We are a church that:
- gathers to worship the God known to us in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit
- is dedicated to spiritual exploration and growth for all ages
- serves the community in the mid-Cape area and beyond
- seeks to embody the Great Commandment “to love God with all our heart, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves”
- looks for the new light and truth continually breaking forth from God’s holy Word
- welcomes you – your questions, your insights, your presence in our community!
Our mission (adopted in 2005):
- We are called to live out the good news of Jesus Christ in our congregation, our community and our world.
- We seek to provide an environment of fellowship and mutual support, encouraging individual spiritual growth.
- We strive to listen for God’s still-speaking voice, and to look for the new light and truth continuously breaking forth from God’s holy Word.
- We welcome people into active membership, reaching out to one and all.
And we’ve been doing this for a long time!
The church traces its origins to the establishment of the town of Yarmouth in 1639. In the early years, south shore settlers walked or traveled by ox cart to worship in the original meetinghouse (now the First Congregational Church of Yarmouth). In 1794 a meetinghouse for south shore residents was built on Main Street (Route 28) at the corner of South Sea Avenue, where the West Yarmouth Post Office now stands. The pastor of the First Congregational Church conducted services in both north and south shore locations.
In 1835, a more modern structure, complete with the horse sheds characteristic of the era, replaced the 1794 building; this “new” meeting house still serves as our place of worship. By 1840, sixty-four members had organized a separate fellowship, initially called the South Congregational Church, and the business affairs of the new church were given into the care of the South Evangelical Society. Eventually the church took the name West Yarmouth Congregational Church.
Through the years, pastors of neighboring villages gave part-time leadership to the congregation, and the Massachusetts Home Mission Society gave its support. In the year 1907, the meeting house was moved to its present location and services were held for the first time at the new site on March 12, 1908.
Another important step was taken in 1956 when a full-time minister was called and an extensive building program was begun, which was completed in 1964.
We became affiliated with the United Church of Christ by vote of the annual church meeting in 1961, and we serve in wider mission through the Barnstable Association and the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. Ecumenically, we share in the work of the Cape Cod Council of Churches.
Our church seeks to minister to the whole community of the mid-Cape area. Newcomers are encouraged to contact the church and meet with the pastor. We hope you will feel at home here and will join with us in Christ's ministry.
The United Church of Christ
The West Yarmouth Congregational Church is a member of the the United Church of Christ—a community of faith that seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. The United Church of Christ was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian traditions: from the beginning of our history, we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion. Our motto—"that they may all be one"—is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church (John 17:21). The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the United States. To learn more about the United Church of Christ, go to www.ucc.org.
What Does the Logo Symbolize?
The symbol of the United Church of Christ comprises a crown, cross and orb enclosed within a double oval bearing the name of the church and the prayer of Jesus, "That they may all be one" (John 17:21). It is based on an ancient Christian symbol called the "Cross of Victory" or the "Cross Triumphant." The crown symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ. The cross recalls the suffering of Christ—his arms outstretched on the wood of the cross—for the salvation of humanity. The orb, divided into three parts, reminds us of Jesus' command to be his "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The verse from Scripture reflects our historic commitment to the restoration of unity among the separated churches of Jesus Christ.
