Welcome to our Church where Christ is both host and guest. Whenever we gather as church, we do so in the spirit of hospitality and anticipation! Whether you are visiting this site before worshiping with us for the first time or whether you are a “regular,” know that whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are truly welcome here!

We are a diverse congregation and member church in the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ. We’ve been gathering as church here in West Lebanon since 1768. Our vision is to engage the hopes, dreams, hearts, souls and minds of those who gather. We strive to be a faith community where all who enter will feel at home.

So, please join us for worship or join us at other times for one of our community building events

We are open and affirming congregation

“As a faith community, the West Lebanon Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, affirms that each individual is a child of God. We are called to be an inclusive and diverse community, welcoming all people regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, mental and physical ability, family composition, culture or economic status…” (WLCC Welcoming Covenant)

On Palm Sunday 2017, the West Lebanon Congregational Church, U.C.C voted unanimously to adopt a Welcoming Covenant and to become an Open and Affirming Church in the United Church of Christ. On Pentecost 2017, the vote was made official. You will find those words of welcome and commitment below.

We invite everyone to join in our common life and mission through participation and leadership in the congregation, and by fully sharing in the worship, rites, and sacraments of this church. We commit to modeling a community of faith and spirit that works toward openness and understanding, offering justice, healing and wholeness of life for all people.

Our History

Our church was first gathered in 1768, and built a Meeting House on Seminary Hill in 1773. Our present meeting house in West Lebanon was built and dedicated November 8, 1849 with forty-four members. We have grown and changed with the history of our community and we value our legacy from Colonial America to the present day. In 1997, our church building was recognized by the Lebanon Historical Society.

The Congregational Church at West Lebanon is a member of the United Church of Christ (UCC). We were part of the 20th-century movement to reunite the divided branches of Christ’s church, and, as a result of that movement, the union of several traditions of Protestant Christianity merged into the United Church of Christ in 1957.

The name “Congregational” is the legal name of the original church and refers to our ancestry, (much like family names, when one marries into a new family).  The Congregational Church merged with other denominations which together form the United Church of Christ, (although some Congregational Churches chose to stay independent).  We are most commonly known as the West Lebanon Congregational Church and we are here for our community.

We are part of the United Church of Christ, where we believe God is still speaking….

The United Church of Christ says:

Our faith is 2,000 years old. Our thinking is not.
We believe in God’s continuing testament.  This is why we are committed to hearing God’s ancient story anew and afresh in our lives and in the world today.  We try to remain attentive to God’s creative movement in the world. Religion and science are not mutually exclusive, and your head and heart are both welcomed when you join us in worship.  We prepare our members and leaders to be engaged in ministry in the present and future church, and we embrace all kinds of communities and new modes of thinking.  Why? Because God is still speaking,

We say, “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here,” because we believe in extravagant welcome.  This is why we insist that God’s communion table is open, not closed to anyone, and God’s gift and claim in baptism are irrevocable.  We advocate justice for all.  We extend hospitality as a sign of God’s inclusive love.  We teach that evangelism — offering bread to those in search of it — is God’s mission.  Our perspective is global, not provincial.  We choose to work with — not against — people of other faiths.  Why? Because God is still speaking,

We say, “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.”
We believe the church’s mission is to change lives — individually, systemically and globally.  We work to make transformation possible, but trust in God’s grace.  This is why The UCC insists that churches must be places of vitality in worship, learning and advocacy. We are committed to working for justice, and we believe that lives are changed through global experiences and friendships.  Why? Because God is still speaking,

For more information about the United Church of Christ see https://www.ucc.org/who-we-are/about/history/