"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

The Avon Congregational Church embraces an historical perspective blended with faith which gives us strength and energy to meet the challenges of the future. We have a proud heritage on which to grow.

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Avon Congregational Church is an active and growing church which is served by Pastor Kenneth Fuller. Reflecting this congregation’s theological openness, our members come from diverse Christian backgrounds. The congregation is made up of all ages; it has families and singles, students and retirees.

Avon Congregational Church has a membership of about 380 with a typical Sunday attendance of 150. Our traditional Congregational service offers strong preaching, reflective prayers, and uplifting music. Worship services are planned around the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year cycle of lessons from the Old Testament, Psalms, and the Gospels and Letters of the New Testament. The Lectionary is a framework for worship and study that is followed by many liturgical and Protestant churches today.

The history of the Avon Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, goes back over two and a half centuries. The Church and some of its families date back to 1640 when settlers moved over Talcott Mountain from Hartford and purchased the Farmington Valley from the Tunxis Indians. The first Meeting House was built in 1756. Later the congregation divided and the current church was established in 1818. Read more about the building and church history in Onward 1812-1982.

Our current members draw deeply from the stories of the founders and preservers of this church and its people. Read What This Church Means to Me by Historian, Writer and Member, Nora Howard.

Congregationalism came to America with the Pilgrims in 1620. Its church government, both spiritual and temporal, is not subject to  any other religious or ecclesiastical body. Avon Congregational Church's bylaws state that ours is a free, independent, and self-governing church. Simply put, we are a group of people gathering in Christ's name and adhering to the truths of our Covenant. Our motto—"that they may all be one"—is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church.

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Avon Congregational Church is to enable people to know God and to live as Jesus Christ taught and lived.

Our faith energizes us to make a difference in our lives and the lives of those we touch in our social, business and personal activities.

We are a family of Christian believers dedicated to sharing our love, our time, talents and gifts with each other and the larger community. We worship together in reverence and Joy and welcome all to join us in our Christian fellowship. We are committed to Christian education as a life-long endeavor for all.

We affirm that our commitment to our own church must be balanced with our social responsibility to all humanity.

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith (1983) (Doxology Form)

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:

You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death.

You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.

Amen.

Church in Mission. Our church’s sense of calling and mission has led us to an active ministry not only to our own members but to the community and region as well. The Avon Congregational Church actively participates in and supports ministries such as Interval House, The Horace Bushnell Children’s Food Pantry, the Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen and Covenant to Care’s "Adopt a Social Worker" Program. Read more on the Fellowship Through Service Page.

The church has always been at the center of community growth. There are now many churches of other denominations in Avon and a fine ecumenical spirit has developed. The Avon Congregational Church holds a special place among them with an historical perspective blended with the faith and energy to meet the future. We have a proud heritage on which to grow.

Christian Education. Avon Congregational Church offers Christian education through its church school and adult discussion groups. Church school is provided for children two years old through eighth grade. Two youth fellowship groups serve our junior high and high school—aged members. Read more about the program on the Christian Education Page.

Music has always been important part of the ministry of our church. Six choirs (senior, youth, senior bell choir, youth bell choir, cherub choir and flute choir) provide music for all our services, as do a number of talented instrumentalists from the congregation. The church has a fine pipe organ and several fine pianos. Read more about the music program on the Music Page and on the Green Pages.

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