Press Release: First​ ​Congregational​ ​UCC​ ​of​ ​Lowell​ ​Welcomes​ ​New​ ​Pastoral​ ​Team

We received the following press release from the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

 

Lowell,​ ​MI​ ​​– First​ ​Congregational​ ​United​ ​Church​ ​of​ ​Christ​ ​(UCC),​ ​a​ ​historic​ ​progressive​ ​church​ ​in​ ​Lowell,​ ​Michigan, proudly​ ​welcomes​ ​a​ ​new​ ​pastoral​ ​team,​ ​an​ ​initiative​ ​made​ ​possible​ ​through​ ​a​ ​partnership​ ​with​ ​Park Church,​ ​a​ ​progressive,​ ​urban​ ​church​ ​in​ ​downtown​ ​Grand​ ​Rapids.

Rev.​ ​Todd​ ​Petty,​ ​senior​ ​pastor​ ​at​ ​Park,​ ​will​ ​also​ ​serve​ ​as​ ​senior​ ​minister​ ​at​ ​First​ ​Congregational​ ​Church, overseeing​ ​new​ ​welcoming​ ​initiatives.​ ​To​ ​assist​ ​with​ ​this​ ​partnership,​ ​Pastor​ ​Jon​ ​Propper,​ ​newly-hired Minister​ ​of​ ​Worship​ ​and​ ​Community​ ​Outreach,​ ​brings​ ​a​ ​fresh,​ ​lively​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​worship​ ​and​ ​ministry, with​ ​an​ ​approachable,​ ​down-to-earth​ ​style,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​passion​ ​for​ ​Christian​ ​study.

“It’s​ ​an​ ​honor​ ​to​ ​pastor​ ​this​ ​congregation.”​ ​said​ ​Propper.​ ​“First​ ​Congregational​ ​is​ ​a​ ​church​ ​where​ ​fitting in​ ​is​ ​easy​ ​-​ ​you​ ​come​ ​as​ ​you​ ​are.​ ​In​ ​a​ ​time​ ​when​ ​church​ ​attendance​ ​is​ ​on​ ​decline​ ​across​ ​the​ ​country,​ ​they have​ ​the​ ​courage​ ​to​ ​say,​ ​‘You​ ​are​ ​welcome​ ​here!’​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​message​ ​we​ ​all​ ​need​ ​to​ ​hear.”

Propper’s​ ​ministry​ ​background​ ​is​ ​eclectic,​ ​reflecting​ ​the​ ​inclusive​ ​nature​ ​of​ ​First​ ​Congregational​ ​Church. A​ ​former​ ​student​ ​rabbi,​ ​Propper’s​ ​faith​ ​journey​ ​includes​ ​Christianity,​ ​Buddhism,​ ​and​ ​Judaism.​ ​As​ ​a Christian​ ​minister,​ ​Propper​ ​brings​ ​that​ ​range​ ​of​ ​experiences​ ​to​ ​bear,​ ​offering​ ​a​ ​vision​ ​of​ ​faith​ ​that welcomes​ ​and​ ​affirms​ ​all​ ​people,​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​doubts​ ​or​ ​questions.

First​ ​Congregational​ ​Church​ ​will​ ​formally​ ​welcome​ ​Pastor​ ​Jon​ ​Propper​ ​and​ ​his​ ​wife,​ ​Lindsay,​ ​with​ ​a Weekend​ ​of​ ​Welcome,​ ​Saturday​ ​and​ ​Sunday,​ ​October​ ​21st​ ​and​ ​22nd.​ ​On​ ​Saturday,​ ​at​ ​5:30pm,​ ​the​ ​church will​ ​host​ ​a​ ​bonfire​ ​and​ ​grill-out​ ​at​ ​no​ ​cost​ ​to​ ​the​ ​community,​ ​as​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​the​ ​Propper​ ​family and​ ​learn​ ​more​ ​about​ ​the​ ​church.​ On​ ​Sunday,​ ​at​ ​9:30am,​ ​a​ ​worship​ ​service​ ​of​ ​welcome​ ​will​ ​formally introduce​ ​Pastor​ ​Jon.​ ​All​ ​are​ ​invited!

“Our​ ​connection​ ​to​ ​Park​ ​Church,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​hiring​ ​of​ ​Pastor​ ​Jon,​ ​will​ ​help​ ​us​ ​remain​ ​a​ ​vibrant​ ​and​ ​open community​ ​for​ ​all,”​ ​said​ ​Gretchen​ ​Ballema,​ ​board​ ​member​ ​at​ ​First​ ​Congregational​ ​Church.​ ​“It’s​ ​a home run,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​invite​ ​the​ ​community​ ​to​ ​celebrate​ ​with​ ​us!”

About​ ​First​ ​Congregational​ ​United​ ​Church​ ​of​ ​Christ

First​ ​Congregational​ ​UCC​ ​is​ ​a​ ​historic​ ​progressive​ ​church​ ​in​ ​scenic​ ​Lowell,​ ​MI.​ ​We​ ​have​ ​fed​ ​the​ ​mind, body,​ ​and​ ​spirit​ ​for​ ​more​ ​than​ ​160​ ​years.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​Open​ ​&​ ​Affirming,​ ​a​ ​place​ ​of​ ​welcome​ ​for​ ​people​ ​of​ ​all races,​ ​cultures,​ ​gender​ ​identities​ ​and​ ​sexual​ ​orientations!

Those interested in learning more about the church or the pastoral team, can visit the Lowell UCC website.

(Featured image courtesy of Lowell UCC)