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.

Church

Radio

• Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:30 am. Feel free to wear a mask if you so choose. If you prefer to continue to worship at home, we pray that the resources we provide will be edifying and worshipful.
• Sunday School classes for all ages are held each Sunday morning, at 9:00 a.m.
• A Ladies Bible Study class meets on Wednesday evenings at the Saratoga Community Church. We are doing the study In His Image by Jen Wilkin. If you’re interested in joining, contact the church via email at worship@disciplemaker.org or telephone at 563-547-2263.

Galatians 5:13 – For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Dear Friends,

In his letter to the Galatian converts, the Apostle Paul supplies one of the most important keys to Christian maturity. He refutes the position of the Judaizers (i.e. that to be a Christian, one must not only trust in Jesus for salvation, but must follow the Mosaic Law as well) and defends the true gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.

Not only is an understanding of the true gospel necessary for salvation, it is essential for enjoying the freedom that should come with it.

It has been said that Jesus was crucified between two thieves who threaten to rob Christians of their liberty. On Jesus’ right is the thief of ‘Legalism’, the idea that salvation brings with it a list of “Do’s & Don’ts” that protect us from living in sin. The Pharisees who attacked Jesus , the Judaizers upsetting the Galatians, and division-causing Christians today, are examples of Legalism.

To the left of Jesus is the thief of “Libertinism”, the notion that God is love, salvation is free; therefore living an unrestrained, self-gratifying life of immorality is acceptable. The Judaizers, in trying to avoid this thief, gravitated to the other.

Jesus, and Paul, offer a gospel that excludes the bondage of both thieves. Freedom is not obtained by slavishly following a list of rules, regulations and rituals. Nor does it lie in always doing as you please. True freedom is found in trusting Christ as Savior, receiving forgiveness of sin and the indwelling Holy Spirit, and following Jesus as the Lord of your new life in Him.

Jesus will teach you how to live, how to love, and how to serve. Jesus will set you free from the lies of those two thieves, allowing you to mature into the Christ-like child of God He has called you to be.

In His love and liberty,

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.