A Disciples Church Open to All on West Market Street
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) sits at 1900 West Market Street in Greensboro, North Carolina, near the heart of the city and within easy reach of the streets where its members serve. The congregation is one of roughly 3,200 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations across the United States and Canada that grew out of the Stone-Campbell movement on the eve of the Civil War, and it belongs to the North Carolina Region of the Disciples.
FCC Greensboro is known above all for being Open and Affirming. The congregation openly welcomes persons of all sexual orientations, gender expressions, socioeconomic statuses, family configurations, ages, national origins, races, religious or non-religious backgrounds, and physical or mental abilities. Members describe a community that embraces all people at any point in their faith journey and proclaims God's inclusive welcome to the Communion Table. It is a place that affirms, in the words of its own welcome, that each person is a child of God, beloved and cherished.
The church's mission is shaped by three short verbs that run through its program - Love. Serve. Hope. Three teams, called We Love, We Serve, and We Hope, organize the life of the congregation around those commitments: nurturing one another, growing in faith, and reaching into the wider community in the name of Jesus Christ.
Sunday Morning at FCC Greensboro
Sunday morning begins at 9:00 a.m. with Hope in the Headlines, an adult discussion class built on the Wired Word curriculum that opens a current topic and ties it to scripture. The class is offered both in person and on Zoom and welcomes adults and older youth. Worship begins at 10:00 a.m.
Worship at FCC Greensboro is pretty traditional by the congregation's own description, with a great organ and a deep love of the old hymns, but the congregation also sings all kinds of songs. Members value the ancient traditions of the church while staying open to trying something new, and they note that they laugh a lot together. A typical service includes lots of singing, prayers, time for reflection, challenging sermons, sharing from the community, scripture readings, and special music.
The church livestreams every Sunday service at 10:00 a.m. on YouTube. Those who cannot attend in person are invited to sit in digitally, leave a comment, and let the church know where they are watching from.
Communion and Baptism at the Center
In the Disciples tradition, the Lord's Supper is shared every Sunday. At FCC Greensboro, communion is served at the front of the sanctuary during worship. Worshippers are invited to come forward to eat bread and drink from individual cups. Those who prefer to remain in their pew may use the moment as a time of reflection; worship leaders will come to them and serve the supper in their seats. All who come to the table are welcome to join in this feast as the congregation gathers to remember God's abundant love made manifest through the grace of Jesus Christ.
The Disciples also practice believer's baptism by immersion. The church invites older children and adults to make their own decision about following Jesus, and it honors baptisms from other traditions as well.
We Love: Connections, Coffee, and Covered Dishes
The Connections Team oversees the wellbeing of the church, both individually and collectively, and is the heart of the We Love ministry. Greeters are at the door each Sunday morning to welcome every person who comes through. A coffee hour after worship - complete with homemade cookies and other snacks provided by the Connections Team - gives people a place and time to visit and deepen their relationships.
Fellowship opportunities run throughout the month:
- Third Wednesday Fellowship (TWF) Covered Dish Supper. A monthly dinner held at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, where participants bring food and drink to share. A program usually follows the meal.
- Midday Meet & Eat. A monthly gathering in the Fellowship Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. that nurtures the wellbeing of mind, body, spirit, and relationships. A program and lunch are typical.
- Sippin' Sisters. A women's fellowship group that meets on the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at Panera on Lawndale Drive for coffee, tea, and conversation. (November and December shift to the third Thursday.)
- Crafty Bees. A relaxed morning of crafts and fellowship, with knitters, crocheters, quilters, scrapbookers, painters, and other crafters all welcome.
- Saints, Seekers & Skeptics. A monthly conversation on the fourth Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall, designed for people who are growing in faith, exploring Christianity, or wrestling with questions and doubts. Participants bring a bag lunch or snack.
Annual social events knit the wider church together as well, including a Friendship Picnic in September and a Friendship by the Fire in December. The Connections Team also reaches out to homebound members with monthly calls, cards, and periodic visits, and organizes receptions for baby dedications, funerals, and other special occasions.
We Hope: Faith Formation for Every Age
The Faith Formation Team coordinates the church's education and faith-formation activities under the We Hope banner. The church nurtures the faith formation of all members through the spiritual practice of prayer, the study of scripture, and respectful and thoughtful conversations. Sunday-morning offerings for children and adults include:
- Nursery care for infants and toddlers. Provided every Sunday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. by caring and trained staff in a safe and fun space.
