscongo.org) and Jim Majernik, chair of Finance, will choose several for me to respond to. Link to Livestream: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9HYaO8k0LU ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Welcome to our Audio Podcast "Curious Kids Faithful Answers". Where one of Our Leaders is asked questions by our Youth seeking Faithful Answers. This week we ask Our New Presidents of Plymouth Fellowships (Our High School Youth Group) Suzy Avakian and Emily Kienzle two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: What's something you've learned about God through the...

Rev. John Rodgers will lead a dramatic retelling of the story of the Good Samaritan! Meredith will serve as liturgist, and Janet and Lauren Reynolds will provide special music. Please Note: There was a mic issue that resulted in a pause during the Sermon. This pause has been trimmed out of the Spotify Verson of the Sermon. Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjfV_hXxv9A ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

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 Senior Associate Minister Rev. Meredith Onion (meredith@wscongo.org) a question that curious kids are wondering about. Question this episode are: Tell me about your educational background? How'd you become a Pastor...

Meredith will preach on the parable of the rich man, Nayna Byers will serve as liturgist and two of our young people, Lenora Winkelman and Drew Trimmer will provide special music!   Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8k9677daOc ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8k9677daOc&t=2247s If you are new to our faith comm...

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 Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Richard Kirchherr (rich@wscongo.org) two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: What is the difference between being a Pastor and a Preist? Do you get to p...

Please join together for worship as the living body of Jesus this Sunday. Rev. Price will reflect on the words and truths of Jesus Christ that humankind attempts to forget and distort. Together we can bring Christ to the world. Link to Livestream: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh4eCFciJik ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh4eCFciJi...

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 Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Richard Kirchherr (rich@wscongo.org) two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: How did you get into being Pastor? What is your favorite thing you ever done at this...

The story of Martha and Mary may be familiar to many, but this Sunday we’ll explore the question, “But, who will do the dishes?” Meredith will preach, Alex Onion and Jeff Kust will provide music and Jean Larson will serve as liturgist! Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlO3nh01RS4 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlO3nh...

Welcome to our Audio Podcast "Curious Kids Faithful Answers". Where one of Our Leaders is asked questions by our Youth seeking Faithful Answers. This week we ask Our New Presidents of Plymouth Fellowships (Our High School Youth Group) Suzy Avakian and Emily Kienzle two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: What is the High School Youth Group and what kinds of...

Peter Kravolec-Kirchherr will be preaching on today's lectionary, Luke 10:25-37 - The Good Samaritan.“My religion makes no sense and does not help me, therefore I pursue it.” As we explore the parable of the Good Samaritan this Sunday, we will use these thought provoking words as food for thought about what it means to be a neighbor. Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJjbqCyR...

Welcome to our Audio Podcast "Curious Kids Faithful Answers". Where one of Our Leaders is asked questions by our Youth seeking Faithful Answers. This week we ask Our Music Director Ray Klemchuk (ray@wscongo.org) two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: What is your favorite instrument, and can you play more than one? Do you have a favorite church s...

Jesus expands his messengers from 12 to 72! We’ll explore how we’ll answer that invitation today! Link to Livestream: ⁠ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5HsLvjKPfc ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5HsLvjKPfc&t=2354s If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome t...

Welcome to our Audio Podcast "Curious Kids Faithful Answers". Where one of Our Leaders is asked questions by our Youth seeking Faithful Answers. This week we ask Our Youth Choir Director Lauren Reynolds (lauren@wscongo.org) two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: What do you love most about leading the Children's Choir? What's the funniest or silliest thing...

This Sunday our All In Band will lead our music, and on the Sunday before the Fourth of July, Rich will preach on the intersection of freedom and faith, and how the words of those who wrote the declaration of independence, resonate with words from one of the apostle Paul’s letters. Rich sermon will lift up both the challenges of this time for our nation and faith communities, and the possibilities...

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 Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Richard Kirchherr (rich@wscongo.org) two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: When Jesus died why did he go to hell first and then rise from the dead and...

Peter Kralovec-Kirchherr will be leading us in worship this Sunday and his sermon is titled: Fear in Gerasenes. Jesus does one of his many miracles in Gerasenes, but the response from the crowd is an unusual one - they are afraid, and ask him to leave. What can we learn from this story about ourselves and our own responses to the divine? Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgVUsuBY...

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 Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Richard Kirchherr (rich@wscongo.org) two questions that curious kids are wondering about. Questions this episode are: If we belive in God and we're Christian and other faith traditions (Jewish, Muslum) b...

We’ll be celebrating Trinity Sunday as well as Father’s Day. Pastor Kathryn will share about the wisdom fathers can continue to receive from the third person of the Holy Trinity. Link to Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cFzZyjqxKU ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Link to Start of Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cFzZyjqxKU&t=2617s If you are new to our faith community and are int...