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.

Right now, during the pandemic, we are still united as church. You are welcome to attend our in-person service at 10 am each Sunday. 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. Weekly services are are available on line after they are 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 though 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. 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.

During this pandemic, we have discontinued our in-person lunches. We would love to meet with you via email or phone, however. Click here to arrange a meeting with a Welcome Committee Volunteer or pastor.

We can explore and explain a range of topics about our church, from history, to theology, to membership. Please contact us at the link above for more information.

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.

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.

New Here?

All-church Camp returns to Seabeck Conference Center

by | Mar 16, 2022 | Seabeck All-Church Summer Camp

Community-Centered Spirituality:
Using the arts and skills of local organizing to
transform the world

When & Where

We’re back for in-person camp! Seabeck Conference Center is located on the Kitsap Peninsula, about a couple hours by car and ferry.
Camp begins at 4p.m on Sunday, July 10 with check-ins, dinner and a campfire. Camp ends after lunch on Friday, July 15.

Seabeck registration is now open

Thanks to everyone who participated in events last month! Registration is now open Printed forms are available at the Seattle campus. If you want a registration form mailed to you, please request one from the office.

Our Theme: Community-Centered Spirituality

We begin our time by looking at what it means to be a community that is spiritually centered, place-based, and explicit in working toward justice. With a weaving of scripture and story, we will learn how these lenses have shaped other communities and the gifts they bring to UCUCC.

We are invited to discover our “why” – why do we care about the things that we value, where does this passion line up with others in our congregation and our community. We will be given tools to learn about the passions of others. We will look for ways to cultivate relationships that are unlikely and uncommon.

We will examine the way things get done in the world and how to make sure our voices and values shape the decisions that impact our community. We will reflect on this within our church and throughout the neighborhood and city.
We will introduce an action-reflection praxis rooted in the faith-based community organizing model. The components of the framework move participants from reflection personally and interpersonally with others to individual actions that join communal actions.

Practical tools include learning how to have relational one-to-one conversations, follow the sacred spiral of organizing, have theology inform practices and practices inform theology, use evaluative tools to assess the impact of racial and economic justice intentions, and see each member of our community – including ourselves – as essential to building the beloved community.

We are called to the holy work of participating in God’s transformative power. This leads us to these
spiritual journeys:

  • from fear to hope
  • from isolation to relationship
  • from inertia to action
  • from self-denigration to self-love

Our Speaker is Sister Kelly Marciales, BA (she/they)

Kelly Marciales (she/they) serves as Community Organizing Program Coordinator for the ELCA and Director of Organizing For Mission Network (OFMN). OFMN is an ecumenical network of individuals, congregations, synods, non-profit organizations, and community organizers who convene trainings and build cohorts across the United States which support local and statewide grassroots organizing efforts.

Their previous appointment was as Executive Director of Valley Interfaith Action (VIA), a faith-based community organization in Alaska. Serving as VIA’s director and lead community organizer for 5 years, they built ecumenical partnerships that addressed statewide issues of affordable housing, senior healthcare, and equitable access to transportation.

Kelly holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Polytechnic University Pomona, a Master of Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and earned a certificate in Design Thinking from Cornell University. Kelly lives in Palmer, Alaska with their partner and four children. Kelly enjoys science-fiction and fantasy novels, making the perfect karaage, and is currently learning American Sign Language.

For folks who want to connect more with Sister Kelly’s organization, be sure to check out https://www.facebook.com/OFMNetwork and
https://www.organizingformission.org/.

Children and Youth Programming

Our children and youth programming will follow the camp theme in age appropriate ways.

Nursery Childcare is available for infants—3-year-olds during the adult program.

Preschool & Elementary Programs

In the morning program for preschool and elementary children, we will enjoy making friends while engaging in fun lessons with hands-on indoor and outdoor activities with the theme of building community. We hope to see you and your children there. Contact Carolyn Johnson Davis, Children’s Ministry Coordinator for more information at cjdavis@universityucc.org.

Middle & High School Youth Programs (grades 6-12)

The Youth Program is open to youth currently in 5th through 12th grade. The morning time will focus on the theme Community-Centered Spirituality. We will explore the elements of community organizing – listening, learning, activating and evaluating – to equip youth to feel empowered to activate change and advocate for justice.

Anna Van Pelt will be our Children’s & Youth Ministry Seabeck Program Coordinator while Margaret is away on maternity leave. You can contact her with questions at Anna.c.vanpelt@gmail.com

If you have questions about our children and youth programming, please contact Anna Van Pelt.