First Congregational Church Of Western Springs

Please join us for our traditional lessons and carols for Christmas Eve. Rev. Dr. Rich Kirchherr will offer a reflection. Our choir will be accompanied by organist Kathy Christian, and a brass quartet. If you are new to our faith community and are interested in learning more, please go to https://www.wscongo.org/new-here/welc...

Hope is vulnerable and can feel like a tremendous risk, especially if you’ve experienced loss or trauma. But Mary shows us a resilient hope that takes risks—she risks her body to bear a son who will become the hope of her people. Similarly, Joseph makes a risky choice to stay with Mary; dismissing her quietly would have kept him safe. But instead, he chooses hope. He chooses to trust the angel, and it makes all the difference. It can feel safer and easier to be a cynic, but the world doesn’t need more cynics. It needs people who say, “It can be better," and make it so. 

Dyana VanWyngaarden shares her story.

Lisa Marie Weslowski shares her story.

Terri Rivera shares her story.

On this last Sunday of the church’s calendar year, we’ll hear Pilate challenge Jesus to explain who he is.  Join us as we consider what it means to “Belong to the Truth”.  Our choir will sing, and Janet Mensen Reynolds and Lauren Reynolds will share a special musical offering. 

On this first day of Advent, Rev. Kathryn Price will preach about how God continues to bless each of us in the most unexpected ways and in the most unexpected places.

What better way to begin our national day of gratitude than by gathering to worship God? Thanksgiving Day is a “come as you are,” 40-minute service where we sing the wonderful hymns of Thanksgiving and hear a reflection on gratitude from a member, Mary Rose Kennith .

Rev. Rich Kirchherr offers his alaphet reflection for Thanksgiving.

Rev. Meredith Onion offers a reflection.

Rev. Kathryn Price offers her reflection.

Rev. Meredith Onion offers a reflection.

Rev. Kirchherr answers the question - "Is there a hell?"

Matt Dahl shares his space story.

Rev. Dr. Rich Kirchherr will continue his series based on questions from the summer's Ask the Pastor sermon and recent conversations. This Sunday, he'll delve into the Gospel of John, reflecting on Jesus' words, "I go to prepare a place for you." His sermon, titled The Geography of Heaven?, will explore what Scripture and tradition reveal about this frequently pondered question.

Rev. Meredith Onion offers her reflection as we come together on World Communion Sunday.

Rev. Rich Kirchherr responds to what the phrase Born Again means to our kind of faith today.

Rev. Dr. Rich Kirchherr offers his reflection.

Rev. Dr. Rich Kirchherr offers a reflection.

Rev. Dr. Richard Kirchherr offers his reflection.