First Church of God

First Church of God We're a body of believers who desire to grow closer to God, care for each other, and reach out to our community & the world.

We are working on Getting Real before God. First - Getting Real in our Relationship with God,
Second - Getting Real with one another, and
Third - Getting Real in our community and the world.

May 31, 2026 Bulletin
05/31/2026

May 31, 2026 Bulletin

May 24, 2026 Bulletin
05/24/2026

May 24, 2026 Bulletin

I have officiated at a funeral each week for the last 3 weeks. It has been weighing heavy on my heart as I think of gri...
05/19/2026

I have officiated at a funeral each week for the last 3 weeks. It has been weighing heavy on my heart as I think of grieving people and families. I received the following in an e-mail and though it might help someone as it has helped me.

FREE RESOURCE
A counselor's guide to lament — Scriptures and questions for walking someone through grief
Lament is one of the most underused tools in biblical counseling — and one of the most needed. Scripture dedicates an entire book to it. The Psalms return to it again and again.
Below is a practical reference you can keep close when you're sitting with someone in grief. It's organized around three movements — what lament looks like, what Scripture says, and what questions open the door.
MOVEMENT 1 — GIVING GRIEF A VOICE
Before a sufferer can move toward hope, they often need permission to name what is true. Lament begins with honest speech — to God, about God, in the presence of pain.
Key Scriptures
✓ Psalm 22:1-2 — "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" — the cry Christ himself prayed
✓ Lamentations 3:1-20 — raw, unguarded suffering laid before God without resolution
✓ Job 3 — Job's lament as an act of faith, not faithlessness
Questions to ask
› What has this loss actually taken from you?
› If you could say anything to God right now, what would it be?

MOVEMENT 2 — TURNING TOWARD GOD IN THE PAIN
Biblical lament always moves toward God. Not away from Him. The sufferer doesn't resolve their pain; they bring it into His presence.
Key Scriptures
✓ Psalm 62:8 — "Pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."
✓ Hebrews 4:15-16 — a High Priest who is not unable to sympathize with our weakness
✓ Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted."
Questions to ask
› Where have you sensed God's presence — or absence — in this?
› What would it mean to bring this pain to Him rather than carry it alone?

MOVEMENT 3 — ANCHORING TO WHAT REMAINS TRUE
Lament doesn't end in despair. It reaches — sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully — toward the fixed things that suffering cannot change.
Key Scriptures
✓ Lamentations 3:21-23 — "Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope."
✓ Romans 8:38-39 — nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God
✓ 2 Corinthians 4:17 — present suffering set against the weight of eternal glory
Questions to ask
› What do you know to be true about God that this situation hasn't changed?
› What is one small act of faith you could take this week — not to feel better, but to trust Him?

VBS is coming fast. It is June 1 - 3 a Monday - Wednesday event. The link to register up for VBS is vbspro.events/p/fd...
05/17/2026

VBS is coming fast. It is June 1 - 3 a Monday - Wednesday event. The link to register up for VBS is vbspro.events/p/fda260 See you there!!!!!

May 17, 2026 Bulletin
05/17/2026

May 17, 2026 Bulletin

05/15/2026

We have lost a good friend. Eugene Fields has passed away. Please pray for his family and friends as they and we all mourn his passing. See below for his obituary.

Eugene "Gene" Randall Fields, age 86, of Smithville, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Ohio's Hospice LifeCare in Wooster following a period of declining health. His beloved wife, children and family were by his side.

Eugene was born on January 4, 1940, in Pikeville, KY, to the late Julian and Nellie (Adkins) Fields. He graduated from Feds Creek High School and attended Morehead State College in Morehead, KY. On September 16, 1961, he married Eleanor Arlene Justice in Lick Creek, KY, who survives.

Eugene retired from Timken Steel Co. in Wooster after many years of dedicated service. A man of deep faith, he was a long-time member of the First Church of God in Wooster, where he served in many capacities, including treasurer and trustee. He was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

An avid reader with a great sense of humor, Eugene enjoyed traveling to also learn about history. He loved the outdoors—especially fishing, gardening, and birdwatching—and was a skilled woodworker and Boy Scout leader. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and courage.

In addition to his wife, Eleanor, he is survived by his daughter, Pam (Scott) Schrock of Orrville, OH; his son, Randall (Louana Adkins) Fields of Barberton, OH; a brother, Fred (Veda) Fields of Somerset, KY; and a sister, Cheryl (Alan) Cooley of Jonesboro, AR. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Phyllis (Ken) Fry, Ann Williams, Ruby Justice, and Jill Justice; grandsons, Scott (Lacey) Schrock and Jeremy Schrock; three great-grandsons, Gavin, Jenden, and Caden Schrock; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Joyce Ann Leary; a brother, Thomas Fields; and brothers-in-law, Douglas Justice, Willis Justice, and Hufford Williams.

Services will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 11:00 am at the First Church of God in Wooster, with Pastor Arnie Kaufman officiating. Burial will follow at Smithville Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will take place one hour prior to the service (10:00 am – 11:00 am) at the church.

Custer-Glenn Funeral Home in Wooster is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of God Youth Group (1953 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691) or Ohio's Hospice LifeCare (1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691).

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.custerglenn.com.

May 10, 2026 Bulletin
05/10/2026

May 10, 2026 Bulletin

May 3, 2026 Bulletin
05/03/2026

May 3, 2026 Bulletin

April 26, 2026 Bulletin
04/26/2026

April 26, 2026 Bulletin

April 19, 2026 Bulletin
04/19/2026

April 19, 2026 Bulletin

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1953 Akron Road
Wooster, OH
44691

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