{"id":13232,"date":"2020-04-22T06:33:04","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T10:33:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232"},"modified":"2025-11-24T06:14:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T11:14:34","slug":"visit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/who-we-are\/visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex_column av_one_full  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-first  \" style='border-radius:0px; '><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-1  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Visit First Congregational Church<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_half  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><div  class='avia-image-container  av-styling-    avia-builder-el-3  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  avia-align-center '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"  ><div class='avia-image-container-inner'><div class='avia-image-overlay-wrap'><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-10760 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-10760 avia_image' src=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/new_church_sign.jpg\" alt='' title='new_church_sign' height=\"600\" width=\"600\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/new_church_sign.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/new_church_sign-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/new_church_sign-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/new_church_sign-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/new_church_sign-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding   avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_full  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thinking of visiting the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction?\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We hope you will &#8211; we would love to meet you! <\/span><\/h4>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Sunday Worship Schedule<\/h3>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5>1st Sunday of the Month:<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>10:00 am &#8211; IN-PERSON or ONLINE on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCuXmhD4K1JGklxOlDMDdZbw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube Channel<\/a>. Spiritual Friends for Pre-K through 2nd grade offered after the Children&#8217;s Message.<\/li>\n<li>Communion is served during worship &#8211; <em>all are welcome at Christ&#8217;s table<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5>2nd through Last Sunday of the Month:<\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>8:30 am &#8211; IN-PERSON or ONLINE on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCuXmhD4K1JGklxOlDMDdZbw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube Channel<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>10:15 &#8211; Join us IN-PERSON; Faith Formation Sunday School will meet after the Children&#8217;s Message.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div class=\"flex_column av_one_full  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_half  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h4>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Parking &#038; Accessibility<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#accessibility\">Where should I park?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#accessibility\">Is the church accessible?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Worship Information<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#worship\">Who is welcome to worship at First Church?<\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#worship\">Where is the Sanctuary?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#worship\">How do I know what\u2019s going on during the service?<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#worship\">Who may take Communion?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#worship\">What is the Friendship Book?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#worship\">Do people gather after services?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Children &#038; Youth<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#children\">Do you offer Sunday School?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#children\">Is there nursery care?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#children\">Can my child\/children stay with me during worship?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/?page_id=13232#children\">What is a children\u2019s offering?<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_half  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><div  class='avia-image-container  av-styling-    avia-builder-el-9  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  avia-align-center '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"  ><div class='avia-image-container-inner'><div class='avia-image-overlay-wrap'><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-13262 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-13262 avia_image' src=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/handicapped_parking.jpg\" alt='' title='handicapped_parking' height=\"600\" width=\"600\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/handicapped_parking.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/handicapped_parking-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/handicapped_parking-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/handicapped_parking-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/handicapped_parking-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding   avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_half  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  id=\"accessibility\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h5>Parking &#038; Accessibility<\/h5>\n<p><strong>Where should I park?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parking is available in the main Parking Lot. Feel free to use the space reserved for new visitors. If the Parking Lot is full on Sunday mornings, you may park on the other side of the building along Church Street, or in the nearby Champlain OB\/GYN parking lot (look for signs directing you).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Is the church accessible?<\/strong> Yes! Accessibility for all people is very important for us at First Congregational Church. We offer:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two reserved parking spaces<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An elevator to access the Sanctuary on the 2nd floor<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accessible restrooms on both floors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sound amplification (headsets available outside the sanctuary or ask an usher)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Large-print bulletins<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The option to receive Communion at your seat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Service dogs are welcome<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first  avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_half  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  id=\"worship\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h5>Worship Information:<\/h5>\n<p><b>Who is welcome to worship at First Church? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everyone! <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are Open and Affirming, and welcoming to all who seek Jesus Christ, regardless of<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> race, gender, age, sexual orientation, faith background, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, mental and physical ability, economic and social position, gender identity and expression, level of education and family structure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Where is the Sanctuary? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sanctuary is on the 2nd Floor. There is an elevator near the Parking Lot entrance, or you can walk through the large \u201cFellowship Hall\u201d and up the stairs. We have an old building, so look for signs or ask one of our greeters!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>How do I know what\u2019s going on during the service?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> When you enter the Sanctuary, the ushers will hand you a bulletin, which lists the order of worship for the service. The bulletin contains the text of the prayers, hymn numbers or song lyrics. You will find hymnals and bibles in the pew racks. Large print bulletins are available upon request.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Who may take Communion? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All who seek a relationship with Jesus Christ are invited to take communion. We receive communion once a month, usually on the first Sunday. In an effort to be all-inclusive, we serve non-alcoholic grape juice and gluten-free bread. On days when communion is served in the front of church, those who are unable to come forward may signal an usher and be served in their pew.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is the Friendship Book? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of each pew, there is a book where everyone is invited to record their names and provide contact information if they wish.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Do people gather after services? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After church, you are invited to join us in Fellowship Hall (1st Floor) for fellowship time and refreshments.\u00a0 This is a good time to meet members of the congregation, ask questions, and enjoy some refreshments.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding   avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_half  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><div  class='avia-image-container  av-styling-    avia-builder-el-15  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  avia-align-center '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"  ><div class='avia-image-container-inner'><div class='avia-image-overlay-wrap'><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-13255 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-13255 avia_image' src=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/second_worship_service_2-2019.jpg\" alt='' title='second_worship_service_2-2019' height=\"600\" width=\"600\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/second_worship_service_2-2019.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/second_worship_service_2-2019-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/second_worship_service_2-2019-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/second_worship_service_2-2019-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/second_worship_service_2-2019-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first  avia-builder-el-16  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_half  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><div  class='avia-image-container  av-styling-    avia-builder-el-17  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  avia-align-center '  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\"  ><div class='avia-image-container-inner'><div class='avia-image-overlay-wrap'><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-13257 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-13257 avia_image' src=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/pretzel_sunday_shaping_dough.jpg\" alt='' title='pretzel_sunday_shaping_dough' height=\"600\" width=\"600\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/pretzel_sunday_shaping_dough.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/pretzel_sunday_shaping_dough-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/pretzel_sunday_shaping_dough-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/pretzel_sunday_shaping_dough-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/pretzel_sunday_shaping_dough-180x180.jpg 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding   avia-builder-el-18  el_after_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-last  column-top-margin\" style='border-radius:0px; '><section class=\"av_textblock_section \"  id=\"children\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock  '   itemprop=\"text\" ><h5>Children<\/h5>\n<p><b>Do you offer Sunday School?\u00a0 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes! From September to June, our \u201cFaith Formation\u201d program is held at the 10:15 AM service for children pre-K-8th grade. Bring your children\/youth with you to the Sanctuary to begin worship with you. Typically, there is a Children\u2019s Message early in the worship service, after which children are invited to go to classrooms for Faith Formation. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/spiritual-journey\/children-youth\/\">Children &#038; Youth<\/a> for more information.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Is there nursery care? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes! We have a Nursery Caregiver on staff and\/or volunteers to care for very young children during both Sunday services.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Can my child\/children stay with me during worship? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes! Children and youth are always welcome and some families do choose to have their children stay in church the whole time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is a \u201cFaith Formation offering\u201d?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Children and youth are invited to make an offering (donation) during their Faith Formation time. Proceeds from this offering are donated to a charity voted on by the children and youth each year. This is optional and there is no pressure to participate.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":13199,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13232","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13232"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17997,"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13232\/revisions\/17997"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fccej.org\/v5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}