First Christian Church
Portland OR
97201
Who we are
Welcome
Thank you for checking out First Christian Church!
We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, straight, filthy rich, dirt poor, no hablan Inglés. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, broken hearted, or in need of a safe place.
We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like many of us who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you believe in God or if you’ve never been to church.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too.
If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!
We are First Christian Church – a social justice congregation – and we love you.
Thank you for checking out First Christian Church!
We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, straight, filthy rich, dirt poor, no hablan Inglés. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, broken hearted, or in need of a safe place.
We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like many of us who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you believe in God or if you’ve never been to church.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!
We are First Christian Church – a social justice congregation – and we love you.
Church Website
First Christian Church on Social Media
Leadership
Leader Name:
Rev. Adam Phillips
Leader Position:
Assistant Minister
Phone:
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Rev. Adam Phillips
Administration
Admin Name:
Elsa Johnson
Admin Position:
Office Administrator
Phone:
Admin Email:
Click here to contact Elsa Johnson
First Christian Church Service Times
Worship Services
We welcome all persons into the life of the church regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or mental or physical ability.
Sunday Worship Service – 9:30 am
Weekly Worship Activities for Children - 9:30 am
It's been more than 6 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
We welcome all persons into the life of the church regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or mental or physical ability.
Sunday Worship Service – 9:30 am
Weekly Worship Activities for Children - 9:30 am
It's been more than 6 years since the last service times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm service times.
Please contact the church to confirm Service Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
PRINT
ZOOM
ICAL
SUBSCRIBE
Other information
First Christian Church History
FCC History
“I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Genesis 17:7) On June 29, 1879, Bruce Wolverton, who had been active in the Oregon Christian Missionary Society, preached at Nonpariel Hall. As a result of that sermon, one woman came fifty miles to be baptized.... On June 30, 1879 – the day following Bruce Wolverton’s sermon – a meeting was called to consider ways and means of continuing the church. Mr. Wolverton, on invitation, attended and with his help, they drew up a set of recommendations... These recommendations were followed... And, on July 21, 1879, the First Christian Church of Portland was incorporated.... The first pastor of the church was Bruce Wolverton...the struggling congregation took courage.
"Seventy-Five Rewarding Years, A History of First Christian Church"
We celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promises of an everlasting covenant with our beloved sister Marcia Wolverton, life long member of First Christian Church and great granddaughter of First Christian’s first minister, The Reverend Bruce Wolverton. Marcia’s parents were married at FCC in 1947. She and her sister Sherry are on the First Christian Church Cradle Roll.
“... for ... I was a stranger and you welcomed me...” (Matthew 25:35)
It was during Mr. Wetzell’s ministry (1889-1897) that the Christian Boardof Missions started the Chinese Mission in Portland... The First Christian Church in Portland, still a recipient of mission help itself, pledged $300 in addition to assistance in other ways... It was the first definite cause, outside themselves, to which Portland’s First Church had been able to give much help. (pp20-21)
"Seventy-Five Rewarding Years, A History of First Christian Church" "... therefore thus says the Lord God, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: 'One who trusts will not panic.'” (Isaiah 28:16)
At four o’clock on July 30, (1922) under a cloudless sky, the cornerstone of the fourth building (our present home) was laid. Both Columbia and Park Streets had been cleared of cars and roped off. Seats had been placed on the sidewalks and in the streets. The crowd arriving filled them and spilled over into the park... A.H. Averill, who had been present at the cornerstone laying twenty years before, put the stone in place... It was the same cornerstone of light grey granite that had been used in the previous building...The old copper box they sealed into it was the same one, too... The construction of it was fraught with some difficulties – most of them concerned with finance... And there was a man who turned up frequently and almost providentially to save those days. He was F.A. Douty, owner of a lumber yard and a large contributor of money... "Sometimes we would be down to our last board,...and up would roll a truck-load of lumber - a gift from Fred Douty!” The building was dedicated July 1, 1923.
"Seventy-Five Rewarding Years, A History of First Christian Church"
Our Disciples Heritage of Social Justice
“As early as 1801 Barton Stone freed two of his slaves who he had inherited from his mother. Between the years 1795 and 1820 some twenty-odd landowners in the Cane Ridge community freed some of their slaves. In so doing, they were careful to spell out terms of liberation which (liberations) was to become effective when slaves were of age to have some legal rights. Mistresses and masters were considerate of these persons whom they called “servants” and thought of them as part of the extended family.”
