No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here at University Congregational United Church of Christ. Young, old, sure of your path, or still searching --- we invite you to join us in imagining love and justice - as Jesus did - in acting to change the world.

We would love to welcome you at our in-person service each Sunday at 10 am. A digital service is also offered on line on Sunday evening at 5 pm. Our service is streamed on YouTube and Facebook. You will find the links just below this section on our home page. The weekly 5 pm service is  available on line after it is initially presented on Sundays..

We strive to walk in the path of Jesus, and to offer an authentic welcome to everyone who walks through our door or joins us online. If you are new to us, we would love to get to know you and answer your questions about our church, even if we cannot greet you in person. A member of our Welcome Committee, or a pastor, would be happy to correspond on email or talk with you on the phone. Click here to arrange for a meeting.

Our in-person worship service starts at 10 am and includes hymns, prayers, scripture reading and a sermon. It usually lasts about an hour and fifteen minute.. During the 10 am service we also offer live-streaming to a nearby room that offers those with compromised immune systems to be more isolated. We also offer a separate space for children, with supervised play and crafts during the 10 am service. Sections of the 10 am service are programed into the 5 pm digital service, which is offered as a "vespers."

Children are an important part of our community, and are welcome for all or part or the service.

UCUCC Parking Map

View for detailed Google Map.

Parking can be a challenge in the University District! Persistence, patience and an early start are keys to success.

UW has free parking on Sundays. Enter the main campus gate at NE 45th and 17th Ave NE and turn left past the toll booth. It's about a three-block walk to the church. The UW Meany Garage at 15th Ave. NE and NE 41st St. is a five-block walk.

The church also owns three parking lots - Lot A is across the street from the church on 16th Ave. E. Lot B is beneath Sortun Court, just north of the church on the east side of 16th Ave. E. (It closes at 2 p.m.) Lot C (for those with difficulty walking, young children and visitors) is at the corner of 15th NE and NE 45th St., next to the church.

If you need to be assured of a close parking spot, you can call the church office before noon on Friday to reserve one: 206-524-2322.

From time time we host lunches for people who are interested in learning more about our church and/or possibly becoming a member.  We are also happy to meet with you over coffee or at the church to explore and explain a range of topics about our church, from history, to theology, to membership. Click here to arrange a meeting with a Welcome Committee Volunteer or pastor or to set up a meeting and/or to learn when the next Welcome Lunch is planned.

Thank you for your interest in our church community.

We are an inter-generational church and strive to be family-friendly, with an active ministry for children and youth. All ages are welcome in worship. We also offer nursery and child-care, Younger children begin the 10 am service with us and usually leave after about 15 minutes. Older children have the option of leaving for a special sermon time. Junior high and high school youth meet at 9 am and then often sit together in worship. Give us a call at 206-524-2322 for more specifics or email Margaret Swanson, our Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries..

Our programs for children and youth continue during this pandemic. Sign up at the bottom of the home page to receive our Children's Ministries and/or Youth Ministries newsletter.

Hearing Impaired: Our sanctuary has an induction loop system that uses the T-Coil mode of your hearing aids. You can get the necessary equipment just before entering the Sanctuary on the right or ask any usher.

Visually Impaired: We offer each Sunday's program in large print for easier readability.

Wheelchair Access: The front entry is wheelchair accessible as are the rest rooms. Please don't hesitate to ask for assistance.

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Advent and Christmas Worship at UCUCC

by | Nov 29, 2022 | Worship and Music, Worship and Preaching

Advent Worship Series

Our Advent theme is Harambee!, a Kiswahili word that is understood as let’s pull together! The word is on the coat of arms for Kenya and has been an important part of the political and cultural identity particularly since Kenyan independence in 1963. Within the USA, Harambee chants are part of many Kwanzaa celebrations. Learning from our Kenyan friends, we will spend this season pulling together in hopes of a more just and vibrant world anticipated with the presence of Christ.

