First Congregational Church of Royal Oak stands on Northwood Boulevard in Royal Oak, Michigan, a few blocks north of the city's downtown grid. The congregation traces its roots to 1842, when ten individuals began meeting in a Baptist meeting house, and it has lived through four building moves and two mergers on its way to its present home at the corner of Crooks and Webster. Today it is one of the Royal Oak area's oldest continuing Protestant congregations, known for a traditional Sunday service anchored by an unusually strong music program and a deep commitment to outreach in southeast Michigan and beyond.
Faith, Freedom, and Fellowship
Three words shape everything at First Congregational Church: faith, freedom, and fellowship. Members affirm the historic covenant that was first owned by a congregation in Scrooby, England in 1606 and carried to the New World by the Pilgrims: "We, the Lord's free people, have joyned ourselves into a Church estate, in the fellowship of the Gospell, to walke in all his wayes, made known, or to be made known, according to our best endeavours." Every member owns that covenant as a solemn promise to share in the spiritual journey.
The church is not a creedal church. It begins with and builds upon the Bible, but it trusts the informed conscience of each individual to determine how to understand and live out Christ's command to love God and neighbor. Members carry an individual responsibility to discover what God expects of them in daily life, and the congregation carries a corporate responsibility to support one another's growth. Although members may disagree on particular religious beliefs, the church maintains an openness that lets each voice be heard. FCC is self-governing, operating under established bylaws and elected boards, and makes decisions through direct or representative vote.
Fellowship is what binds this independent people together. The tie is expressed in activities and programs within the church, in service to the local community, and through membership in the National, Michigan, and Southeastern Associations of Congregational Churches. The mission statement puts it simply: First Congregational Church of Royal Oak is a welcoming community of faith which endeavors to be the presence of God in the world, nurturing meaningful relationships, honoring individual spirituality, and providing opportunities for service to others, striving with courage and compassion to bring hope and light to all.
A Traditional Service with a Strong Musical Voice
Worship is held each Sunday at 10:30 am in the sanctuary. The service is described as traditional and is built around a strong musical core that blends traditional hymns, classical works, and contemporary pieces, with vocal music, instrumental music, choirs, and soloists woven through the liturgy. The service is livestreamed on the First Congregational Church of Royal Oak YouTube channel, where it is available live and on demand.
Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month and at special services during the church year, including an evening service on Maundy Thursday, on Easter, and on Christmas Eve. FCC practices open communion, meaning that visitors and those who are not members of the church are welcome at the table. A family fellowship time follows the service in the Social Hall.
Those planning a first visit should know that the building is open and the dress is whatever feels appropriate for Sunday worship. Children are welcome; the "Sunday Room" is staffed with team members and volunteers so that younger children have a place to play during the service. Bibles and bulletins are available, and the office can put visitors in touch with a Pastoral Care Minister if needed.
The Pastoral Care Ministry
Pastoral Care at FCC is modeled after the life of Jesus and is defined as "relating to spiritual care or guidance, especially of a congregation." To meet ongoing needs, the church has commissioned a group of lay people who have been trained as Pastoral Care Ministers. A PCM is available to listen and to "walk awhile" with any member who needs to discuss a life issue.
The Pastoral Care Ministry also arranges communion visits, shares community resource information, lends durable medical equipment and healing quilts, provides flowers and greeting cards, organizes grief support and intercessory prayer, offers telephone reassurance, transportation, and visitation, and produces worship CDs and bulletins for those who cannot attend in person. Anyone interested in becoming a Pastoral Care Minister can contact the church office at 248-288-4220.
Music at the Heart of Worship
Music is integral to the worship experience at FCC. The program is led by the Minister of Music, Melissa Ambrose-Eidson, and it brings together traditional hymns, new music, vocal and instrumental pieces, choirs, and soloists. Three core ensembles sustain the program.
The Chancel Choir is an adult choir that rehearses on Thursday evenings at 7 pm and warms up on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. The choir sings for Sunday worship on a regular basis and presents sacred oratorios with added instrumental accompaniment at special services in May and December. The Adult Bell Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm, is directed by the Minister of Music, and performs frequently for the congregation. FCC is also fortunate to have a brass section composed of church members who enrich the hymns with uplifting instrumental accompaniments.
