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?

The Lecture Series at University Congregational Church, Seattle

The Lecture Series is a self-supporting program of University Congregational United Church of Christ.

Our mission is to bring leading Christian and non-Christian thinkers, writers, and teachers to the Seattle region to expand our understanding of what it means to be Christian today.
Our commitment is to encourage each other in the growth of our minds and spirits.

All are welcome!  Please join us for an upcoming lecture. Details of upcoming lectures are available in the What’s Up Now section, under the category “The Lecture Series.”

Ongoing courses through the Pacific School of Religion

For the 2018-19 program year, we are starting a new partnership with the Pacific School of Religion (PSR) to host courses in their Theological Education for Leadership Program. More information on our Adult Education page.

Lecture Series Podcasts

Podcasts of lectures are available

In March 2018 The Lecture Series began making audio recordings of the lectures. Links to those podcasts are available here:

Feb 22-24, 2019 | Climate Change, Climate World with Rev. Dr. Jim Antal
The Lecture Series, in collaboration with UCUCCs Sacred Earth Matters, the Pacific Northwest Conference Environmental Justice Team, and Earth Ministry, presents Rev. Dr. Jim Antal for a series of conversations and workshops to help people grapple with the most urgent problem humanity has ever faced. 

Oct 5-7, 2018 | Prophets & Passion: race, resistance and Prophetic Imagination with Drs. Sharon Jacob and Sharon Fennema
These lectures explored institutional racism past and present, here in the US and around the world, and discover new tools and practices centered in prophetic imagination to enable a world where we can all flourish. Recorded sessions include Friday evening, separate tracks of lectures on Saturday.

Jun 8, 2018 | In Search of a Prophet: A Spiritual Journey with Kahil Gibran with Paul Gordon-Chandler
Rev. Paul Gordon-Chandler spoke on June 8, 2018, sharing concepts from his book of the same name and answering questions from the audience. Rev Paul-Gordon Chandler is an author, interfaith advocate, social entrepreneur, art curator and a U.S. Episcopal priest who has lived and worked in the Middle East for many years. He grew up in Senegal, West Africa, and has worked extensively throughout the Islamic World in leadership roles within faith-based publishing, relief & development agencies and churches.

Mar 9-11, 2018 | Faith on the Move, with Rev. Dr. David Vasquez-Levy
Rev. Dr. David Vasquez-Levy joined us March 9 – 11 for a series of lectures which took a hopeful and practical look at our communities’ ability to refame critical conversations around immigration. Vasquez-Levy is president of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA.

History

History

Lectures 2007 – 2015

Oct 2015 | Diana Butler Bass | Author, speaker, independent scholar | Grounded July 2015 | Jessica Jackley | Co-Founder, Kiva / Author, Clay Water Brick Author reading, co-presented with Mwanzo Proud Farmers March 2015 | Lauren Winner | Episcopal priest, author, professor, Duke University | Wearing God: Clothing, Fire, Laughter and Other Overlooked Ways of Meeting God Feb 2015 | Robin Meyers | Senior minister of Mayflower UCC church Oklahoma City | Beloved Community of Spiritual Resistance Oct 2014 | Pamela Eisenbaum |Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Origins, Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, and affiliate faculty member of the Center for Judaic Studies, University of Denver Stephen J. Patterson | Geo. H. Atkinson Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies at Willamette University Prostitutes, Virgins, and Androgynes: Sex and Gender in Early Christianity June 2014 | Marcus Borg | Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon John Dominic Crossan | Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois Sister Joan Chittister | Member, Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania | A Panel Discussion and Lecture | The Dream of God: A World of Justice and Non-Violence Feb 2014 | Lauren Winner | Episcopal priest, author, professor, Duke University | Mudhouse Sabbath Oct 2013 | Gretta Vosper | Pastor, West Hill United in Scarborough, Ontario | Amen: What Prayer Can Mean in a World Beyond Belief July 2013 | Reza Aslan | Author, speaker, Middle-East expert, founder of Aslan Media | Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth May 2013 | Thomas Reynolds | Associate Professor of Theology, Emmanuel College in Victoria College of Toronto University, Toronto Canada | Outside Inclusion: A Case for Care-Full Hospitality in the Church Feb 2013 | Miroslav Volf | Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology / Founding Director, Yale Center for Faith & Culture | Allah: A Christian Response Oct 2012 | John Bell | Preacher, teacher, liturgical composer, Scotland Spirituality and MusicFeb 2012Marcus Borg | Speaking Christian Oct 2011 | Robin Meyers | Senior minister of Mayflower UCC church Oklahoma City | How I Became a Heretic With Help from Jesus Oct 2011 | Diana Butler Bass | Chabraja Fellow Seabury Western Theological Seminary | Christianity After Religion May 2011 | John J Thatamanil | Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions, Union Theological Society | Eucharist Upstairs, Yoga Downstairs Feb 2011 | J. Phillip Newell | Formerly Warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland |A New Harmony Oct 2010 | John Shelby Spong | American Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Ret. |Eternal Life: A New Vision April 2010 | Walter Brueggemann | William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary |The Drama of Rehabilitation Feb 2010 | Amy Jill Levine | Vanderbilt University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Jesus | Judaism and Jewish Christian Relations Oct 2009 | ohn Dominic Crossan | Paul: An Appealing or Appalling Apostle?Feb 2009Marcus Borg | Mysticism and the Christian Path Feb 2008 | John Dominic Crossan | Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois | God and Empire, Celtic Christianity Feb 2007 | Marcus Borg | Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon A Tale of Two Christianities

Contact us

Join our mailing list

Names are never shared and email updates are few – only when we have news to share.  For those who prefer, a postal mailing is also available.  Email us here to sign up.
Or write to us in care of: University Congregational United Church of Christ, 4515 16 Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105

General inquiries

Email us here.

Thank you, Volunteers!

We are deeply grateful for the large community of volunteers who help make the Lecture Series possible.  Volunteers help ensure a gracious welcome to all who attend lectures, provide nourishing cookies and fruit during events, and so much more.  Thank you each and every one!  Click here to volunteer at an upcoming event.

Finding new light in ancient traditions…

Lecture Series News

The Lecture Series has included many distinguished presenters, including those shown below.

John Dominic Crossan

Diana Butler Bass (R)

AlastairMcIntosh (L) and Dave Powell