Welcome to First Community

First Community brings people together, shares space as a community resource, and works alongside others for the common good.

First Community welcomes all people from all backgrounds and orientations – wherever you are in your faith journey. We are home to a growing family of non-profits, community groups, social enterprises, spiritual followers, and artistic performance groups. We are located in the heart of Salmon Arm and invite you to come and experience First Community for yourself.

We all need a safe place to be. A place where we are known and cared about. A place where we might nurture our spirituality and sense of belonging. First Community seeks to be a place that practices radical hospitality, is affirming of wherever people are on their faith journey, and is intentional when it comes to forming a true sense of community. I was drawn to ministry at First United in 2016 because the heart of this place is a loving one.

While we have changed a lot (evident through our name change from “First United Church”, to “First Community”), the heart of this community of faith has remained strong and determined. We strive to grow and to learn, so that we might be not only relevant to the times in which we are all living, but so that we might actually be of service to a world that is often hurting.

Our GreenSpace initiative is a collection of like minded people and non-profits who seek to provide “good and needed things” for the people who call Salmon Arm home. We believe strongly that we are called to make a difference in the lives of our neighbours by forming relationships that are inclusive and balanced; working for justice; and by promoting a sense of community in all of our interactions and partnerships including those beyond our walls.

I love how we see beauty as a part of our expression of faith. We host a variety of performing artists through out the year – and seek to promote participation in the creation of art. A walk through our building, or attendance at an event at The Nexus, demonstrates the good that can come when we humans remember to search out beautiful expressions of life.

We are also a worshipping community. The intentional nurturing of the people’s spirits was another strong attractor for me. The people here seek to engage their faith, their spirituality, in ways that fit for them, and for their current life circumstances. While we have a traditional Sunday worship service at 10:30 every week, we also have a Wednesday Evening Alternative worship perfectly suited for those who feel called to a different, less traditional, path of spiritual exploration. The opportunity to walk alongside of people who are seeking to lead meaningful lives - lives that are deepened by expressing their spirituality - has been life giving to me and to many.

Perhaps the thing I love the most about being a part of First Community is the “realness” of this place. There is no expectation that one needs to have everything figured out. No expectation that there is one “right way” to be, to live, or to think. No expectation that any one will have all of the answers. No expectation that one must be a perfect human. We are all works in progress and we are all welcome here.

Sunday Worship

Every Sunday at 10:30 AM
Refreshments and fellowship after

FIND US AT
450 Okanagan Avenue SE
Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada

1-250-832-3860
office@firstcommunity.ca