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.
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."
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.
Wheelchair Access: The front entry is wheelchair accessible as are the rest rooms. Please don't hesitate to ask for assistance.
A letter from UCUCC Moderator Ed Coleman:
UCUCC Community,
I am writing to share with you the exciting news that last evening (May 8th, 2023) the UCUCC Council met to receive the recommendation from our Pastor Search Committee (PSC) that UCUCC call Rev. Michael Ellick to serve as our Minister of Worship & Care (MWC). At that meeting the Council voted unanimously to endorse the PSC recommendation and to plan for Rev. Ellick’s Candidate Sunday on June 4th. Per UCUCC by-laws, a call to fill a settled minister position requires a vote of the members of the congregation. Following the UCUCC Sunday morning worship service on June 4th there will be a congregational meeting to discuss the PSC recommendation and to hold the required vote of UCUCC members regarding extending a call Rev. Ellick.
The PSC has been working diligently since the end of 2021 in search of a candidate to recommend as the next member of the UCUCC clergy team. In addition to being your moderator, I have had the privilege and honor of serving as a member of the PSC. This group has been faithfully and carefully led by co-chairs Berta Hollowell and Royce Morrison. It has been a long 18 months since our committee formed and nearly a year since we released our formal clergy job opportunity package sharing widely that UCUCC was looking to fill a ministerial vacancy.
Between now and the June 4th Candidate Sunday there will be opportunities for all UCUCC congregants to learn more about Rev. Ellick through writings, videos, and forums that are being planned (scroll to the bottom of this email for a full calendar of events). All are also encouraged to reach out to members of the search committee who have been in deep discernment about both this ministerial portfolio and their recommendation to call Rev. Ellick. Search committee members are Berta Hollowell, Royce Morrison, Margaret Stine, Ellen Naden, Emily Morishima, Anna Van Pelt, Mike Zevenbergen, Nadine Santo Pietro, Kathryn Robinson, Anya Peterson, and Ed Coleman.
As starting points on the road to getting to know him, Rev. Ellick has provided us with a short written autobiographical paragraph and a thirteen-minute video of himself describing his background and what has attracted him to apply for this position with UCUCC.
Autobiographical statement provided by Rev. Michael Ellick
Rev. Michael Ellick is a UCC Minister who has worked for the last 15 years at the intersection of contemplative practice, spiritual direction, and engaged social justice action. Raised in Washington State he attended college at the University of Washington before entering Seminary on the East Coast, and then trained and lived as a Buddhist monk before working as a Public Finance Analyst and a refugee organizer. Ordained as a pastor in Greenwich Village in 2008, he went on to become Senior Minister of First Congregational Portland in 2014, and later Director of Public Engagement at Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon in 2018. He is best known for his work in the public square for developing interfaith organizing efforts like the New Sanctuary Movement, Occupy Wall Street, and the “Rainbow Door” (an LGBTQ advocacy coalition) in New York City, and later on the “Common Table” and “Reckoning with Racism” projects: truth, repair and reconciliation efforts throughout Oregon and parts of Washington and Idaho. But his true gifts lie in worship, pastoral care and contemplative practice, and these three represent the foundation and throughline that animate all his other efforts. Most recently he has served as spiritual director at “Peace House,” a neo-monastic Christian community in Portland, OR where he teaches centering prayer and offers spiritual direction, but he is eager to return to the parish setting where he feels like all his gifts are best combined.
To view an autobiographical video from Rev. Ellick, click here.
Rev. Ellick will be coming to Seattle for the first four days of June. Sunday June 4th will be his Candidate Sunday when he will participate in worship leadership including delivering that morning’s sermon, followed by a congregational meeting and vote on his candidacy as Minister of Worship & Care.
On Thursday June 1st, Friday June 2nd, and Saturday June 3rd, Rev. Ellick will participate in a series of forums to facilitate interaction with the UCUCC congregation regarding the specifics of the ministerial portfolio for which he is a candidate and any other topics of interest to those in attendance. Below are descriptions of these three evening forums that the Pastor Search Committee has scheduled as hybrid events where the congregation can get to know pastor candidate Michael Ellick.
- The entire congregation is warmly invited to a big get-to-know-you forum with Pastor Michael, a hybrid event to be held Saturday, June 3 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in Ostrander Hall. There will be childcare. For those wishing to attend online, a link will be sent closer to the date. There, congregants will be given a chance to ask or submit their questions for the candidate to address. Light refreshments will be on hand. Because of a previously scheduled event to be held in the sanctuary that afternoon, those attending in person should plan to enter the church via the north doors (sliding door on 16th Ave, alley door).
