We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, to be the only inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God written.

We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity of Christ, in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his miracles, in his vicarious and atoning death through his shed blood, in his bodily resurrection, in his Ascension to the right hand of the Father, and his personal return in power and glory.

We believe that for salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by Whose indwelling power and fullness the Christian is enabled to live a godly life in the present evil world.

We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.

“And they were continually devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

 Acts 2:42

At First Congregational Church, we want to be “continually devoted” to the same activities that the New Testament Church has been practicing from the beginning.

If you are looking for a church home where you can grow spiritually in the teachings of Jesus and His Apostles, worship in Spirit and Truth, enjoy the loving fellowship of other committed Christians, and express your God-given gifts, please consider First Congregational Church of Cresco.

Wherever God leads you, we invite you to join us whenever you can.

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• Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:30 am.
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“’And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’ For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:12, 14-15

Dear Friends,

The glorious doxology we recite to conclude the “Lord’s Prayer” – “For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory forever – Amen!” – does the Disciple of Jesus a disservice. While it is a true and beautiful thing to say to our Father in heaven, it is inserted into the text at a point that breaks the flow of what Jesus appears to have been communicating.

The earliest manuscripts record Jesus’ words as progressing from a prayer for God’s forgiveness commensurate to our forgiveness of others (v. 12), to asking Him to help us avoid temptation to sin (probably by being unforgiving).  If you skip the doxology (as explained above) Jesus concludes the prayer by explaining how God’s forgiveness of our sins is dependent upon our forgiveness of people who have sinned against us (v. 14-15).

This clear teaching is found in passages like Matthew 5:7; 7:2, 21-23 and 18:15-35. If the horizontal beam of the cross (our relationship with others) is off-kilter, then the vertical beam (our relationship with God) is necessarily out of line as well.

For this reason it is vitally important to our spiritual health and well-being to regularly revisit the subject of forgiveness. I believe Jesus instructs us to ask God’s help in avoiding temptation, including our tendency to magnify the sins of others when they hurt or offend us, while generously minimizing, or overlooking altogether, our sins against God.

Given the seriousness of Jesus’ words, I encourage you to pray for help in asking yourself these questions: Who have I not forgiven? Why have I not forgiven them? What would I need to do to truly “let go” of this unforgiveness in my heart?

Friend, as we learn to trust God enough to obey His commands, especially when it’s really hard, we will experience so much more freedom and peace with Him, and with everyone else.

Please prayerfully consider this,

and may God bless you richly,

as you follow Jesus closely!

In His love,

Pastor Tim Sir

From Rochester, Minnesota, go south on Highway 63 until you get to Highway 9. Turn east (left) on Highway 9 to Cresco.

From Waterloo, Iowa, go north on Highway 63 until you get to Highway 9 turn east (right) on Highway 9 to Cresco.

From Decorah, Iowa, follow Highway 9 west until you enter Cresco.

Entering Cresco, Iowa on Highway 9, turn north on Elm Street. This will be the first stop light if you are entering Cresco from the east (right turn) or the second stop light if you’re entering Cresco from the west (left turn).

Proceed north on Elm Street through the business district four blocks. At the stop sign, turn east (right turn) on third avenue. The church is located at the end of that block on the north side (left side) of the street.