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.
Worship in September spans 3 themes: Seasons of Love, Hope-coming, and our fall series “We Are.” We also continue our time of emergence, returning to the building for watch parties, then worship in the sanctuary, other spaces, and a digital service later in the day. Throughout all of the shifts this month, we remain rooted in our covenantal connection with God and one another. Worshipping in all these ways has become another expression of who we are.
Fall Sermon Series Beginning 9/19
We are – these two words not only shape our fall series but declare deep truths about our congregation. WE makes it clear that for all of our personal experiences, the path of discipleship is a collective journey. ARE is a statement of being, describing our identity. In the way that Psalm 139 covers our waking and sleeping, our coming and going, these words cover all aspects of our community. We are shaped by our past. We are participating in God’s ongoing liberation. We are hopeful for a future for generations to come. We are.
Our series begins with our identity in Christ, being known by God. We are reflections of Christ and friends of Jesus. No matter what else is happening around us, these are always true marks of who we are in the present.
Our attention then shifts to the legacy of who we’ve been and the work of those who have come before us. We are called to know our foundation, particularly as a community that was intentionally brought into the U-District. We are the gifts of the ancestors in faith. We celebrate being a community that pursues both knowledge and wisdom.
As the nights grow longer and seasons begin to turn, we are drawn toward our calling. The future God holds for us is as a covenant people, filled with abundance and citizens of heaven.
Throughout this season we recognize things within ourselves:
- We are a living church, not a historical monument
- We are a place where heirloom seeds (heritage seeds?) are grown, alongside new plants and hybrids in God’s wild garden
- We are a place and a people where God’s story continues to unfold
WE ARE.
Spiritual Practice for the We Are series.
Poetry captures our feelings in powerful and unique ways, be it couplets, haiku, or slam poetry. We are inviting the congregation to let the words “We are” sink into our hearts and thoughts, our passions and our values. From this dwelling we invite the church to write poems that capture these reactions and help describe who WE ARE, as a community of faith, as a witness, as a beloved community.
Sept 19: We Are: Known by God
Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18
Preacher: Rev. Amy Roon
Sept 26: We Are: Christ’s Representatives
Scripture: 2 Cor 5:16-20
Preacher: Rev. Steve Jerbi