Exerpted from an essay: “Cane Ridge: Central Kentucky Farming Community”, written by Kenney Shropshire Roseberry and included in Cane Ridge Bicentennial Sampler.
From THE CANE RIDGE MEETING-HOUSE pp 33-34 By James R. Rogers
“We whose names are hereto subscribed, agree and oblige ourselves to pay the sum of money to our names severally annexed, to Ephraim Herriott, Joshua Irvin and William Rogers, for the purpose of paying for a lot of ground embracing Cane Ridge Meeting-house and the burial-ground thereat, and also for the purpose of repairing said house so as to make it comfortable for a house of worship for the cold as well as for the warm season of the year. Said house and lot to be conveyed to the Christian and Presbyterian Churches, but free for other societies to worship in when not occupied by these churches. Feb. 12, 1829.”
Ninety-nine names are listed as subscribers. Four of the subscribers, William Rogers, Nathaniel P. Rogers, Hugh Roseberry and Nathan Bayless, are ancestors of current members of Portland First Christian Church.
“I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Genesis 17:7) On June 29, 1879, Bruce Wolverton, who had been active in the Oregon Christian Missionary Society, preached at Nonpariel Hall. As a result of that sermon, one woman came fifty miles to be baptized.... On June 30, 1879 – the day following Bruce Wolverton’s sermon – a meeting was called to consider ways and means of continuing the church. Mr. Wolverton, on invitation, attended and with his help, they drew up a set of recommendations... These recommendations were followed... And, on July 21, 1879, the First Christian Church of Portland was incorporated.... The first pastor of the church was Bruce Wolverton...the struggling congregation took courage.
We celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promises of an everlasting covenant with our beloved sister Marcia Wolverton, life long member of First Christian Church and great granddaughter of First Christian’s first minister, The Reverend Bruce Wolverton. Marcia’s parents were married at FCC in 1947. She and her sister Sherry are on the First Christian Church Cradle Roll.
“... for ... I was a stranger and you welcomed me...” (Matthew 25:35)
It was during Mr. Wetzell’s ministry (1889-1897) that the Christian Boardof Missions started the Chinese Mission in Portland... The First Christian Church in Portland, still a recipient of mission help itself, pledged $300 in addition to assistance in other ways... It was the first definite cause, outside themselves, to which Portland’s First Church had been able to give much help. (pp20-21)
"Seventy-Five Rewarding Years, A History of First Christian Church" "... therefore thus says the Lord God, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: 'One who trusts will not panic.'” (Isaiah 28:16)
Our Disciples Heritage of Social Justice
“As early as 1801 Barton Stone freed two of his slaves who he had inherited from his mother. Between the years 1795 and 1820 some twenty-odd landowners in the Cane Ridge community freed some of their slaves. In so doing, they were careful to spell out terms of liberation which (liberations) was to become effective when slaves were of age to have some legal rights. Mistresses and masters were considerate of these persons whom they called “servants” and thought of them as part of the extended family.”
Exerpted from an essay: “Cane Ridge: Central Kentucky Farming Community”, written by Kenney Shropshire Roseberry and included in Cane Ridge Bicentennial Sampler.
From THE CANE RIDGE MEETING-HOUSE pp 33-34 By James R. Rogers
“We whose names are hereto subscribed, agree and oblige ourselves to pay the sum of money to our names severally annexed, to Ephraim Herriott, Joshua Irvin and William Rogers, for the purpose of paying for a lot of ground embracing Cane Ridge Meeting-house and the burial-ground thereat, and also for the purpose of repairing said house so as to make it comfortable for a house of worship for the cold as well as for the warm season of the year. Said house and lot to be conveyed to the Christian and Presbyterian Churches, but free for other societies to worship in when not occupied by these churches. Feb. 12, 1829.”
"I would rather train twenty men to pray, than a thousand to preach; A minister's highest mission ought to be to teach his people to pray." H. MacGregor
First Christian Church listing was last updated on the 3rd of August, 2017
