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.
The Council of the University Congregational United Church of Christ met on November 16, 2022 via Zoom and in person in the UCUCC library
Minutes from the October Council meeting were approved.
We heard an update from the Covid/Emergence team and discussed designating mask-optional spaces starting in December. The committee is also thinking about the choir singing with or without masks. Congregational feedback will be solicited at the congregational meeting on 20 November.
We also received brief updates from the Pastoral search committee and the Asset Enhancement Task Force.
The newly formed Church Health Task Force (CHTF) has started interviews with Pastor Steve, Ed Coleman and Joyce Jackson & Virginia Felton (personnel committee co-chairs). This first step is designed to understand aspects of church health from a leadership point of view, and to start to identify possible ways to measure or evaluate the health of our church. The CHTF also asked Council to approve a scope of work (see below) to make clear the extent of the task forces work and handoff(s) for the information.
Council approved the following three items: The proposed scope for the Church Health Task Force (CHTF), adding UCUCC values to our AIR form template, and Supporting Ordination Pending Call (OPC) status for Rachel Haxtema.
We spent the majority of the meeting discussing the budget. Council unanimously voted to recommend that the congregation approve the 2023 Budget as presented by the budget committee acknowledging the anticipated deficit or gap of $173,180 as presented. This includes Council approval of a one-time increased draw of 10% (instead of 5%) from the L&J endowment to replace $15,000 decrease in operations budget support and a one-time increased draw from 5% to 7% from the Music Endowment. Council also recognized that the CE Adult ministry (Seabeck) is taking a cut of $1600. Note that our treasurer and 50% of the investment committee supports using L&J endowment at this increased level, the rational being that the value of having this money out working in the community is far greater than the dollars that the money might accrue by sitting in the investment account.
Council also unanimously recommended that we cover the deficit gap in this budget by using up to $35,000 from the Council Designated General Endowment ($500,000 current value) and up to $140,000 from the Permanent Endowment (current value almost $2,000,000) because we feel that the future of this church depends upon continuing to support our staff, programs and services.