ABOUT US

First Congregational Church of Stamford (United Church of Christ), is a progressive Christian community dedicated to following and sharing the liberative teachings of Jesus Christ. We welcome numerous and diverse perspectives on the Bible, God, and life itself. You don't have to agree with any set belief system to be welcome at our community. Rather than doctrine, we are grounded in faith, hope, and love (that's it!).

who we are

Who we Are

We are a community of the followers of the Way. We believe that God created a world full of diverse living creatures to be loved. God created the LGBTQIA+ and the straight, the non-binary, the man and the woman…everyone! We are a congregation that practices kindness as a virtue of God’s love—loving and caring for our neighbors with dignity and respect. Our faith in God requires us to fight for justice for all living creatures. We resist what is evil and cling to what is good for humanity, nature, and the earth. We believe that God is still speaking - even today!

Our Vision:

Open & Affirming

We are proud to be an open and affirming congregation since 2007.

Cultivating Communities of Faith, Hope, and Love.

What We Believe:

Beliefs

01
We experience faith like a come-as-you-are dinner party, where food and friendship flourish. We seek to cultivate faith as spiritual resistance. At its core, the social substance of faith is justice. This kind of faith demands that we confront the powers that diminish life in all its forms, striving instead to build a more just and loving world.

We believe in a faith rooted in the life, words, and actions of Jesus—a historical event that continues to shape us. Guided by that faith, we are building a diverse and inclusive community where all are truly welcome. At the heart of vibrant faith is God’s love—for everyone, without exception. Our faith is grounded in our love for God and our love for our neighbors.
02
Hope is the multicolored rainbow God has promised to all humanity—even in a world plagued by violence against women and children, inequality, poverty, slavery, and environmental degradation. For the lost, the rejected, the weary, and the broken, hope is the rainbow after the storm, sustaining us for one more day.

To immigrants, refugees, orphans, and all people longing for belonging, we proclaim: no matter who you are, a better day is coming. As the prophet said,

“Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24).

We long for a world where animals, nature, and all creation are freed from bondage and welcomed into God's freedom. As Emily Dickinson wrote:

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all.
03
As a church, we embrace the biblical call to practice love—not just as a noun but as a verb. Love is who we are, and who we seek to become: people who love and are loved. We are committed to radical and authentic love for our neighbors.

We proclaim that every person—regardless of race, class, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation—has been created in God's image and is worthy of love. Love heals. Love empowers. Love forgives and overflows.

To paraphrase Ziggy Marley:

We don’t condemn. We don’t convert. Love is our religion.
04
(Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13)

As you read this, we invite you to reflect on the next step in your journey—toward God, and toward your neighbors.

Be inspired!

God imagined and created a world teeming with diversity—each living creature formed in love. God created the child and the adult, the binary and the non-binary, the man and the woman. You are part of that beloved creation. All begins in God’s love.

Love is patient—because we can’t plant seeds in the morning and expect flowers by nightfall. Be patient. Love people just as they are.

We believe kindness is a virtue of love. To love our neighbors is to treat them with dignity and respect, placing their needs at the center. Love dishonors no one. Be kind to yourself—and to others.

Faith in God calls us to humility, because love is not proud. In a world full of arrogance, humility binds us together. Radical love invites us to let go of ego. What do you need to release today?

Love is not easily angered—except in the face of injustice. We seek God’s justice for all. There can be no justice without humility, and no love without compassion.

Love keeps no record of wrongs. We strive to forgive and move forward with the same grace God offers us. We’re not perfect—we’re a church of perfectly imperfect people. We fail. We fall. We sin. And still, we rise again in love.

Love does not delight in evil, but calls it out. We resist what is harmful and cling to what is good. Jesus said, “If you know the truth, the truth will set you free.”
We seek to speak the truth in love, trusting that honesty, accountability, and trust are branches of the tree of love. We hold each other accountable as we walk this journey together.

We strive to cultivate peace and non-violent action, and to uplift the voices of those historically silenced—the voices of immigrants, women, children, and the underrepresented. We dream of being a voice for the voiceless. Will you join us with your voice of love?

Love endures. That’s why we persevere. We resist the temptation of pessimism, fix our eyes on the God revealed in Jesus, and partner with beloved people working right now to build a better world.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Amén.

Meet the Staff

Staff

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.
But the greatest of these is love.”
(1 Corinthians 13:13)

Rev. Néstor Gómez

Lead Director / Pastor

I am a devoted lover of coffee, winding road trips, salsa rhythms, poetry, and—above all—books. Shelves upon shelves of them. My own journey as a Latino, Colombiano living in the United States has deepened my path, guiding me toward the sacred crossroads of spirituality and community.

Rooted in a profound belief that every human being is a divine creation of God, I have long been moved by the life of Jesus—his words, his actions, and his unwavering care for the most vulnerable. This lifelong fascination inspires my passion for building bridges across cultures and spiritual traditions. “If I approach that other person I don't know with love, I will be transformed and changed,” I often say.

As a teacher of religion and theology, I also mentor young people in discerning their vocations and navigating their careers. I currently serve as the lead director / pastor of First Congregational Church in Stamford, Connecticut, where my heart for justice, inclusion, and grace continues to guide my vocation and ministry.

Email: nestor@fccstamford.org

Emily McKenna

Office Administrator

Emily brings with her years of experience managing religious organizations and faith based events. She is thrilled to be the newest staff member sharing their gifts at FCC Stamford.

When Emily is not at church, she’s at church! She enjoys assisting other congregations with their programmatic needs and attends worship at FCC Norwalk. She is a long-time volunteer at Silver Lake Camp & Retreat Center, the UCC’s outdoor ministry site in Connecticut as well as Horton Center, UCC's New Hampshire camp. Emily also serves on the national United Church of Christ’s Media Justice Board of Directors.

Emily moved to Stamford from Hartford this summer with her husband Casey and their six year-old son, Peter Parker. She loves Legos, creating artwork, and finding and eating the best pizzas.

Email - office@fccstamford.org

Leadership Team

Tracey Marble

Music Director

In addition to being the Music Director at FCC, I am a vocalist, a songwriter, a musician, a performer, an actor, and a teacher. I am an active, deep listener. I study voices—mine and others'. I practice singing and song making. I write words. Sometimes they are reflections. Sometimes they are lyrics. Sometimes they are poetry. I build community and facilitate Divine connection through music and song.

I use knitting as a meditation and sometimes I make things that are useful. I look for the moon. I make and listen to sound as I mindfully walk with my dog every day. I cultivate art in my garden.

Sometimes the art is edible. I gather people together and make food for them. I use digital technology to record and tell stories in song, word and sometimes moving or still pictures. I help others to find their true voice so they can tell their stories, too. I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a sister. I am a nurturer. I am a curious dabbler. I wander with wonder.

Leadership Teams:

Spiritual

The Spiritual Care Team consists of lay leaders who are here to journey alongside you throughout life's many paths, are trained to hold space, and are here to be present alongside you.

JUST AS YOU ARE!

Connections

The Connections Team consists of lay leaders who organize events in the church, opportunities to partner with our community, and who are here to show you that you are loved,