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.
• Prayer Meeting Wednesday evenings, 7-8 pm, at the Saratoga Community Church
• Prayer for Our Nation – Saturday, Sept. 26th, 11am-1pm. This will coordinate with the time of the Washington Prayer March 2020. Everyone is welcome.

Matthew 22:36-40 – “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? And He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

“This Before That . . .”

Dear Friends,

One of the best-known and frequently quoted sayings of Jesus is “Love your neighbor.” When put into its original context (see above), we see that this is the “Second” great commandment – the First being to love God with our whole being.

So, should we focus on loving God, or loving others? The answer, of course, is “Both”. People tend to do neither very well, and often will err toward favoring one at the expense of the other.

To understand, and then obey, Jesus’ words rightly, we need to think deeply and clearly. A phrase I have found helpful is, “It isn’t a matter of ‘Either-Or’, but of ‘Both-And’.” Another is “It’s not ‘This OR That’, but it is ‘This BEFORE That’.”

Until we learn what it means to love God in the way he deserves and demands, we will never be able to love people in the way God demonstrates and demands.

As we continue to navigate through the troubled waters of our times, will you join me in striving to follow Jesus and properly apply His most important instruction to not ignore ‘This or That’, but to truly put ‘This Before That’?

May He be glorified in the world by our obedience to His Word,

In Christ’s Love and Power,

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.