First Congregational
Church of Reno
ABOUT OUR CHURCH
We are people of God's extravagant welcome, who listen for the Stillspeaking God and insist that Jesus didn't turn people away. Neither do we.
We speak in contemporary ways because we affirm the responsibility of the church in each generation to make this faith it's own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in the purity of heart before God.
Through this gateway page, you'll find more about us, what we're all about, what our commitments are and how to contact us. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here!
Rev. Dr. Kate Lambertson, Pastor
Pastor's Corner
Happy May Day!
After the Easter festivities are over and Mother's Day is still weeks away, you may find yourself wishing you had another reason to celebrate this spring. We've got the perfect occasion for you, and it's called May Day! While many of us have at least heard of this spring holiday, we might not know much about its history and traditions.
Yes, May Day marks the return of spring, but to a lot of people, it means so much more. This historic holiday dates back to ancient times and is still honored by different countries and cultures all around the world. Here's everything you need to know about May Day.
When is May Day and what's it all about?
It falls on the first of May and marks the halfway point between spring and summer. May Day is traditionally used to celebrate springtime and new life. Cake, dances, and singing are usually part of the festivities. (Honestly, you had me at cake.)
In India a similar celebration is known as HOLI where brightly colored powder is thrown in the air as people dance and sing out of joy for the coming of Spring.
What’s the history of May Day?
Try googling "What is May Day?" and you'll uncover many different origin stories. That's because this holiday has roots in several different springtime celebrations throughout time.
One of the oldest and most famous is the festival of Beltane, which was enjoyed by the Celts of the British Isles. This festival honored the return of life and fertility to the world, and was thought to divide the year in half, between the dark (winter) and the light (summer, which for the Celts started on May 1). Beltane typically featured bonfires, other fire displays, and field frolicking – and who doesn’t like a little frolicking!
After this really cold and snowy winter, marking the coming of Spring doesn’t sound bad! We don't really need an excuse to celebrate springtime—but it can't hurt. And what better way to honor the glory of God in this season of renewal than celebration!
So, Happy May Day, everyone – get your frolicking on!
Pastor: Rev. Dr. Kate Lambertson