First Congregational Church of Bakersfield, UCC

06/11/2026

When life hits all at once and everything feels completely overwhelming, it is so easy to lose our footing.

Rev. Nancy Bacon just hopped back on "Real on Real Rd" to share a gentle, grounding reminder from Herman Hesse: There is a stillness, a strength, and a divine sanctuary resting right inside of you.

If you are carrying a lot today, please know that you aren't alone. We are in this together, and that inner peace is there to help carry you through.

How are you finding a moment of stillness today? Drop a comment below—we’d love to check in and support you. 👇

06/01/2026

Keeping our neighbors fed takes all of us. 🥖💚

At First Congregational Church, we believe in a God of abundance and a Jesus who told us to feed the hungry. Right now, many of our Bakersfield neighbors are facing a tough situation. Due to upcoming changes in work requirements, thousands of local families are at risk of losing their CalFresh benefits.

Our friends at the CAPK Food Bank (Community Action Partnership of Kern) are stepping up in a huge way to help. They are launching a volunteer program so neighbors can maintain their benefits, but they urgently need 250+ local sites—churches, non-profits, and businesses—to host these volunteers.

When CalFresh benefits drop, our local food pantries feel the weight. We want to help CAPK protect this vital resource.

How can you help?
If you own a business, run an organization, or want to learn how we can get involved, please join CAPK’s informational webinar this coming Wednesday, June 3rd, at 10:30 AM.

👉 Register for the webinar here: fd271435-506c-4fb3-b0ed-8414eabc9c09@29917874-f6b9-4b78-a0d5-52f9a83b94f9" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/fd271435-506c-4fb3-b0ed-8414eabc9c09@29917874-f6b9-4b78-a0d5-52f9a83b94f9

Please share this post to help spread the word. Let’s make sure no one in our community goes without a meal. Thank you, FCC family!

Thousands of Kern County families are at risk of losing access to critical food support due to new federal work/volunteer requirements.

We're working to create a collaboration of non profits and businesses who can offer volunteer opportunities to these individuals so they can maintain access to the vital support.

To get more information, please register for our upcoming webinar (link in bio/ first comment).

Kern DHS l CAPK l United Way l BlueZones l You?

05/21/2026

Tonight is Neighborhood Café at First Congregational Church of Bakersfield!

Tonight we gather around the table for more than just a meal. Neighborhood Café exists because we believe nobody should feel alone, forgotten, or unseen. In a world that feels divided and stressful, this is one small way we bring people together through kindness, conversation, and community.

This free dinner is for anyone who could use a warm meal, friendly faces, and a welcoming place to spend the evening. Whether you are struggling, stretched thin, new to town, or simply looking for connection, you are welcome here. No agenda. No pressure. Just food and community. ❤️

🕕 Dinner begins tonight at 6:00 PM
🍽️ Free hot meal for the first 100 people

We also want to give a HUGE thank you to Coconut Joe’s for generously supplying tonight’s meal! Their continued support helps make Neighborhood Café possible, and we are so grateful for their partnership and heart for our community.

And thank you to all of tonight’s volunteers who give their time to greet, serve, clean up, and create a warm and caring atmosphere for our guests. You help turn a meal into a ministry.

We hope to see you tonight!

05/10/2026

To all the mother figures in our lives...Happy Mother’s Day.
Whether you are a birth mom, an adoptive mom, a foster parent, a grandma, a godmother, or a mentor who has stepped in with a heart full of grace—we thank God for you! Happy Mother’s Day

05/08/2026

The one gift every mother prays for: A world at peace for her children.
This Mother’s Day, we’re doing something meaningful on Real Rd. Years ago, our church stood alongside the late Mayor Harvey Hall and diverse faith leaders to plant our Peace Pole—a symbol of our shared hope for "Unity in the Community."

This Sunday, we are coming together once again to rededicate our Peace Pole. While we love the flowers and the cards, we know the deepest wish of a mother’s heart is to know that her children—and children everywhere—are growing up in a safe and peaceful world. Join us as we lift up prayers for mothers in every corner of the globe and sing "Let There Be Peace on Earth" together.

Whether you're a mom, a grandma, or someone who simply believes in the power of peace, there is a seat for you here.

Happy Mother’s Day!

📍 Where: First Congregational Church, 5 Real Rd.
🗓️ When: This Sunday at 10 AM
✨ What: A special service of peace and rededication.