- Children's Church. Offered during the Sunday worship hour for children ages 1 through 12. Families are encouraged to bring them into the worship service to hear a special Children's Message, then go with them to a classroom for Bible stories, crafts, and fun activities.
- Hope in the Headlines (Wired Word). Every Sunday at 9:00 a.m., an open discussion of a current topic with related scripture references, available in person or by Zoom, for adults and older youth.
- Adult Bible study, book studies, and topic discussions. Scheduled throughout the year for small groups.
Daily and seasonal devotion resources are provided for individual study and faith growth.
We Serve: Outreach Across Greensboro and the World
The Outreach Team coordinates the church's We Serve ministry, including service projects that benefit the local community. At least ten percent of pledged giving goes to outreach for needs locally, nationally, and globally. The church has assembled hygiene kits for Church World Service, walked in the CROP Hunger Walk, and run a backpack program for schoolchildren, among other efforts.
Organizations and initiatives the church supports with time, expertise, and/or funding include Disciples of Christ Mission Fund, Greensboro Urban Ministry (with regular financial support and dinner served to the night shelter for people experiencing homelessness), One Step Further Food Pantry, Week of Compassion, Church World Services, Special Offerings for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Camp Caroline, Christmount, Disciples Alliance Q, North Carolina African Services Coalition, FaithAction International, Interactive Resource Center, Barnabas Network, Mustard Seed Community Health Organization, and Reading Connections.
SimpleWays: A Neighboring Ministry
Alongside its own programs, the church shares its West Market Street address with SimpleWays, a community support and nutrition program that grew out of FCC Greensboro's outreach. SimpleWays provides practical support and compassionate pathways for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, hunger, displacement, unemployment, or poverty. Its focus is Guilford County residents, though it also serves residents from surrounding areas. Most services are free, with a few projects operating on a sliding fee scale, and active participants may stay in the program for up to twelve months. Initial priorities include farm training certification, retail and charitable food systems, access to healthcare and home healthcare, and community connections and integration. The SimpleWays Community Support & Nutrition Program (CSNP) is located at 1806 Merritt Drive in Greensboro.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is central to worship at FCC Greensboro. Music Director Jada Poteat is a Greensboro native who grew up in church and has served as a church musician throughout her career. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2022 and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from UNC-Greensboro in 2024, and previously served as interim music director at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Durham and Starmount Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. She joined First Christian Church as Music Director in August 2024.
Anita Trumpler-Rich serves as Piano & Organ Accompanist. A church musician and piano teacher with a Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Oberlin College and a Master of Music in piano performance from UNC-Greensboro, she previously served as accompanist at First Christian Church's early service from 2008 to 2012, and most recently served as organist, pianist, and music director for Centenary United Methodist Church in Greensboro. She returned to FCC Greensboro in this role in February 2025.
Pastoral Leadership
The congregation is currently shepherded by Rev. Dr. George Fuller, Jr., who serves as Interim Minister. He is a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister with standing in the North Carolina Region and has served congregations in North Carolina and Arkansas since 1977. He retired from parish ministry after serving Wendell Christian Church in May of 2024, having earned a doctorate focused on small group processes and completed his book Life Compass Living: A Guide for Growing Up and Growing Old Together in 2021. He is also a certified Family and Financial Mediator and Certified Senior Advisor.
Planning a Visit
The main entrance to the parking lot is at 1900 West Market Street, where there is ample parking, including many shaded spots. The main doors to the gathering space and sanctuary are under the portico facing the parking lot. Once through those double doors, visitors enter a gathering space that opens directly into the sanctuary.
There is no dress code. The church's own guidance to newcomers: come exactly as you are, and there is no need to bring anything at all except an open mind and desire to learn. Worshippers dress in whatever way makes them most comfortable.
Children are welcome in worship, and their laughter and liveliness are treated as a delight rather than a distraction. Activity bags are available for children in the sanctuary, and a staffed nursery is offered each Sunday morning for those who prefer to use it.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the office phone number is (336) 273-4725. Worshippers who cannot attend in person can join the livestream on YouTube at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday.