Welcome to First Presbyterian Church of Hector! We are glad you are considering visiting our church! You can find directions to our church here.
Our worship service is 9:30 am on Sunday morning. We gather in the original 1818 sanctuary though it has undergone several major renovations.
We welcome children of all ages to worship with us. Children’s bags are available that contain books and a children’s bulletin related to the main Bible text of the day. Most Sundays the children go to Sunday school immediately after the Children’s time in the service. The children remain with their families when we celebrate communion.
The first Sunday of the month we celebrate communion (the Eucharist). We believe all of us come to the table at Christ’s invitation, so we welcome all who trust in Jesus Christ to celebrate with us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are nourished for the journey and sent out to share God’s good news with the world. Communion Sunday is also the time when we especially welcome donations of non-perishable foods and cleaning products for our food pantry.
Music Ministry
Music is an essential part of our worship and praise of God. We sing hymns both classic and new – there has been an explosion of hymn writing in the last 20 years.
We have a chancel choir that sings an anthem every Sunday (including the summer) led by our gifted Music Director, Mark Brown. We welcome all who like to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 9 am.
Denomination
We are a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Presbyterians trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of Reformed thinking. One of John Calvin’s students, John Knox, brought the Reformed Christian faith to Scotland and founded the Presbyterian Church.
Presbyterians are distinctive in two major ways: they adhere to a pattern of religious thought known as Reformed theology, and a form of government that stresses the active, representational leadership of both ministers and church members.
As far back as 1837 the General Assembly declared that the church, by its very nature, is a missionary society whose purpose is to share the love of God in Jesus Christ in word and deed and with all the world.
Our congregation is one of 60 congregations in the Presbytery of Geneva, and part of the Synod of the Northeast. For more information, check out their websites:
Presbytery of Geneva: www.presbyteryofgeneva.org
Synod of the Northeast: www.synodne.org
Presbyterian Church (USA): www.pcusa.org
Baptism
Baptism is the sign and symbol of inclusion in God’s grace and covenant in Christ. In Baptism, we participate in Jesus’ death and resurrection – we die to what separates us from God and are raised to newness of life in Christ. In Baptism, the Holy Spirit binds the Church in covenant to its Creator and Lord. As an identifying mark, Baptism signifies:
- the faithfulness of God
- the washing away of sin
- rebirth
- putting on the fresh garment of Christ
- being sealed by God’s Spirit
- adoption into the covenant family of the Church
- resurrection and illumination in Christ
Baptism is God’s gift of grace and also God’s summons to respond to that grace. Baptism calls to repentance, to faithfulness, and to discipleship. Baptism gives the church its identity and commissions the church for ministry to the world.
Both believers and their children are included in God’s covenant love.
- The Baptism of children witnesses to the truth that God’s love claims people before they are able to respond in faith.
- The Baptism of those who enter the covenant upon their own profession of faith witnesses to the truth that God’s gift of grace calls for fulfillment in a response of faithfulness.
Baptism is received only once and signifies the beginning of life in Christ, not its completion. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) recognizes all Baptisms with water in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit administered by other Christian churches.
Weddings
First Presbyterian Church of Hector is available for weddings. Weddings must be approved by the pastor and by the session. Note: our sanctuary can seat up to 160.
Weddings at First Presbyterian Church of Hector will be services of Christian worship. The pastor will perform all weddings. The Word will be read and proclaimed as part of this service. The pastor and organist must approve all musical selections – it is strongly encouraged they be sacred.
The pastor will meet with couples for at least one counseling session before agreeing to any wedding. The pastor may require the couple to attend a certain number of counseling sessions with the pastor or with another qualified counselor.
A complete description of our church’s wedding policy and fees can be found here.
Funerals
The death of a loved one is a grief-filled and difficult time. It is also when our belief about God and the promise of our faith revealed in Jesus Christ most needs to be heard. And it is a time when we witness the strength a community of faith can bring to the family as it walks with and supports them. That is why we understand a funeral as a worship service:
- to give thanks to God as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of life
- to celebrate the life of the deceased as a witness to Christ’s resurrection
- to aid family and friends in the mourning process
- to draw on our faith and the promise “…that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
At the time of death, our pastor will work closely with family members to plan the details of the funeral service and to extend the care of our congregation. While funeral homes can accommodate funeral services, we encourage you to hold the service at the church.
Although people tend to shy away from discussing death or planning for it, it is a reality for which we must in some measure prepare. How your family and friends will be affected by your death is due in large part to the care and foresight with which you have made your preparations.
When you plan and prearrange your own service, you make a gift of love to your family. Experience has shown that advanced directives can be a final gift to loved ones by relieving them of difficult decisions.
A funeral or memorial service guide for planning your service is available in the church office. Consider the wisdom of writing down your wishes and instructions and sharing them with your family. They will know your wishes and you will have peace of mind.
