In northwest Davenport, Newcomb Presbyterian Church at 2619 N. Division Street is a small congregation known for worship that is somewhat traditional in style but comfortably casual. Rooted in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the church gives particular expression to its mission through the Matthew 25 call to love and serve others in Davenport and beyond.
A Small Congregation with a Matthew 25 Mission
Its mission statement is direct: Doing everything for Jesus... We transform lives for Christ through joyful worship, nurturing faith, compassionate care, and courageous witness. Those four commitments connect the church's life inside its sanctuary with its service to people and families beyond its walls.
Newcomb is a Matthew 25 Congregation, giving its local outreach a biblical frame. Matthew 25:31-46, the parable of the sheep and goats, teaches that what people do matters to God and how they treat others is important to God. The congregation is committed to living out a mission to love and serve as Jesus did in northwest Davenport and beyond.
Four core values give that mission practical shape:
- Growing in Faith centers on knowing God in Christ and becoming a community where people are nurtured in faith, love, and knowledge of Jesus Christ with open hearts and open minds.
- Worshiping with Joy centers on praising God in Christ and welcoming all people into authentic experiences of worship and praise throughout church life.
- Caring for Others centers on serving God in Christ. It calls the congregation to inspire, empower, and encourage servanthood, reaching others with love, compassion, tolerance, and acceptance both inside and beyond the church.
- Sharing God's Love centers on proclaiming God in Christ and bearing intentional witness through word and action among the faith community, the wider community, and the world.
Sunday Worship at Ten O'Clock
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. The small congregation describes its worship as somewhat traditional but casual, a comfortable setting for longtime attenders and people visiting for the first time. Rooted in traditional Presbyterian worship, the service blends contemporary songs and traditional hymns with an inspirational sermon.
Music and participation shape the service in recognizable ways:
- Traditional organ music and worship music on the clavinova are part of Sunday worship.
- Piano, acoustic guitar, soloists, and small musical groups take part on many Sundays.
- Adults and children read scripture together as part of the congregation's worship.
- Celebrations of ministries and people add to the praise offered by the church family.
Each Sunday worship is intended to be comfortably familiar while still feeling different and open to participation from everyone present. The mix of traditional and contemporary material reflects the congregation's goal of praise that is both familiar and open to participation.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month, and all who profess faith in Christ are invited to participate. Fellowship follows worship at 11:00 a.m.
Worship videos are also available through Newcomb's YouTube channel. The recordings are not professionally produced or edited, and the church presents them as an authentic reflection of how the congregation gathers in worship.
Faith Growing Across Generations
Newcomb calls itself a family of believers committed to strengthening faith in God for all people, growing spiritually, worshipping joyfully, and sharing God's love. Its learning and fellowship ministries extend that family welcome across children, adults, and older members.
Sunday School and a Staffed Nursery
Following the Children's Sermon, children are dismissed for Sunday School during the worship service. A staffed nursery is available for infants and toddlers throughout Sunday morning services, giving parents a place for little ones to be cared for while the congregation worships.
Kids Club and Vacation Bible School
During the school year, Kids Club meets on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for elementary-age children. It is open to the community when Davenport schools are open, and the check-in location is Fellowship Hall. The youth emphasis is to help children learn important stories of the faith and apply those lessons in their own lives. One week during summer brings Vacation Bible School.
Newcomb Friends
The congregation's fellowship for elders and seniors is called Newcomb Friends. It meets at noon on the second Saturday of most months, with January and February excluded, either at the church or at a restaurant. Special films, guest speakers, fine programs, and good food shape its gatherings, and everyone is welcome to participate.
Ruth, Sarah, and Conversations That Connect
Two circles combine refreshments, fellowship, Bible study, and lively discussion. The groups also contribute to special offerings and missions, and new members are always welcome. Ruth Circle meets at noon on the first Thursday, while Sarah Circle meets at 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday.
Beyond Words, a book discussion group, meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday. Its selections have included biographies, historical fiction and nonfiction, classics, mysteries, and fiction and nonfiction focused on social issues. The group gathers at the church using the elevator door by the Newcomb South parking lot.
Music for a Joyful Noise
Music is an important part of both worship and church life. Soloists and small groups, both vocal and instrumental, add to many Sunday services. Children are encouraged to sing in church and play hand chimes at various times during the year. This participation supports Newcomb's goal of making a joyful noise to the Lord, while the varied instrumentation supports both its traditional hymns and contemporary songs.
Caring Beyond the Congregation
Members actively contribute time and service to people in need, expressing care for one another and an inclusiveness toward visitors, new worshipers, and people who may not see the church as relevant to their lives. The Food Pantry accepts household and nonperishable food items in a closet in the narthex or at the church office during the week. Extra groceries can be brought to support families struggling with daily needs.
Sharon's Missions Food Pantry is open from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The wider community-service effort also includes comfort food ministry, support for local food pantries, Salvation Army meals, and human trafficking awareness.
An Accessible Place for Worship and Programs
Newcomb's building is handicapped accessible so that all people may participate in worship and church programs. The sanctuary remains the center of Sunday worship and music, while Fellowship Hall serves as the check-in point for Kids Club. The narthex also has a practical ministry of its own as the place where food donations are gathered. The building's accessibility supports the same commitment that shapes the church's food pantry, children's programs, and worship: all may participate.
Rooted in Christ and Open to Others
Newcomb's vision describes a community nurtured in faith, love, and knowledge of Jesus Christ, with open hearts and open minds. Its worship is open to participation, its learning and fellowship ministries welcome new people, and its service extends beyond the congregation. At Newcomb Presbyterian Church, those strands come together in a small northwest Davenport church whose mission is to love and serve as Jesus did, right here and beyond.