First Christian Church Garland stands at the corner of Glenbrook Drive and Avenue A, close to downtown Garland. Rooted in the Christian Church of Duck Creek organized in 1875, this Disciples of Christ congregation is known for a traditional 10:00 Sunday service, weekly open Communion, a strong music ministry, and ministries that connect worship with study, care and service to Garland and the wider community. Its long history is visible in the brick sanctuary at the original corner, while its present life is just as concrete in a nursery, children serving as acolytes, adults in Bible classes, youth on mission trips and volunteers caring for neighbors.
From Duck Creek School to Glenbrook Drive
The congregation's story begins with early Garland settlers who worshiped in homes. The Christian Church established churches in North Texas between 1846 and 1848, and Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Christians worshiped together at Duck Creek School under lay preachers in 1858. A church was formally organized as Christian Church of Duck Creek in 1875 and continued meeting in the schoolhouse for several years.
When the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad missed Duck Creek by one mile in 1884, the new township of Embree grew beside the tracks. Church members erected their own house of worship in 1886. In 1888 they purchased the land at Glenbrook Drive and Avenue A and moved the wooden church building there. Embree and Duck Creek incorporated as Garland in 1891, and the congregation grew alongside the community.
A brick building was erected between 1922 and 1924, and it still stands as the church's home. The congregation continued through the Depression and, from 1954 to 1964, established two additional congregations called Monica Park and Western Heights. More than 150 years after its formal organization, the Glenbrook Drive church continues to hold Sunday worship, teach the Bible, serve families and organize people for service.
A traditional family worship shaped by music and the open table
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. in the main sanctuary. The service is described as a traditional family service filled with a blend of hymns and spiritual songs. Its ministers preach relevant, straightforward messages, while the congregation reads Scripture from the Old and New Testaments. An invitation to become a Disciple of Christ is part of the service, and weekly Communion remembers the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Lord's Table is central rather than ornamental. Communion elements are placed in the narthex for visitors to pick up before entering the sanctuary, and an Elder directs the congregation during the observance. People may participate as fully as they are comfortable, whether they are members, visitors or people seeking a church home. The church understands worship as a whole way of life that can continue at home as well as in the sanctuary.
The Sunday rhythm extends through the morning. A prayer meeting gathers at 9:30 a.m. in the Prayer Room, worship begins at 10:00, Coffee Fellowship follows at 11:00 in the Fellowship Hall, and Adult, Youth and Children Sunday School classes begin at 11:15. People who worship from home can also watch Sunday services online, while sermon videos are available through the church's YouTube channel.
What a first Sunday looks like
Arrival is designed to be straightforward. A large parking area sits across Glenbrook Drive from the church, and parking is free. Visitors can enter by the front steps or use side ramps on both sides of the front porch. Those ramps are wheelchair accessible, and a friendly Deacon is available to greet people and answer questions. Dress is equally relaxed: people may wear Sunday best, jeans and sneakers or anything else that makes them comfortable. There is no dress code.
Children belong in worship from the beginning. Infants and toddlers can remain in the first-floor nursery in Room 105 on the north side of the sanctuary. Church workers also provide child care for children ages four through kindergarten during worship, and those children may move to the nursery after the children's sermon. Nursery attendants are employees with child-care training and experience, and they have completed background checks and CPR and first-aid training. Once children reach first grade, they remain with their parents in worship. A transitional program called Welcome to Worship teaches first graders about the congregation's worship traditions and helps them participate fully.
The open table continues that sense of welcome. Guests are welcome at the Lord's Table, while an Elder explains when it is time to participate. An offering plate is also in the narthex, but visitors are never pressured to contribute. After worship, coffee and doughnuts are served in the Fellowship Hall. An elevator there assists people who have difficulty with stairs, and restrooms are available throughout the building, including one designated as handicap accessible. Most weekday events use the separate office entrance at 801 W Avenue A.
The Christian year comes into the sanctuary
Special services throughout the year help the congregation celebrate the Christian year and welcome friends and neighbors. Advent anticipates the coming of Jesus with Christmas carols, Scripture readings, a children's pageant, choir cantatas and a Christmas Eve candlelight service. Lent offers time for spiritual reflection through devotions and special Bible studies, followed by worship on Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.
World Communion Day and All Saints' Day are also important gatherings. All Saints' Day gives the church a time to honor loved ones who have died but are not forgotten. Members design and make the sanctuary banners used for special seasons, and young people participate in worship several times a year. Baptisms, baby dedications and other acts of Christian life are also woven into the congregation's worship life.
