We at First Congregational Church, Bellevue believe we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. “To believe is to care; to care is to do.”
Homelessness
We were one of the founding churches in Congregations for the Homeless on the Eastside. Every November, we take a turn offering our church home as a shelter to approximately 35 men. Each evening, we serve them dinner and eat together with them.
Members of our church founded The Sophia Way, a nonprofit that works to help end homelessness for women in King County. We continue to support this organization and offer space to them in our new building.
Poverty, hunger, and injustice
In our new building, we provide space for Catholic Community Services. This ecumenical partner serves individuals, children, families, and communities struggling with poverty and the effects of intolerance and racism. They serve people in need regardless of religious affiliation, race, or economic status.
Each year, we join with other Eastside faith communities to participate in a 3.5-mile Crop Walk through downtown Bellevue to raise money for Church World Service’s hunger relief work and two local agencies (Hopelink and the Emergency Feeding Program).
In the summer, our youth go on a service mission to Yakima, and participate in other service projects closer to home throughout the year.
Every year at Christmas, we adopt several people with disabilities through Bridge Disability Ministries and fulfill their gift wishes.
Speaking out
Just as the United Church of Christ (UCC) has been a thought leader on several issues (see the UCC firsts), we have also taken a stand on several issues. In 2012, we supported Referendum 74 for marriage equality. In 2016, we supported initiative 735 to eliminate the undue influence of concentrated money and political power on elections and governmental policy.