04/16/2026

04/16/2026

Today is Neighborhood Café at First Congregational Church of Bakersfield!

Each month, we open our doors for this free community meal because we believe everyone deserves a warm meal, friendly faces, and a place where they are welcomed with dignity and care. In a world where many people feel unseen or stretched thin, something as simple as sharing a meal can bring hope, comfort, and connection.

Neighborhood Café is more than dinner. It is about building community, meeting neighbors, and reminding people they matter. That is why we continue this ministry each month.

We also need caring volunteers to help make the evening possible. Volunteers help greet guests, serve meals, refill drinks, bus tables, and create the warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes this night special. A few hours of your time can make a real difference in someone’s day.

🕔 Volunteers arrive at 5:00 PM
Please wear black pants and a white shirt. We'll supply the aprons.

🕕 Dinner begins at 6:00 PM

A special thank you to Coconut Joe’s for generously providing the free meal for our community. Their kindness helps make this evening possible each month, and we are deeply grateful.

No forms. No pressure. Just good food, kindness, and community.

03/29/2026

Day 40 of Lent: March 29 | Palm Sunday | We Are Here.
We’ve been walking for 40 days. Through the "heavy," through the noise, and through all the reasons to just stay home. But today, the Long Walk has finally reached the city gates.

Today is Palm Sunday. 🌿

As we enter the city, we aren't whispering anymore. We’re saying it out loud: Hosanna!

Yesterday, we talked about "No Kings" and the demand for equality. Today, we see what that looks like in person. It looks like a man on a donkey, refusing the warhorse, and inviting us into a different kind of power—the power of Love.

Saying "Hosanna" (Save us!) today isn't a sign of defeat. It’s a sign of hope. It’s us standing in the middle of our modern world—with all its stress, division, and "broken systems"—and deciding that we believe a better way is possible. We are asking for a rescue from the way things are, and we’re committing to being part of the new way forward.

The walk isn't over, but the destination is in sight.

Today's Verse: "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Mark 11:9)

You made it to Day 40. Take a breath. Drop a 🌿: If you walked all 40 days with us (or even just today). We see you.

03/29/2026

No one is above the law. Not then, and not now.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, but when you look at what’s going on right now, you realize that Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem wasn't just a religious parade. It was the original protest against anyone thinking they’re above the law.

The message of the donkey is simple: Equality. It’s a challenge to every system that protects the powerful while leaving the rest of us behind. Whether it was the 1st Century or right here in 2026, the demand is the same—justice has to be for everyone, or it isn’t justice at all.

True power doesn’t come from a throne; it comes from the courage to demand fairness for every single person in our community. No exceptions.

03/28/2026

Day 39 of Lent: March 28 | The Power of the Donkey

It’s Saturday, Day 39. Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, and the timing couldn’t be more intense.

If you’ve been watching the news today, you’re seeing "No Kings" marches across the USA. Regardless of where you stand on the politics, there is a deep, collective hunger in our country right now for accountability, for fairness, and for the reminder that no one person should hold absolute power over the rest of us.

This is exactly where the ancient story of Palm Sunday meets us in 2026.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he didn't come on a warhorse. He didn't come with a private security detail or a golden crown. He rode a donkey—a "poor man's" transportation. It was a calculated, peaceful protest against the "Kings" and "Emperors" of his day who thought they were gods.

His message was clear: The greatest among you is the one who serves. The "Hosanna" (Save us!) we’ve been talking about all week is a cry for a different kind of kingdom. It’s a cry for a world where we look out for the vulnerable, where love is more powerful than ego, and where "the system" finally prioritizes the neighbor over the narcissist.

Today, as you see the headlines about marches and power struggles, take a breath. Remind yourself that our "Long Walk" isn't about looking for a King to save us—it’s about becoming a People who save each other through love.

Today's Verse: "See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey." (Matthew 21:5)

The "Long Walk" to Jerusalem is a walk away from "King" mentality and toward "Community" mentality.
Look at your own life today. Where is "ego" trying to be the King? Where can you trade "being in charge" for "being of service"?

Today's Action: Do one thing today that is "lowly." Clean up a mess you didn't make, let someone ahead of you in line at the grocery store, or offer a sincere "thank you" to someone whose work usually goes unnoticed.

One day left in the walk. We’ll see you at the gates tomorrow. 🌿