Nebraska needs a Church of Joy.  First Christian Church in Weeping Water needs you and your family as we continue to share an atmosphere for joy and laughter, a place to explore spirituality, celebrate diversity, positive prayer, and outreach to our community.

We are all just ragamuffins, sinners searching for grace. Our pastor is progressive in theology, a creative preacher and teacher.  His insights and visionquesting sermons have been proclaimed throughout the world on all seven continents.

First Christian Church

  Weeping Water, Nebraska

                                   The Church of Contagious Joy

Dr. James E. McReynolds, D.Min., Psy.D., Th.D., Litt.D., Ph.D.,  pastor

Welcome to a congregation that reaches out to the world rather than maintaining a church.  We are  community of believers empowered by Jesus Christ. We draw inspiration from the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and one another.

We strive to equip ourselves to minister in Jesus' name to the needs of our community and those who truly need Christ through worship, fellowship, teaching, and learning God's Word.

We celebrate the autonomous local church stressing freedom and diversity under God, and we seek Christian unity for the people on our planet Earth. Dr. Jim shares his joyful ministry in diverse settings including substance abuse groups at Valley Hope, colleges and universities, hospitals, prisons, anywhere.

Are you looking for a warm place to belong: a place where it doesn't matter who you are, what your background is, or how much money you make. That's who we are. You can find a community of real friends. You can find your ministry here. 

There is a place for you to serve.  We want to be a church for kids, teenagers, college students, and adults in every stage of life.  Dr. Jim preaches and teaches in color--not traditional, worn out black and white.

 Worldwide Outreach

Prayer ministry: Prayer is the most important thing we do at First Christian Church. Wednesday night at 5 p.m. is when we gather for prayer. We enable and nurture a daily discipline of prayer in creatiive ways of commuicating to your Higher Power. 

Collegiate Ministries: Bible studies, small groups, counseling, meals at Southeast Community College, Lincoln,  Dr. James McReynolds, campus minister, 1998-present

College World Series Ninth Inning Ministry: Bottled water free to fans, Bible studies in hotels where players and coaches stay, a banquet in Omaha with major leaguers speaking about Jesus, baseball skill workshops for youth

Campusquest: Weekend, weekday speaking on campuses, club or ministry sponsored, 2,600 campusquests, call or write First Christian Church, Weeping Water 

Joykeepers Support Group, Mondays, 7 p.m. in Family Center of First Christian Church of Weeping Water, Nebraska to support you in any situation or illness, particularly mental illness, fibromyalgia, and spiritual direction.

Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Monday nights held at Methodist church, Weeping Water

Nursing home singing, preaching, Sundays, third Sunday, Good Samaritan Center in Syracuse, Nebraska and Louisville Care Center, Louisville, Nebraska, quarterly

Thursday morning women's joy Bible study group, 10 a.m., First Christian Church

Chaplain/counselor, Valley Hope Alcohol and Drug Treatment Centers, Lincoln and Omaha, complement to local church ministry, counseling, intensive outpatient groups, continuing care groups, evaluations, preliminary treatment plans 

Parish Nurse Clinic    Laurel McReynolds, RN, BSN, parish nurse, gives terrific spiritual retreats.  She is the organist and music director for Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Elmwood, Nebraska.

National and International Visionquests, including ethical, biblical, spiritual experiences held anywhere.  Workshops, seminars, and sermons designed in consultation with those organizing the event. Options listed are flexible to meet the needs of each group. First Christian Church views Pastor Jim's Visionquests as part of the ministry to the larger world Christian community.

Christian Men's meeting, Saturdays, Teri's Cafe, 6:30 a.m., program followed by breakfast

Angel Tree Mentoring Program for children of prisoners

Music for Young Adults, 18-40 years old, concerts throughout the year at First Christian Church and Southern Gospel Music concerts sponsored by and held at First Christian Church and a small choir that enjoys music.

Weeping Water Ministerial Association meets periodically for fellowship, planning for ecumenical worship services, fellowship, food bank, emergencies.

Professional Music Concerts:  First Christian Church hosts about 10 to 12 concerts with such singers as the Blackwood Brothers, contemporary groups, classic Christian music and any other Christian musical talent.

Quilters--making beautiful quilts, given to homes for children, Open Door Mission, People's Mission, mission fields--hundreds completed each year by Irene Bond with help of Myrna Skinner, Mae Gruell and Marvelle Hanson, other women of the church

Free unemployment counseling--resume help--interview aids-help in seeking a job

Food Pantry--Saturdays, contact Keith Hammons, elder at Hammons Funeral Home in Weeping Water or Elmwood; more food stored at Methodist church in Weeping Water

PLEASE ADD YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR OUTREACH GROUPS, PROGRAMS, WAYS TO WORK WITH THE 12 OTHER CHURCHES IN THE WEEPING WATER AREA COMPETING, STRUGGLING FOR MEMBERS   e-mail us at joyquest@windstream.net

Norman Vincent Peale once called Jim "the minister of joy to the world." Jim has used the Psychology of Joy in individual and group therapy as a doctor of psychology, licensed mental health practitioner in Nebraska. Dr. McReynolds will give you a psychologically and spiritually sound definition of the emotion joy and how to ignite the joy instinct for healing. He will share some materials from his Psy.D. dissertation, "Integration of Joy in Clinical Family Counseling" and his next book, "Passionate Joy: Building a Wealth of Joy in a World Starved for Love." This workshop has been popular with church and secular groups. A cassette tape of the introductory lecture for the Sharing Our Best Conference in Beatrice, Nebraska is offered to those requesting it. Materials from his research and writings were used in communications at the National Mennonite Health Assembly in North Carolina and many major national conventions.