- Anyone interested specifically in ministerial leadership of the Worship & Music Ministry in our church (one of the two included in this pastoral position’s portfolio) is warmly invited to a forum with the candidate, a hybrid event to be held Thursday, June 1 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Ostrander Hall. No childcare will be available for this forum. For those wishing to attend online, a link will be sent closer to the date. There we will be able to learn more about the candidate’s specific experience in these areas and perhaps share some of our own experiences with him. This forum welcomes anyone involved with or interested in the ministries that fall under Worship and Music, including but not limited to the choir, musicians, the Creative Council for Liturgical Arts, the Artist in Residence, ministry Covenant Partners, the Worship and Music Committee, and the Calvin Institute Grant Committee. Those attending in person should plan to enter the church via the north doors (sliding door on 16th Ave, alley door).
- Anyone interested specifically in ministerial leadership of the Calling, Engagement, & Community Ministry in our church (one of the two included in this pastoral position’s portfolio) is warmly invited to a forum with the candidate, to be held Friday, June 2 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Ostrander Hall. No childcare will be available for this forum. For those wishing to attend online, a link will be sent closer to the date. There we will be able to learn more about the candidate’s specific experience in these areas and perhaps share some of our own experiences with him. This forum welcomes anyone involved with or interested in the ministries that fall under Calling, Engagement, and Community, including but not limited to the Parish Care Committee, Connections Committee, Welcome Committee, MixSups, Greeters, Coffee Hour/Sunday Breakfast volunteers, and anyone involved in Women’s, Men’s, or Senior Retreats. Those attending in person should plan to enter the church via the north doors (sliding door on 16th Ave, alley door).
This is an exciting time for UCUCC and a big step toward solidifying our leadership team that has seen so much transition over the past four years. I hope that all of you will be able to participate in our collective discernment around offering a call to Rev. Ellick to join our team of three clergy. As always, I welcome the opportunity to speak with anyone interested in discussing this or any other aspects of the paths the UCUCC community finds itself on as we move forward humbly seeking love and justice in response to God’s still speaking voice that comes to us in so many forms.
With deepest respect and faith,
Ed Coleman
UCUCC Moderator
Calendar for Rev. Michael Ellick’s Candidate Weekend
Worship & Music Ministry leadership
Thursday, June 1 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Ostrander Hall and via Zoom
This forum welcomes anyone involved with or interested in the ministries that fall under Worship and Music, including but not limited to the choir, musicians, the Creative Council for Liturgical Arts, the Artist in Residence, ministry Covenant Partners, the Worship and Music Committee, and the Calvin Institute Grant Committee.
Calling, Engagement, & Community Ministry leadership
Friday, June 2 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in Ostrander Hall and via Zoom
This forum welcomes anyone involved with or interested in the ministries that fall under Calling, Engagement, and Community, including but not limited to the Parish Care Committee, Connections Committee, Welcome Committee, MixSups, Greeters, Coffee Hour/Sunday Breakfast volunteers, and anyone involved in Women’s, Men’s, or Senior Retreats.
All Congregation meet-and-greet with Rev. Ellick
Saturday, June 3 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm in Ostrander Hall and via Zoom
All are welcome! Childcare will be provided and light refreshments will be on hand.
Worship & Candidating Sermon
Sunday, June 4th at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary and via Zoom
All are encouraged to join us in Sunday morning worship either in-person or online, to hear Rev. Ellick’s candidating sermon.
Congregational Meeting and Vote
Sunday, June 4th after worship in the Sanctuary and via Zoom
Per UCUCC by-laws, a call to fill a settled minister position requires a vote of the members of the congregation. Rev. Michael Ellick has been recommended by the Pastoral Search Committee and unanimously endorsed by the UCUCC Church Council as the candidate for Minister of Worship & Care (MWC). For more information about all three UCUCC clergy Leadership Team Portfolios, click here. Following the UCUCC Sunday morning worship service on June 4th there will be a congregational meeting to discuss the PSC recommendation and to hold the required vote of UCUCC members regarding extending a call Rev. Ellick.
Please note for the events June 1-3:
If you plan to attend online, the link will be included in the weekly email.
For those attending in person, there is a rental in the sanctuary so please enter through the 16th Ave or Alley doors and leave ample time for parking.