First Christian Church of Stow
We believe and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. We strive as a community of believers to share the love of God with others, as taught by the scriptures and illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
First Christian Church of Stow was founded over 180 years ago as the Stow Church of Christ, and is one of the oldest congregations in the city. We have been worshiping and witnessing near the heart of the city since 1831.
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was founded in the early 1800s in the United States. The founders envisioned a unitd church of Jesus Christ, modeled on the New Testament. We structure our community around the biblical idea of covenant, emphasizing not obedience to human authority, but accountability to one another because of our shared belief in Christ.
The Table is Open
We are Disciples of Christ, a movement of wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.
That means that all are invited to respond to Christ’s invitation to draw closer to God around the communion table, no matter where you come from, what you’ve done or who you are. All are welcome. For Disciples, the open table is a powerful symbol of our deep commitment to Christian unity. The open table honors diversity, even as it celebrates unity in Christ.
Disciples’ congregations celebrate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. The table is not only at the center of worship in our congregations, it is at the center of who we are as the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.
We don’t stay at the table. We move out into the world to fulfill our mission, to be and share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving and serving from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
The Ministry of All Believers
Both ministers and lay persons lead in worship, service and spiritual growth. We affirm the preisthood of all believeeres, rejoicing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which include the gift of leadership, which God has given for the common good.
At First Christian Church of Stow, Holy Communion is offered on a weekly basis to all who desire God’s forgiveness and grace through the sacraments. Membership and/or church affiliation are not requirements to partake in Holy Communion.
The Chalice
The chalice symbolizes the central place of communion in worship. The X-shaped cross of the disciple Andrew, is a reminder of the ministry of each person and the importance of evangelism.
The logo of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a red chalice with a white St. Andrew’s Cross. The chalice represents the centrality of communion to the life of the church. The cross of Saint Andrew is a reminder of the ministry of each person and the importance of evangelism, and recalls the denomination’s Scottish Presbyterian ancestry.
