FCS Committees
Much of the work that we do is the result of our various committees.
Information about each committee and their regular meeting times are below.
Note that if a committee is open, any member of the church is welcome to attend. Closed committee meetings require an invitation. Use the contact button below to coordinate.
Questions?
Finance
The Finance Committee is responsible for advising the Leadership Team and
congregation on the budget and overseeing the church’s financial assets. The finance committee oversees the financial assets of the church and advises on the budget and use of the church finances. The committee prepares an annual budget for approval at a congregational meeting.
Finance is a closed committee and meets every third Tuesday at 7PM.
Our mission is to sustain the safety, accessibility, and usefulness of our physical spaces in support of First Church’s mission. Our objectives are both to ensure these spaces are well kept and function properly, and are also welcoming to those in our larger community.
B&G is an open committee that meets every 3rd Sunday after worship.
buildings & gardens
Justice & Outreach
The goal of the Justice and Outreach committee at First Church Somerville is consistently working on making “God's expansive love and justice real through transformative community engagement.” We do so through intergenerational and interfaith projects, collections, financial giving, and connections with community partners.
J&O is an open committee that meets every 2nd Monday at 8pm.
The FCS Communications Committee helps the work of the church by maintaining channels for both internal and external communications, and helping other members use those channels effectively.
Communications is an open committee that meets every third Wednesday at 7:30pm.
Communications
Family ministries
Family Ministries is committed to nurturing a vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive environment for children, youth, and families at our church. Through retreats, service projects, seasonal celebrations, and summer gatherings, we work to ensure that children and youth feel known, valued, and connected—both to one another and to the wider church community.
Family Ministries is an open committee that meets on the last Sunday of each month at 7:30pm
The Music Committee works closely with the Music Director to support vibrant, inclusive, and creative worship across the church year. Our efforts include coordinating logistics for and supporting major musical events (such as the Palm Sunday and Advent Cantatas as well as the weekly Pride Month Anthems), strengthening volunteer recruitment, supporting the children’s choir, improving instruments and sound equipment, and addressing long-term maintenance needs. Throughout the year, we seek to support not just the choir and other musicians, but also the entire worship experience of the church.
Music is an open committee that meets every 1st Saturday at 8pm.
music
personnel
The Personnel Committee serves as the liaison between members of First Church and its employees. The committee sets the terms of employment, including vacations and other absences, maintains job descriptions, handles payroll, and recommends salaries and increases to the Finance Committee for inclusion in the annual budget.
Personnel is a closed committee, meeting every fourth Wednesday at 7:30pm.
The Fellowship Committee organizes First Church Somerville congregants to nourish one another physically and spiritually, so that our relationships with God and the community can grow and flourish. It coordinates the post-worship coffee hour in Duhamel Hall and works to create meaningful post-church community building.
Fellowship is an open committee that meets on the first Sunday of every month at 7pm.
Fellowship
Leadership
The Leadership Team is First Church’s primary governing body, acting as a
fiduciary on behalf of, and accountable directly to, the membership of First
Church. The Leadership Team has responsibility for facilitating congregational
discernment about mission and vision, establishing strategic plans and goals, and
working in partnership with the Pastor to ensure that Church resources are properly
and effectively used for the fulfillment of its mission.
Leadership is a closed committee that meets on the 2nd Tuesday at 7pm and the 4th Tuesday at 8pm.
Deacons support the spiritual life of our community by helping during worship,
serving communion, praying with community members, supporting the Pastors, discussing and discerning issues of spiritual importance in our community, supporting sacrament celebrations and more.
Deacons is a closed committee that meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7pm.
deacons
Pastor-parish relations (PPRC)
The Pastor-Parish Relations Committees are intended to foster and facilitate healthy relationships and positive communication between our pastors and the community.
PPRC is a closed committee that meets every third Wednesday at 12pm.
The Nominating and Stewardship are seasonal committees at First Church.
The Nominating team is tasked with finding people from our First Church community to carry out important church volunteer work, and putting them forward for a formal vote at a congregational meeting. This committee meets during the nominating season, which is typically the spring as it leads up to our nominating congregational meeting in June.
The Stewardship Committee does the annual work of helping our community learn and be thoughtful and faithful about our financial commitments to the Beloved Community, leading us in the annual pledge season each fall.