2018 - Celebrating our 250th Year!
WHO WE ARE...
The First Church in Hartland is “the Church on the Hill” located in East Hartland, Connecticut. We are situated in the center of town of this lovely northwestern community in Hartford County. First Church has been serving the residents of Hartland and surrounding towns for more than 241 years, and continues to be, a church committed to serving our Lord and the people of God’s earth through the blessing and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Our first goal is to welcome all people from all walks of life. We believe this is God’s Church and reach out to all who seek to know the Lord. Many parishioners come from a variety of religious backgrounds and this allows us to experience our faith in diversity within a unity of trust, hospitality, love, fellowship, and individual gifts granted each of us by God Almighty. We invite you to visit our lovely country Church in the “Heartland” of CT where we pray you experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in an atmosphere of brotherly and sisterly love among our congregants. It is our hope you will want to return and make this your church home. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." -John 12:34-35
The First Church in Hartland will celebrate our 250th Anniversary May, 2018!
WHAT WE BELIEVE…
We believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, in whom we were created and share a special covenantal relationship. We believe that it is through the gift of The Word, (John 1:1), that we are saved through Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Our faith in the Comforter (Acts 2), inspires us to stand strong in our beliefs that challenge us and that empower us to carry out our role as disciples of Christ.
Central to our faith and belief are two Holy Sacraments: Baptism, the sacrament of entrance into Christ's church, and Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper. Baptism is open to all who desire to begin a life in Christ for themselves or for their children. The Lord’s Supper is shared on the first Sunday of each month and open to all as we believe Christ is the host and we are the guests
The Congregational Way
The Congregational Way is a way of following Christ. People of a Congregational Church do not seek to be led by a creed, but by the Spirit. Ours is the tradition of a free church, gathered under the headship of Christ and bound to others by love, not law. All major decisions, whether they be financial, spiritual, or otherwise come before the congregation for a vote. Committees and Boards, through their duties and responsibilities, help the everyday functioning of the Church to reach it's greater missions.
ALL are welcome in this church family, whatever your life experience or wherever you are on your faith journey, as we believe that unity within diversity strengthens rather than weakens our walk with Christ.