“We open every worship service with, ‘No matter who you are or where you are in life’s journey, you’re welcome here'” Transitional Minister H. Bob Case said. “It’s a phrase used throughout the United Church of Christ. If you go to a lot of UCC churches, the other one we use is, ‘Extravagant welcome.'”

Case has worked with the church since 1984 and continues to work with the church even after his retirement in 2003. Case researched and wrote the history of the First Congregational UCC. He said the church has had three different buildings, with the third and current site built by Jesse H. Besser.

“Every form of Besser block that was known in 1953 is used in this building,” he said. “So each room has a different pattern of blocks. And that’s attributed to Jesse.”

To understand the history, Case dove into numerous books, photos, and articles. Years of sponging up the epochs of the church gave Alpena the knowledge of how impactful the congregation had on the town.

Photo by Michael Gonzalez The light in the worshiping room shines through the stained glass.

Case said the first sermon given in Alpena was in June 1860, conducted by Reverend William W. Robinson. By 1868, the first church facility was built and continued to be used until 1892.

Case even said the First Presbyterian Church of Alpena and the First Congregational UCC worked together to form a Habitat for Humanity service in Alpena.

After 38 years of working and participating with the church, Case said it feels like his home.

“I can’t tell you the number of people that I’ve married and buried, baptized and sat beside their beds when they were sick and celebrated anniversaries,” he said. “It’s the people that make it and ever since 1984, when I got here, I think all the pastors that were before me and that they followed me — we understand that the building is great, it’s beautiful, but it’s the warmth of the people.”