As part of the Disciples of Christ denomination, we have "No creed, but Christ." That means we do not have a fixed doctrine that each member must believe and follow to be a part of our community, except to believe in and follow Christ. Each believer may "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)" by studying God's word and sharing their findings with other believers. As Disciples, we strive for unity in essentials, and liberty in all else. Sharing your beliefs is encouraged, as the phrase "agree to disagree" is an adage the denomination's founders used frequently. Because we do not have a set doctrine, people from all backgrounds are welcome to worship with us without being forced to conform to a preconceived set of doctrines. This is the reason behind our slogan, "We have a place for you."
Another aspect of Disciples of Christ churches is that communion is the center of worship. To come together and share the body and blood of Christ demonstrates Christ call for unity, and it is something we do every Sunday. Christ calls all people to communion, and we offer it to everyone without restrictions. This practice echoes our belief in the Priesthood of All Believers. We believe that God calls all people to serve regardless of gender, background, or any other qualification.
Here at First Christian Church Palestine, we are striving to fulfill our mission and worship God in a way that not only glorifies God, but also uplifts and encourages all people as we worship. To this end, we are a truly multi-generational church. We have almost five generations of people who worship together, pray for one another, and support one another. We encourage each of our members to be involved in ministry in various ways, and as a result, many of members are involved throughout the Palestine community. We have members involved in various service organizations, who help the poor of our community, who help mentor children, and who visit the aged in nursing homes. We even have a group of women who spend many hours working on quilts and comforters and then sell those quilts and comforters to charity.
In everything, we strive to live in a way that we think is consistent with the example set for us by Jesus Christ. Not that any of us can ever live up to his example, but we try. We support each other, care for one another, and bear each other's burdens. We are always seeking to learn more about God through the scriptures and to learn ways in which we can better live in a way that not only glorifies God, but makes the world a better place in the process. If you are looking for a church home, or even if you have never been a "church person," we would love to have you be a part of our community.
We understand that many people do not see the need for church or just ever got into it. You may know nothing about religion or Christianity and that's okay with us. Come and visit us, regardless of where you are in life. You might find church meaningful or you might not, but in the end, there is no harm in giving it a try. We don't judge, and we don't proselytize. Feel free to call or email us if you have any questions.
Since I am new to the church it has been a nice time of fellowship with other church members. Jordan makes the class so enjoyable with his enthusiasm while answering our questions. He explains passages in terms that make it easy for us to understand. I am really learning a lot about Bible Stories! I would encourage anyone, who wants to learn more about the Bible to come & join us. You'll be glad you did!
