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?

Youth Ministry (Grades 6 – 12)

We believe that every youth should have a place where they know they belong. University Congregational UCC walks with our youth on their faith journey through discussion, experiential learning, creative expression, mentoring relationships and prayer. All are welcome!

A Little About Youth & Family Ministry At UCUCC:

UCUCC has a rich history of children’s, youth and family ministry. Over the pandemic we stayed connected over zoom Youth Group and other gatherings, worship leadership, online programs, at-home kits for faith formation and socially distanced get-togethers. As we have emerged from the pandemic, we have focused on relationships, helping our youth connect with their friends and volunteer leaders. We have worked to balance bringing back traditions, with creating new ways of being together. We’ve had a wonderful year full of Sunday Morning Youth Group, Fellowship Events, Service Projects, Retreats, Confirmation Class, Our Whole Lives class, parent/caregiver gatherings and more! We are grateful for our thriving community of youth and their families! All youth and families are welcome and celebrated! If you are looking for a church community focused on faith formation, justice, anti-racism, progressive theology, and ministry with youth and families, we would love to welcome you at UCUCC!

 

2026 Youth Summer Service Opportunities :

H.S. Summer Service Trip 2025: Alaska

M.S. Summer Service Trip: TBD

 

Sunday Mornings at UCUCC:

September – June we offer Youth Group at 9am before 10am Worship. Weekly Youth Group breaks for the summer, and we offer fellowship events, camp and trips instead.

  • 9am Youth Group – (Currently on summer break) Youth Group meets on Sunday morning at 9 am in the Pilgrimage Room. It is open to youth who are attending Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12). Sunday morning programs are facilitated by lay leaders who serve as mentors and to help facilitate activities, conversation and reflection.
  • 10am Worship – At 10 am youth are invited to attend worship with their families. Youth offer their leadership in worship by reading liturgy, contributing music or giving the stewardship moment.

 

Explore Our Programs

Youth ministry extends well beyond the walls of our church. Retreats, service trips, service projects and classes give youth the opportunity to support one another in their journeys, as well as, opportunities to experience and share God’s love. 

 

Please click on boxes below to learn more about the wider programs we offer for Youth and Families at UCUCC…

 

Plan Ahead for Summer 2026

Summer 2026 Key Dates

  • H.S. Service Trip – June (exact dates tbd)
  • Seabeck All Church Camp – July 5 – 10, 2026 (see below for more info)
  • M.S. Service Day Camp – July (exact dates tbd) (open to youth in grades 5, 6, & 7 in the 2025 -26 school year)

Youth Program at All Church Camp at Seabeck

The Youth Program consists of incoming 6th grade – outgoing 12th grade.  Youth can plan on gathering each morning for music, discussion, activities, reflection, games and more!

2025 Theme: Wild Wonder: Listening to the Sacred in Nature

This summer, we invite youth to step outside and awaken to the sacred stories written in the trees, rivers, and skies. Inspired by Church of the Wild by Victoria Loorz, we will explore how nature is not just a backdrop for faith but an active, living community inviting us into deeper connection with God, ourselves, and each other. Through storytelling, movement, creative expression, and moments of quiet listening, we will practice seeing the holy in the wild world around us. From the smallest preschool explorers to our high school seekers, each age group will discover how to be in relationship with nature as a teacher, friend, and sacred space for belonging.

Fellowship Nights & Retreats

Fellowship nights

Fellowship nights include a dinner, games, activities and more. They are typically on Friday or Saturday night and are open to youth in grades 6-12.

Retreats

Retreats offer an opportunity for youth to explore their faith more deeply, connect with one another and take time for deep Sabbath. They are generally held at area camps or conference centers. We run a few retreats a year and they are filled with fun and faith formation!

Our 2026 Retreats:

https://www.universityucc.org/spring-youth-retreats-2025/

Service opportunities

Teen Feed

The youth program takes responsibility for cooking and serving at Teen Feed on the fifth Wednesday of the month. Teen Feed provides a hot meal, warm shelter and friendly, non-judgmental conversation for homeless teens, many of whom live in the University District. This is a service opportunity the entire family is welcome to participate in.

Service Learning Trips

Two trips are offered  each summer—one for Middle School youth and one for High School youth. The goal is to serve others with the understanding that we are called to better our whole world. Our service is not about taking God to others, but about experiencing God in the work we do and the people we meet. We often partner with other churches or nonprofit service organizations for these trips. Our service learning trips are financially supported by our “Moving Mountains” fundraiser each spring so that every young person who wants to attend is able to. We are grateful for the support! 

Classes---Our Whole Lives & Confirmation

Our Whole Lives, Sexuality and our Faith (OWL)

The Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education program is a progressive, comprehensive curriculum that deals with the totality of human sexuality in an age-appropriate manner. It is deeply rooted in the values of self worth, sexual health, justice and inclusivity, and responsibility. These values reflect the justice-oriented tradition of the United Church of Christ. We offer this class every year, alternating the age range that it is intended for (grades 7 & 8 or grades 10-12). It is taught by trained volunteer facilitators. 

Confirmation Class (grades 8, 9 and beyond)

The confirmation class series offers youth the tools and opportunities to name and understand where they are in their faith journey at this time in their lives. This class series is offered every other year. The next year this will run is Winter 2025.

 

Schedule for upcoming years:

  • 2025 – 2026: M.S. OWL Class
  • 2026 – 2027: Confirmation and H.S. OWL class

For information on either of these classes, please contact the Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministries, Margaret Irribarra Swanson.

 

 

Forms & Family Registration

Here are links to forms you will need to participate in Youth Ministry activities and/or retreats. You should be able to fill them in online and simply “submit”. 

– Medical Form

– Covenant 

 

 

Our Vision

To grow a living faith we need

  • To have trusting, deep, authentic relationships with those who have a living faith
  • To have experiences of God
  • To empower each other to live into our call and serve as disciples of Jesus
  • To share in experiences of the risky, edgy, radical parts of faith—for on the edge we discover who we are and what our faith is.

Youth Ministry Staffing & Leadership

  • Margaret Irribarra Swanson serves as our Director Of Children, Youth & Family Ministries.
  • Rev. Steve Jerbi serves as the Minister of Worship and Christian Formation.
  • Volunteer leaders help facilitate Sunday Morning Youth Group, Classes, Fellowship events, Retreats and more!

Our Safer Church Policy

We take our responsibility for the safety of our children and youth very seriously. Every adult who works with children at church/youth undergoes a criminal background check. There are always at least two adults present when there are children/youth in the room. We also offer trainings and meet with our volunteers to make sure our expectations and policy are clear.

 

UCUCC as a church and as a youth group is Open & Affirming

We are a Christian community with an open, inclusive and progressive point of view. We celebrate diversity in race, culture, abilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, expression and religious belief. 

 

Learn More

To learn more about our Youth Ministry Program contact Margaret Irribarra Swanson, (Director Of Children, Youth & Family Ministries).

 

 

Youth Group is a place where we talk about things that matter, we do things that matter and we know that we belong.