FCC Watsonville -- Our Beliefs and Practices

Organized over a century ago, we have a deep history of vision, sacrifice, and ministry.

We believe:

In baptism by immersion but accept those from other churches who have been baptized by other methods. Just as the baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, it symbolizes the death and burial of the old self of the repentant believer, and the joyous birth of a brand new being in Christ. Those who founded the Disciples movement taught baptism by immersion as the accepted form.

In practice:

The Lord’s Supper is celebrated every Sunday. All who believe in Jesus as the Son of God are invited to partake. The Lord's Supper or Communion is celebrated in weekly worship. It is open to all who are followers of Jesus Christ. The practice of Holy Communion has become the central element of worship within the Disciples tradition. Disciples' observance of the Lord's Supper emanates from the upper room, where Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the living Christ is met and received in the sharing of the bread and the cup, representative of the body and blood of Jesus. The presence of the living Lord is affirmed and he is proclaimed to be the dominant power in our lives.

We are an Open and Affirming church encouraging one another and Welcoming all people as children of God into Christian fellowship.

We believe in the ministry of all believers. You will see men, women, and youth serving in all phases of church live.

We regard fellowship as an important Christian experience. Through various church-sponsored groups and events, a wide variety of individual interests are met in a caring and meaningful environment.

We believe ongoing Christian learning is vital to the continued development of an individual’s religious life. Therefore, we are dedicated to providing a variety of educational opportunities to meet one’s Christian experience.

Our church is actively involved in a wide variety of mission efforts on a local, religious, national, and global level. This involvement gives church members the opportunity to be as active as they wish and to witness firsthand the difference their ministries can make.

The chalice symbolizes the central place of communion in worship for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The X-shaped cross of the disciple Andrew is a reminder of the ministry of each person and the importance of evangelism.