The Deep River Congregational Church is a community of people of diverse ages, backgrounds, and interests, who share a common faith that God is in our midst. We see in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ a sign of God's promise in our own lives, in our community, and in the world.
We are a church of over 400 members, young and primed, with active programs for all ages. Our Sunday School, directed by Sybil Higgins, is overflowing with energy and enthusiasm. Each week our children are invited to begin worship with adults at our 10 a.m. service, where a Children's message is a part of the worship. At the hymn of dismissal, the children go to individual classes, from birth through high school, which are taught by volunteer members of our congregation. A relaxed social environment is offered for our Jr. and Sr. High school age youth who want to continue their Sunday School experience. We focus on current topics and issues facing youth today and work on various mission projects. We also offer three youth groups to include Joy Fellowship (4th-6th grades), Jr. Pilgrim Fellowship (7th-8th), and a high school Sr. Pilgrim Fellowship. Often these groups meet after church on Sunday, but they also participate in special activities, retreats, and programs at other times. Our Confirmation Class is open for all youth starting in 9th Grade, which meets twice a month from September through May, led by the Minister, the Director of Christian Education and the Director of Youth and Family Ministry. Our summer Faith Adventure program (formerly VBS) is second to none!
Like to sing and make music? Our Senior Choir, led by Annetta Sekula, rehearses each Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and leads worship at our 10 a.m. service every Sunday. In addition, special seasonal music programs are held, especially at Christmas and Easter. Children are encouraged to be a part of our Junior Choir, which rehearses after worship on Sundays and sings at select services throughout the year. Always those who play musical instruments are encouraged to share their talents during worship. Special music is often a part of both our 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday services.
Bible studies are held during Advent and Lent each year. Adult Fellowship, a regular social gathering open to all adults in the church, meets the first Friday of selected months at 6:30 p.m. for a Pot Luck Supper and program. Our Outdoor Ministry program schedules an annual summer Men's Retreat in the White Mountains or Adirondacks.
Our church is a member of the United Church of Christ, a denomination which is concentrated in New England but with active congregations throughout the country. Our denomination, though descended from the Pilgrims and Puritans of New England, was a leader in the building of colleges and universities for the training of young people (including Harvard and Yale) and to the missionary movement which sought to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Our predecessors were among the first to fight for abolition of slavery, to provide schools for the descendants of slaves, to educate women and recognize the ordination of women to the ministry. Our denomination today is still committed to being a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, open and uniting people of faith.
Through One Great Hour of Sharing and our own denomination, we provide dollars to aid the victims of disaster, war, and famine in our own country and around the world. We have a vibrant Mission program lead by Director of Youth & Family Ministry which commissions teams from our community to travel near and far to minister to our brother and sisters of the world. Past mission trips have included New Orleans, the Domincan Republic, Maine, Vermont, West Virginia, El Salvador, South Dakota and Mexico. Our congregation also supports special outreach projects such as Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project International, Unicef, Church World Service, Shoreline Soup Kitchen and more. We encourage children and adults alike to believe that they, too, can make a difference in the world. Join us, we are a place of extravagant welcome!
