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.

New Here?

Covenant Partners

As a congregation, we enter into covenants with several of our members who are  ordained ministers. Working with the Covenant Committee, each partner develops a unique covenant agreement which defines their role within our church and in the wider community. Covenant partners include hospital chaplains, spiritual directors and ministers advocating for social justice issues. University UCC works with and recognizes the ministries of those not directly involved in local-church ministry but who are, nonetheless, ministers of outreach. By celebrating and recognizing these ministries we give visibility to their work in our midst and support their ongoing efforts. They, in turn, stay connected with University UCC by leading worship on Communion Sundays and reporting regularly on their ministries. All participate in a three-way covenant involving themselves, the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC and our congregation. They are guided in their work here by a Covenant Partnership Committee.

Jennifer Butner

She/her

Jennifer Butner was raised in the UCC and was ordained at First Congregational Church of Santa Barbara, UCC in 2003. She earned her MDiv at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. She served two churches as a pastor and then felt called towards hospital chaplaincy. She completed her residency at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, and currently works as a consultant on the Palliative Care Team at Children’s.

Jennifer has been connected to this congregation since 1994 and has felt the welcome of its members and staff all these years. Here, she has found a rare community that practices a hospitality deep enough to offer an invitation both to “come as you are” AND to empower growth in the Spirit. In her ministry at Children’s she extends this same hospitality to patients and their families.

Jennifer makes her life in Seattle with her two daughters, Cordelia and Clara, and their dog Moxie. When she isn’t working or parenting, she is making things with yarn and sticks (knitting, crochet) or enjoying being outside.

Debra Jarvis

She/her

Debra Jarvis has been ordained in the UCC since 1989 and spent her career serving as a hospital and hospice chaplain and writer. She’s written a spiritual memoir; two books on AIDS; co-wrote a book about diabetes and exercise; and most recently wrote a book about working as an oncology chaplain and then being diagnosed with cancer herself. She’s also written and produced a video about palliative care. She has produced and co-hosted a podcast called The Art of Risk and is currently creating a new podcast called The Final Say: Conversations with People Facing Death. For more than you ever wanted to know: www.debrajarvis.com. She has served as an interim minister while UCUCC clergy have been on sabbatical. As Writer-in-Residence she  writes a bi-monthly post for The Comma blog as well as special church projects.

Bruce Wilson

He/him

Bruce Wilson knew he was called to ministry at around 12 or 13 years old. He started working with Junior High and Middle school youth at age 18 and has now been in ministry for about 16 years now. He was ordained in 2015 by the United Church of Christ, and in 2017 was endorsed as a chaplain by the United Church of Christ and Certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains. IBruce attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological  Seminary in Evanston, Illinois from 2007-2010 Bruce is working as a chaplain with Franciscan System Services and is also studying for a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. He has led a boy’s retreat at University UCC and continues to look for may ways to be connected to members of our congregation. He participates in leading Communion and has also filled in during a paternity leave at Admiral UCC.