Christian Education for All Ages
The Christian Education Team encourages spiritual growth for everyone, from nursery through adulthood. The Sunday Room gives children a place to play during the church service under the supervision of staff and volunteers. Bible studies are offered throughout the year and are led by the pastor, a lay minister, or a member of the pastoral care team. The church's library, maintained by a volunteer Library Team, holds an inventory of books and DVDs considered appropriate for use by church members and friends of all ages.
Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowship at FCC takes many forms. Women's Fellowship is a social and philanthropic organization open to all women of the church, organized into multiple Circles covering a wide variety of age groups. The Men's Softball Team welcomes men and boys age 14 and above for a spring and summer activity, with games open to the whole church community.
Service opportunities include Job Squad, a group of volunteers who perform odd jobs and schedule workdays to make repairs around the facility; an ushering team that supports Sunday services by seating attendees, directing visitors, and collecting the offering; a Green Team that tends the flowerbeds, shrubs, and trees on the property; and a Green Committee that meets occasionally to look for and promote recycling, environmental, and energy-saving opportunities. The FCC Breakfast Club meets most Saturday mornings at a local restaurant for food and fellowship and is open to all.
Outreach in Royal Oak and Beyond
FCC outreach is shaped by the needs of the community and is coordinated through the Minister, the Board of Christian Outreach, Women's Fellowship, and other groups or individuals. Support takes the form of monetary donations, the purchase and donation of materials, food donations, cooking and serving, and direct involvement in service. The church supports a remarkable list of local, national, and international missions.
Locally, FCC partners with the Beacon of Hope Fresh Food Pantry at Good Shepherd, Blessings in a Backpack for the Royal Oak area, the Church World Services Crop Hunger Walk, South Oakland Citizens for the Homeless (which operates both Welcome Inn and the Overnight Shelter Warming Centers), the Capuchin Soup Kitchen's On The Rise Bakery, the Genesis Community Café, HAVEN, Gleaner's Community Food Bank of southeast Michigan, Royal Oak Youth Assistance, Jimmy's Kids, and Habitat for Humanity. Nationally, FCC supports the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies, the Ministerial Assistance and Enrichment Fund, and One Great Hour of Sharing through the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches.
Internationally, the church supports Happy Life Children's Home in Kenya, Love Worth Sharing International in Haiti, the Panamerican Institute in Mexico, KIVA microloans, and Church World Services.
A Home for Recovery
FCC opens its doors to recovery groups during the week. Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Recovery International all meet in the building, along with other recovery groups. Anyone seeking a meeting time can contact the church office.
One Hundred and Seventy-Five Years on Northwood Boulevard
The story of First Congregational Church is largely a story of moves. Founded in 1842 by ten individuals who met in the Baptist meeting house, the congregation moved in 1843 to the Union Sabbath School and in 1844 began sharing the Methodist Church, holding Sunday afternoon services there for twenty-five years. In 1866 the church purchased a building from the Troy Presbyterian church, dismantled it, and reassembled it on the west side of Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets. In 1910 it sold that property, purchased a lot at the northeast corner of Third and Center Streets, and again dismantled and rebuilt. In 1936 Starr Congregational Church merged with FCC, and they remained at the Third and Center site until May 8, 1955.
Groundbreaking for a new church at the present location of Crooks and Webster began in May 1955. While construction continued, services and Sunday School classes were held at Jane Addams School on Webster. The social hall and classrooms were the first sections completed, and the congregation met there until the Meeting House (the sanctuary) was finished. The first service in the new Meeting House was held on February 2, 1964. In April 1974 Highland Park Congregational Church merged with FCC, bringing 117 members. The church marked its 175th birthday in 2017 with a weekend of community service and a special worship service on August 13 of that year.
For those who want to dig deeper into the story, the church library holds copies of "Pilgrims Together in Freedom" and other books chronicling FCC's history.
Visiting First Congregational Church of Royal Oak
The church sits at 1314 Northwood Boulevard in Royal Oak. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 am to 2 pm, and the office can be reached at 248-288-4220 or fccro@fccro.org. Sunday worship begins at 10:30 am, with the Chancel Choir warm-up at 9:30 am. The service is livestreamed on the FCC YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person. Communion is open to all on the first Sunday of the month and at special services during the church year. Children are welcomed in worship, with the Sunday Room available for those who need a place to play. After the service, a family fellowship time gathers in the Social Hall. Visitors looking to get involved will find Bible studies, choir and bell choir, fellowship circles, service projects, and a deep bench of outreach partnerships to choose from.