About Us

In 1961 Community Congregational Church (as we then were) voted to covenant with the United Church of Christ at around the same time as the congregation moved into a new church building on Godfrey Road, Godfrey.
    Back then the church attracted families from the local community and so additions were built onto the church as the congregational needs dictated.  Like most congregations we went through periods of financial hardship and internal strife.  47 years later the congregation has realized that the world has changed and along with it the community it was formed to serve.  As the membership aged they tried to ignore the fact that their families had grown up and left the area.  In the past those children would have stayed to repopulate the church.  Instead the community of Godfrey has become an attractive place to retire to.
    The church changed its name in 2006 to Godfrey Congregational Church to reflect its past history and continued understanding of being 'church' but it still embraces the denomination of the United Church of Christ.
    Our membership may not look as though we are in the first flush of youth but appearances can be deceptive.  As part of the discernment process of discovering who we are and what God is now calling us to do, we took an honest look at ourselves and then collectively imagined that we were an individual person.  Since then we have been able to see our future call in much clearer terms. And it has caused an infectious excitement within us.
    Let me introduce you to that self portrait of our congregation created at a church workshop and adopted by the congregation.  We have named ourselves Naomi:

Naomi is a retired 70+ year old lady who does not look or act her age.  In fact she is outward looking and has decided to mature gracefully.

She has grown children who have relocated out of the area which means she travels a bit but still prefers home.

She is not overly concerned with her appearance but is always neat and tidy prefering to dress for comfort rather than to make any fashion statement.

Naomi has experienced a numberof failed relationships over the years and lost friends because of hem which left her wary of entering another permanent relationship.  Even though she appears outgoing and friendly she is slightly fearful of new people and the future.  But Naomi recently decided to try again and has formed a new partnership where she hopes to be open minded and accepting but also secure enough to enable her own opinions to be heard, respected, and valued.

Naomi's health is fair but requires maintenance.  She does try to care for herself by eating healthily but habits of a lifetime are hard to break.  She also takes sporadic exercise but age is beginning to catch up with her and she experiences aches and pains and hearing deficiencies.  Even so both her short-term and long-term memory are still good.

She says that she carries family pictures of children and grandchildren in her memory rather than further cluttering up her all too full purse.  But she will show her photo collection to anyone if given the opportunity.

Naomi is on a fixed income with her pension and savings.  She lives in a beautiful, comfortable but ageing, ranch style home.  It is a little too spacious since the children left home so the children's rooms have been closed up to reduce expenses.  She also has a large yard which is becoming a burden to maintain.

She has done some repairs, renovations, and modernizations to her home recently.  These included repairs to the air conditioning system, updating the family kitchen to accommodate visiting children and some redecoration of the most used parts but more still needs to be done.  Some landscaping has been done too and with thought to her aches and pains she has improved handicapped access.

Before retirement Naomi was a care-giver and administrator.  Now she volunteers her time within the community.  She likes to do hand work, gardening, cooking, reading and the occassional jigsaw.  She also has an interest in listening and playing music but even though her taste in music is varied she appreciates good melody rather than 'noise'.

When watching TV or listening to the radio she seeks programs that offer general knowledge, adventure, and sport.  She enjoys going out with friends to restaurants or joining them in playing cards or board games.

Naomi also likes to go on church outings - which should preferably involve food.

 

Does this mean the congregation is full of old ladies?  Not at all.  It is true that there are a number of Naomies amongst us along with spouses of 'Naomi' but about 25% of our worshippers fall into the baby boomer category.  Just don't expect to see young children running around or to find an active youth group.  Those days are now stored in Naomi's memory for the time being.