We begin with the prophetic words of Amos, reminding us that our worship rings hallow without lives that embody justice and righteousness. We move forward with Isaiah declaring a new thing which is based on the long arc of liberation which is God’s movement in the world. On the third Sunday of Advent we read the first letter to the church at Thessalonica, with the instructions for how a community pulls together. Finally, we hear Mary’s song, the magnificat, which speaks of how God’s reversal of oppression fills us with the Harambee spirit of freedom.

Let’s pull together in a spirit of Justice, Newness, Freedom, and Goodness!

December 4, 2022
Advent Week 2: Behold I am doing a new thing!
Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21
Preacher: Rev. Steve Jerbi

December 11, 2022
Advent Week 3: My soul proclaims your greatness! 
Scripture: Luke 1:39-56,
Preacher: Bishop Edward Donalson III, DMin

December 18, 2022
Advent Week 4: Hold on to what is good!
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5.12-28
Preacher: Rev. Steve Jerbi

Christmas Worship

December 24—5:00 pm and 9:00 pm, digital service available at 11:00 pm

With the angels who sing out, the shepherds who receive the good news, and the Holy Family, we celebrate the birth of Jesus! Our worship begins with the 5pm Everyone Pageant, as children (and a few adults!) join together to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Folks of all ages are invited to participate! Find a costume at the ‘marketplace’ in the Narthex and join in the fun – whether you come up to the stage or not. This service will also be live-streamed.

Our candlelight service, with chancel choir and musicians, meets at 9:00 pm this year. Sing your favorite songs, hear the good news, receive bread for your journey and drink from the cup of blessing, and sit in the holy wonder of this silent night. This service will also be live-streamed. A digital service will be available at 11pm.

December 25 – Christmas Day, 10:00 am: For Christmas Day, we will gather in the sanctuary and through our livestream. Share in the fellowship of Christmas Day, with more hymns and celebration.

Music for Advent and Christmas

December 4: “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel” by Michael Trotta is an unaccompanied work being presented by our Chancel Choir with the popular tune you may recognize as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” This piece was conceived as a dialogue between the supplicants and the creator, so you will hear that in the music as the melody weaves through different sections, and a vocal accompaniment is refraining the text “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel.”
“Here I Am, Lord” by Daniel Schutte is a popular hymn with both Catholic and Methodist origins that highlights the biblical text of Isaiah 6:8. This is a fascinating hymn because of the change in perspectives between the choruses and verses – the verses speak from God’s point of view with texts like “I, the Lord, of sea and sky,” while the chorus exclaims “Here I am, Lord.”

December 11: “Magnificat” by Francesco Durante is a Magnificat that is often misattributed to one of his pupils, Giovanni Pergolesi. The Chancel Choir is being accompanied by a string quartet with members from our chamber orchestra, A Joyful Noise.
“Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl is a piece for double choir that was popularized by the choral group Chanticleer. This piece features a bass soloist and was conceived in the style of alternatum plainsong.
A Joyful Noise String Ensemble is also sharing an “Ave Maria” by Bach and Gounod. This piece takes the melody from Bach’s “Prelude in C Major” from The Well Tempered Clavier and juxtaposes it with a melody written by Gounod. This is based on the same Latin prayer as the other Ave Maria being shared this Sunday.

December 18: Our very own Fellowship of the Ringers Bell Choir is sharing music during worship.

Service Music: “Betelehemu” is a Nigerian Christmas Carol by Nigerian drummer, composer, and impresario Babatunde Olatunji (b. 1927) and was arranged by Wendell Whalum. The text of this piece expresses the joy and trust we have in God, and sings their praises.
“Pat-a-Pan” is a traditional Burgundian carol arranged by Mark Burrows. This piece is only accompanied by a flute and hand drum, which allow for some obvious word painting to be highlighted alongside the text.
“Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” by Elizabeth Potson is a setting of an anonymous, early American prayer often associated with Christmas. This is an unaccompanied piece that offers an authentic sense of prayer and meditation through its simplistic, beautiful melody.