Who is Edward anyway?
Our church is named after Jonathan Edwards, who was a preacher and evangelist during the mid-18th century. Edwards, who pastored a church in Northampton, Massachusetts, is considered by many to be the catalyst for the “Great Awakening” of that time period. Our church’s founders (almost a century later, in 1827) chose to name our church after Edwards because his preaching reflected their commitment to Jesus Christ, and to the Trinitarian expression of God (God understood as three-in-one: Creator, Jesus the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit). There is no apostrophe in “Edwards”.

What is the United Church of Christ?
Edwards Church is a member of the United Church of Christ, a protestant denomination founded in 1957 by the merger of the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Like Edwards, most of the UCC churches in New England come from the Congregational Church, and trace our roots back to the Puritans.
The United Church of Christ has a congregational structure, which means that each local church is responsible for making its own decisions, based on the congregation’s understanding of how God is leading them. We come together as a denomination in order to share guidance and support, and to be able to make a difference in the world.

What do the people of Edwards Church believe?
The members and friends of Edwards Church come from a wide range of church backgrounds, and express their beliefs in a variety of ways. Some might call themselves seekers, who are still struggling to articulate what they believe. Others are very clear about their faith in Jesus as Savior. Like other UCC churches, Edwards Church is not a “creedal” church, in which you need to assent to a series of beliefs for membership. Instead, we understand that we are walking together on our faith journeys, seeking to help and encourage one another.
When our 8th and 9th grade young people are confirmed (become members of the church), they each write their own statement of faith. Their inspiring words may give you a better sense of who we are and what we believe. To see examples from their statements, click here.

How do you become a member of Edwards Church?
Most people choose to attend worship and come to coffee hour on Sunday mornings for a while as they decide whether Edwards Church is the right place for them. Several times a year, we host a Gathering of Friends, for people who are interested in learning more about our church and for people who are considering joining. We receive them into membership during a Sunday morning worship service. Most people join by “Reaffirmation of Faith,” which means they reaffirm the commitments they or their parents made when they were baptized.

What about baptisms at Edwards Church?
While most of our baptisms are of infants or very young children, we also baptize older youth and adults. Baptism has many layers of meaning: a celebration of God’s love for the one being baptized, an assurance of God’s promise of on-going renewal and forgiveness, and a way to welcome a child or adult into the fellowship of the Christian church. We recognize and honor the baptisms of all other Christian churches.
Because baptism includes promises that the congregation makes to nurture and care for the one being baptized, we encourage people who would like their child baptized to become part of the life of the church, so that the congregation can offer the support and care we have promised.

What about weddings and covenanting ceremonies at Edwards Church?
Edwards Church rejoices in the opportunity to celebrate the sacred commitments made at weddings and covenanting ceremonies. Weddings held in the sanctuary are performed by the pastor, at her discretion. Rev. Clark usually meets with a couple three times prior to a wedding, and will lead a rehearsal as well. For non-members of Edwards Church, the fees associated with a wedding total about $550.

How much does it cost to be a member of Edwards Church?
There is no fee or expected contribution for membership. We do ask each member or family to carefully consider how much they are able to contribute to sustain our ministry. We also ask members to consider how they can give of their time and energy to support the life of our church. We understand that each person or family’s circumstances are different, and we are grateful for every gift of time, talent, and money.
Most people find that the more they give of themselves to the life of the church, the more they receive from being part of the church community. The church exists because of the faithfulness and generosity of our members. For Frequently Asked Questions about our church’s finances, click here.