Music that leads the congregation and fills the room
Music is treated as a service to God that supports the sermon and carries the congregation through song and worship. Both professional and lay musicians contribute. The Chancel Choir is open to singers with a wide range of musical abilities. It primarily leads the 10:00 service during the school year, rehearses from 8:30 to 9:30 on Sunday mornings and also performs concerts. The Children's Choir welcomes children from preschool age through fifth grade and uses songs, games, activities and music theory to help younger children learn biblical truths.
A Handbell Choir adds its music to worship throughout the year and on special occasions. The sanctuary organ, dedicated in 2011, has accompanied weddings, memorial services, Christmas and Easter worship and countless doxologies. A black Yamaha C3X grand piano was installed in the choir loft in 2022, improving the sightline for pianist, organist, choir and director while bringing a clear, resonant sound into the room. Pianist Sheri Dacon continues the congregation's tradition of piano music.
The Harold and Martha Rusk family and the church built a decade-long musical collaboration that brought notable guest musicians to lead worship and funded fine arts scholarships for Garland ISD seniors. That family legacy remains closely tied to the music ministry and the Chancel Choir's place in the life of First Christian Church Garland.
Learning in classes, circles and conversations
Adult Sunday School classes meet at 11:15 a.m. Christianity 101 studies one Bible book at a time, moving through each chapter with an introduction, verse-by-verse reading, Scripture questions, an explanation of meaning and application questions. It is intended both for newcomers with questions and for longtime Christians who want to revisit the basics. Other classes use team teaching, lecture and discussion, with subjects that can include particular biblical books, spiritual guidance, love and forgiveness. The Followers class meets at 9:00 a.m. and welcomes middle-aged and older adults.
The church also offers weekday Bible study courses through Zoom or in small groups at the church. A regular Thursday study is held at noon online, while other courses are arranged for weekday evenings. In-person and virtual participants receive information about each session, including dates, times and locations.
Disciples Men gathers on the first Saturday morning of each month for breakfast and discussion about courageous Christian living, with child care available when arranged in advance. Disciples Women has two circles. The Ruth Group meets on the first Monday from September through May for refreshments, fellowship, study, prayer and projects. The Steel Magnolias circle gathers on the first Tuesday, beginning with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. and a one-hour meeting at 7:00 that includes sharing, prayer, Bible study and ministry opportunities. Child care is available for both circles.
Children and youth move from worship into service
Children's learning follows a clear path by age. Nursery care is provided for infants until their second birthday, two- and three-year-olds meet in Room 106, and children from ages four through third grade attend rotational Sunday School in Room 210 in the children's wing. Their teachers use songs, stories, games, drama, puppets and other activities to present the good news of Jesus and develop faith through participation.
Safety is central to the children's ministries. Church employees and volunteers receive screening, annual training and background checks, and no worker is permitted to be alone with a child. The church maintains property surveillance, emergency first-aid plans, severe-weather plans and child-protection procedures.
The youth ministry includes JYF for third through fifth grades, Chi Rho for sixth through eighth grades, and CYF for ninth through twelfth grades. Games, prayer, discussion and curriculum help students develop their faith in Christ, while adult sponsors guide the groups. Continuous acts of service are part of youth life, including helping at an animal shelter and gathering supplies for people in need. Weekly school-year activities for the three groups include games, prayer and study.
Disciples Crossing, a ministry of the Christian Church, provides camp and retreat experiences on 534 wooded acres outside Athens, Texas. The church points families toward programming for ages four through 99, including summer camps, retreats, outdoor education, leadership training and family gatherings. Its youth also take part in an annual mission trip that can include painting, carpentry and yard work alongside other churches. Vacation Bible School uses creative lessons to teach Christlike values and relationship-building, while Trunk or Treat serves hot dogs, drinks, popcorn, candy and outdoor games for families. An ongoing children's book drive supports the church library, and Noah's Ark Playground gives children a biblical play experience during worship gatherings, parades, Vacation Bible School and Trunk or Treat.
Care for the congregation at every stage
Care ministry is considered essential to the Christian community. A dedicated prayer ministry meets every Sunday, and a Pastoral Concerns Line provides direct access to a minister. Members are placed into one of six Care Groups when they join, and an Elder team is assigned to each group for prayer and spiritual support. Membership and Care workers send greetings and encouragement, assist with meals during crises, visit people who are unable to attend regularly and help new members become part of the church family.
The Bereavement Ministry helps with funeral arrangements, program preparation, funeral service roles and a reception meal. The church also provides funeral and memorial services, while its worship ministry assists with weddings. These practical ministries work alongside prayer, card ministry and the network of relationships among Sunday School classes and Care Groups.
