FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HOLDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
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  • Home
  • Newcomer
  • Nursery School
  • Corner Shop
    • About the Corner Shop
    • Corner Shop Outreach
  • Life Together
    • Worship
    • Youth
    • Children
    • Adult
    • Outreach
    • Events
    • Calendar
  • About Us
    • Our Faith
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • How We Operate
    • Our Staff
  • Members
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Click above to learn service times & more
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​Community Thanksgiving Eve Service
Wednesday, November 27, 7:00pm in our Chapel
This intimate, joint gathering with First Baptist Church is a time of
singing, thanks-giving, and feasting at the Lord's Table (Communion).
Children are welcome

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Where do I park?

​Ample parking is available at the side and back of the building which is handicap accessible.

How do I enter the building?

Both the front and back door are open on Sunday mornings and there will be someone there to greet you and show you where to go. Our Sanctuary is located up the stairs at the front of the church on the second level.  
A traditional, but not formal mixture of scripture, preaching, music, and prayer. Communion is offered to all on the first Sunday of the month, and occasionally we have special services including baptisms, mission project celebrations, as well as youth and children-led services. Before entering the sanctuary, our ushers will give you a bulletin/program for that week’s order of service which includes prayers, hymns, announcements, and an upcoming calendar of events.

New to Church?
Check Us Out!

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Get Your POW! Tags

Each Sunday your child attends they get a POW! Tag that they can collect, display on their backpacks and share with their friends.

  • ​ Teacher Handbook
  •  Faith Weaver NOW Curriculum ​
  • CORI request form
  • ​Student Registration form
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Click for all the ways you can participate in Holy Week
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Christmas Eve – December 24, 2023 

10:00am Sunday Morning Worship Service

A simple service at our regular time, featuring extra Christmas Carols and the True Light of Christmas!  Family friendly, no Sunday School.   Bring Christmas goodies to share for Coffee Hour if you’ve got extra.

4:30pm Simply Christmas Family Service
Featuring the children of our church acting out the Christmas story.

 6pm Carols and Candles Around the Manger (outside)
A simple 30-minute service of scripture, prayer, carols and of course singing Silent Night around the manger. 

11pm Candlelit Lessons and Carols 
Our traditional all candlelit Lessons and Carols 
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(the 4:30 and 11pm services will be live streamed.) 
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Diapers for Jesus - We have a long-standing tradition at our Christmas Eve service of having a baby shower for Jesus by bringing forward diapers and other baby goods (food, wipes, etc.) to the manger as an offering during the service.  These then go to babies and families in need in Worcester County.

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September is
​Homecoming Month

Homecoming Sunday

September 10, 10:00 AM

Come see what we're all about
Pancake Breakfast  8:30 AM
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(complimentary)        
Sunday School registration 9:30 AM
​Worship & blessing of children 10:00 AM
Youth Group- middle & high school 6:00-8:00
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Come  Worship Outdoors with Us

July 9 at 10am
on our back lawn
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Potluck lunch to follow

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Discipleship Groups

These are groups of 3 people who meet together at an agreed upon time for a period of about one year to grow deeper together in Christ
Contact

Women's Fellowship

A gathering of women of the church who build community while  encouraging one other in their lives and faiths through discussion inspired by book study.
Contact
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Christmas Eve – December 24, 2022

4:30pm Simply Christmas Family Service
Featuring the children of our church acting out the Christmas story. 

6pm Carols and Candles Around the Manger (outside)
A simple 30-minute service of scripture, prayer, carols and of course singing Silent Night around the manger. 

11pm Candlelit Lessons and Carols 
Our traditional all candlelit Lessons and Carols 
   (the 4:30 and 11pm services will be live streamed.) 
   (We will also have Christmas Day worship at 10am)
​

Diapers for Jesus - We have a long-standing tradition at our Christmas Eve service of having a baby shower for Jesus by bringing forward diapers and other baby goods (food, wipes, etc.) to the manger as an offering during the service.  These then go to babies and families in need in Worcester County.
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​Help us build our Manger Scene 
Saturday, December 10 
4:30 pm on Church front lawn
 

The whole community is invited to join us on the church front lawn as we light up our outdoor manger scene. We will sing a few Christmas Carols, tell the Christmas story and focus on the true light of Christmas.
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​Mission Trip 2020  Covid postponed
Camp Barnabas - Purdy, Missouri


Mission Trip 2018 - Houston Texas Was a Great Success!

​Mission Trip 2016 - North Carolina Christian Endeavor Was Awesome!

watch video

Monthly Calendar

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​​Newsletter

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Click to get details on our outdoor Easter Worship
April 19, 2019
Cross Walk
Join fellow believers from our Holden churches as we carry the cross through the center of town, reading the Passion from the gospel and stopping at various churches to worship and reflect. Join us for the whole walk or note the times below to join us along the way.  Teens and children are welcome and often participate.
12:00 pm Senor Center Gazebo 
12:15 pm First Congregational
1:15 pm First Baptist Church
2:15 pm St. Francis Episcopal
Option 2 - 3.9 yrs by Sept. 1
      3 Day--- Mon./Wed./Fri.
                  9:00 - 12:30 AM
Option 1 - 2.9 yrs by Sept. 1  
       2 Day---Tues./Thurs.
                  9:00 - 11:30 AM
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Christmas Eve Outdoor Service at the Manger 5:00pm - a short service on the front lawn of the church gathering around our outdoor manger to worship, tell the Christmas story, sing Christmas carols and of course a candlelit vigil of “Silent Night”. No space limits but Reservations required for contact tracing purposes
Diapers for Jesus - We have a long-standing tradition at our Christmas Eve service of having a baby shower for Jesus by bringing forward diapers and other baby goods (food, wipes, etc.) to the manger as an offering during the service.  These then go to babies and families in need in Worcester County.
Christmas Eve Indoor Candlelight Service 11pm –an abbreviated version of our traditional Lessons and Carols service,(telling the story of Jesus' birth through excerpts from the Bible and music) celebrating that holy night when Jesus, the light of the world, was born. Reservations will be required 

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Christmas Eve Family Service 4:30pm - Come and worship as our children and Pastor John present "Home for Christmas" and sing the old familiar Christmas carols.
Diapers for Jesus - We have a long-standing tradition at our 4:30 Christmas Eve service of having a baby shower for Jesus by bringing forward diapers and other baby goods (food, wipes, etc.) to the manger as an offering during the service.  These then go to babies and families in need in Worcester County.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 11pm –Join us for our traditional Lessons and Carols service (telling the story of Jesus' birth through excerpts from the Bible and music) celebrating that holy night when Jesus, the light of the world, was born.

What if it Snows?
Click the banner for details on all Holy Week activities
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Sunday Evening Worship
5:00-6:00 PM 
every 1st and 3rd Sunday 
in  the chapel (except July & August)


 Stay connected with God and your church in the midst of your busy lives.  We offer an additional, informal, Sunday evening service.  This is a small, simple service of singing, prayers, readings and a message from Pastor John; much of it simplified content from the 10:00 AM service.  It is family, kid, and adult friendly and less than an hour, with Communion on the first Sunday (not on the third).  If this is something that interests you and fits your schedule let us know or simply show up.  And yes, those of you zealots among us feel free to double dip and come twice.  Let us know if there are other ways we can help you stay connected.
​                                                                                   ~Pastor John
 

Location

First Congregational Church of Holden

1180 Main St.
Holden, Massachusetts

At the intersection of  
​routes 122A and 31
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Contact Us

[email protected]
508-829-5411

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