Before You Visit
Welcome and thanks for stopping by our webpage. We know that visiting a new church can be a little nerve-wracking. Hopefully, the information below will help you feel at easy and ready for Worship. We look forward to seeing you!
Relax. You will never be put on the spot, singled-out, or embarrassed.
Drop off your children. Our nursery and Children’s Church ministries provide an exciting, quality experience for your child and run simultaneously with the worship celebration.
Do not feel obligated to give at offering time--the offering is for those who consider First Covenant their church home. You are our guest when you visit. Enjoy yourself.
Please sign the black vinyl book at the end of the pew as a first-timer so that we know that you were here and can share a gift with you just for being with us.
Take advantage of the notes sheet inside the bulletin. It’s yours to write on.
Enjoy fellowship time. After the service, take the time to enjoy the refreshments and interact with our church family. There’s also usually a small group that will meet over lunch--please feel welcome to join them.
Visit a Sunday School class. We offer Sunday School classes for children through adults. Come and learn about God’s Word together with us next Sunday at 9:00 am. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask anyone. If you would like to talk with Pastor Kevin or an Elder about your spiritual walk, a burden on your heart, or anything else, you may do so after any service, or by giving us a call at the Church Office (309-688-4323), or by emailing us at office@firstcovenant.net.
Weekly Worship Schedule:
Sunday
10:30 AM - Worship Service
Wednesday
6:00 PM - Kids Club, Youth Group, and Congregational Prayer
Location
First Covenant Church (or FCC) is located in Peoria, Illinois, at the intersection of the major streets Knoxville Avenue and War Memorial Drive. Our address is, 3616 N. Bigelow Street, Peoria, IL 6104
Our Statement of Faith and Relational Covenant should not only give you an outline of our beliefs, but also the flavor of our church body.
Our Statement of Faith:
We believe in the holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, as the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of humanity, and the only perfect rule of—and the Divine and final authority for—Christian faith, doctrine, and conduct. With that as our basis, we as a church believe:
In one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
That Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, is both true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, in accordance with the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven, where, at the right hand of the Father, He is now our High Priest and Mediator.
That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and—during this age between the cross and the rapture—to convict humanity, regenerate the sinner, and instruct, guide, indwell and empower the believer for Godly living and service.
That humanity was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is, therefore, lost. Only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
That the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe. “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2).
That water baptism and the Lord's Supper are sacraments (holy actions) to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are visible, external, temporal expressions of invisible, spiritual, eternal truth—but not to be regarded themselves as means of salvation or sources of special grace.
That the true Church is composed of all such persons who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ and are united together in the Body of Christ of which He is the Head.
That the local church (as part of the true Church) should sincerely welcome everyone to join in worship with us, and extend the invitation to join as fully involved members to those who profess and live out their regeneration in Christ.
In the personal and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.
In the the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to joy and everlasting worship of the Lord; of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.
Our Relational Covenant:
We, as the family and household of God, each have a personal and corporate responsibility to live our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit in such a way that we honor our Lord in what we do, and in how and why we do it. Grounding ourselves first and always in the Word, we at First Covenant Church commit to hold love as our prime operating principle, to pray for one another, and to strive when interacting with one another to:
Consciously create a safe, church family environment
Actively strengthen and build up one another
Intentionally conduct ourselves with a spirit of humility, grace, and peace
Lovingly speak truth to one another in times of conflict
Genuinely commit to our fellowship and minister alongside one another
At every stage, we will ask ourselves, “Does this draw us closer to God and to one another, or does this push us farther away?” seeking, pursuing, and—as far as it depends on us—living in peace.
(for the long version of this Relational Covenant—with Scriptures and commentary—please click here)
For more information about any of these statements or about the church in general, please feel free to contact us.