First Christian Church Garland has achieved Level 1 Silver Chalice designation for programming and services that add meaning and value to older adults while strengthening the life of the wider church. Its Safe Church practices include annual volunteer and employee training, background checks, child-protection protocols, emergency plans and around-the-clock security camera maintenance. Together, these ministries express the conviction that protection, presence and practical assistance are part of Christian care.
Quilts, meals and practical care for Garland
Outreach Ministry donates to community service organizations, delivers Thanksgiving food baskets and provides Christmas gifts for families. Its work includes educating the congregation about local needs, enlisting support for community, national and global efforts, and directing resources through an outreach budget. The church also maintains distinct areas of service for older adults, people experiencing homelessness, refugees, youth and wider community needs.
The Quilters Ministry meets weekly from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Room 201 for a brown-bag lunch and fellowship. All skill levels are welcome, and people who do not sew can be taught. Quilts are given rather than sold. Personal-sized quilts go to cancer patients through Cancer Care Community and Health-Sync Services, while smaller baby quilts support the Garland ISD Infant Center. For more than three decades, the ministry has also donated quilts to organizations including Garland Memorial Hospital, Presbyterian Children's Home and Services, and Journey of Hope.
The Memory Cafe meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Room 106. It creates a welcoming setting for people living with memory or thinking changes, along with family members, friends and professional caregivers. Refreshments, games and engaging activities encourage connection. Christian Senior Helpers, established at the church in 2015, assists older Garland residents with errands, chores and small handyman tasks while providing social interaction. Members also deliver hot meals and wellness check-ins for Meals on Wheels Central Texas.
Clean Air Alcoholics Anonymous holds open meetings at noon on Wednesdays and Fridays. Nonalcoholics may attend as observers, and the group uses the Avenue A side entrance. The church also makes space for Scouts, partners with Shorehaven Elementary by collecting school supplies and backpacks, provides teacher-appreciation snacks and gathers underwear, socks and shoes for students. Additional drives collect coats, hats, gloves and earbuds. These practical partnerships extend the church's concern beyond its sanctuary to families, students and older residents throughout Garland.
Minister, staff and covenant leadership
Rev. Dr. Cheryl Scramuzza has served as senior minister since 2016. She earned a Master of Divinity with a concentration in pastoral care from Perkins School of Theology at SMU in 2018 and was ordained by the Christian Church of the Southwest Region in 2019. Her pastoral experience includes children and families, youth and young adults, adult ministry, connections and community work, executive ministry and lead-pastor roles. She completed a Doctor of Liberal Studies from SMU in 2024 and leads the congregation with an emphasis on preaching, teaching and spiritual formation.
Stan McGill has directed the Chancel Choir since 1982. His career in secondary choral music included 34 years of teaching in Texas and Missouri, leadership positions with choral educators, and directing and clinical work across the United States. Youth Director Jacki Merucci grew up in the congregation and leads the Sunday evening youth activities with interactive games and reflection on discipleship. Sheri Dacon serves as pianist, bringing a long church tradition of piano-led worship into the sanctuary.
First Christian Church Garland is in covenant relationship with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), while the congregation governs the local church through its Board, Trustees, Elders and Deacons. Men and women may serve in any ministry for which they feel called. Elders provide spiritual direction, assist with policies and serve Communion to homebound members. Deacons greet worshipers, prepare Communion, receive offerings, assist with baptism preparations and minister to people and families. Trustees oversee endowments, trust funds and insurance. The permanent Endowment Fund, established in 1995, supports the witness and mission of Jesus Christ in the community and around the world. Online giving supports the church's stewardship ministry and budget.
Confession, baptism and an open table
As members of the Christian Church, the congregation confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaims him Lord and Savior of the world. Its members put their trust in God, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and seek to witness and serve all people. Baptism into Christ marks entry into newness of life and unity with the whole people of God, and the church practices believers' baptism by immersion while recognizing and accepting other forms.
The Table of the Lord is celebrated every Sunday. It is open to all Christians and symbolizes unity even amid diversity. Around the table the congregation remembers forgiveness, receives strength for life in the world, gives thanks for Christ's saving acts and anticipates God's future. The church's mission is to create an inclusive community of believers empowered through worship, study and fellowship to witness, teach and reach out to others, cultivate varied gifts, lessen suffering and offer hope.
A legacy still taking shape
At First Christian Church Garland, history and weekly life remain closely joined. The brick building on Glenbrook Drive still shelters Scripture, hymns, the Lord's Table and children's songs, while the ministries around it extend into homes, classrooms, camps, kitchens, recovery meetings and the streets of Garland. For more than 150 years, this congregation has carried its identity as a Disciples of Christ community centered on belonging to God and one another.