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 worship service starts at 10 am and includes hymns, prayers, scripture reading and a sermon. It usually lasts about an hour. Right now we are worshiping online and will adjust this message once we are able to meet together in our sanctuary once again. 
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 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 note from your Pastors | June 11, 2021
Dear Beloved Community, Every Sunday in our worship service as we speak our covenant we pledge to “meet hate with reconciling love.” Depending on our social location, we experience these things differently. Our sexuality, gender, race, economic status, educational...
Children, Youth and Family Ministry news and events
Children 5th Grade Celebration & Elementary Game Night Friday, June 11, 6:30 – 7:45 pm As part of our June elementary game night, we will celebrate and honor our 5th graders! It will be a special way to mark that they are moving up to 6th grade! Youth will share...
Juneteenth
While June 19, known as Juneteenth, is not a holiday that we necessarily learned about in the American education system, it is one that is significant to this nation’s history. Originating in Texas, it also observed as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Emancipation Day,...
A note from your Pastors | June 4, 2021
Dear Friends, If you came to last Sunday’s Seabeck Preview with Professor Dina Gilio-Whitaker you heard her talk about Traditional Environmental Knowledge or TEK. This understanding reveals that indigenous peoples had an integrated understanding of culture, medicine,...
Love & Justice Ministry—Land acknowledgement statement
We gather as guests of the Duwamish people on their traditional, unceded land that touches the shared waters of other Coast Salish tribes. We understand that their identity and richness of culture are deeply connected with the mountains, valleys, waterways and...
Tent City 3 Update
Tent City 3 moved into our parking lot on March 15, and have been excellent neighbors, as is our usual experience with them. We are thankful for their careful watchkeeping of our building while they have been here. We’ll send them on their way with blessings on June...
Youth Worship: Strength In Community
Youth worship is a great way for the youth to gain a better understanding of what it means to put a service together and a deeper connection to worship. This year's theme is "Strength In Community", emphasizing how important community is; in particular, Youth Group...
2021 Confirmation Class statement of faith
Written by the 2021 Confirmation class as their joint statement of faith: CONFIRMATION 2021 STATEMENT OF FAITH GOD William: We believe that God is Creator, so God can be known in all of Creation, and all of creation is sacred. Anika: We believe that God is love, so...
A note from your Pastors | May 28, 2021
Beloved Community: “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a This Bible verse was chosen by one of our confirmands as his Confirmation scripture. He learned it by heart and recited it for us in last Sunday’s worship service. When he talked about the choice, he...
June Special Offering
For June’s special offering, Love and Justice ministries invited the UCUCC youth to identify an organization to support beyond our congregation. The Youth Group worked for a few weeks identifying and talking about issues and causes that are important to us—both...
A note from your pastors | April 1, 2021
Dear Beloved Community, The stories and services around Holy Week are a vital part of our Christian journey. It began with Palm Sunday, as Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowd. That moment sets up the confrontation that unfolds in the days that follow....
A note from your Pastors | April 8, 2021
Greetings beloved community, and happy Easter! When we read this blog post from clergy and congregation consultant Laura Stephens-Reed, her words resonated with us-- and we wanted to share her perspective with you. Laura's mission is "helping clergy and congregations...
A note from your Pastors | April 24, 2021
The pastoral letter is typically written collaboratively by UCUCC's three pastors. We intend it for everyone in the congregation as a way of lifting up our values and holding us together in covenantal relationship. In light of this week's verdict in the Derek...
Welcome Anna Ly to the virtual Church Office!
We are excited to welcome Anna Ly (she/her) to our church administration team as UCUCC's new Office Assistant and Communications Coordinator! She will be managing essential aspects of our church life through our online calendar, Zoom events, website, Facebook posts,...
A note from your Pastors | May 7, 2021
“Do not be afraid.” --Gen 15:1, Ex 14:13, Num 14:9, Deut 1:17, Josh 1:9, Judges 6:23, 1 Sam 12:20, 2 Kings 1:15, 1 Chron 22:13, 2 Chron 20:15, Isa 10:24, Jer 1:8, Eze 2:6, Dan 10:12, Joel 2:21, Zech 8:13, Matt 1:20, Luke 1:13, John 12:15, Acts 18:9, Rev 1:17 ...and...
A note from your Pastors | May 14, 2021
"When the dove returned in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then those on the ark knew that the water had receded from the earth. They waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return." --Genesis...
A note from your Pastors | May 20, 2021
There is no ethnicity, no status, no gender, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. -Galatians 3:28, paraphrase This is one of those passages that on the surface seems to celebrate a new understanding of being community together as followers of The Way. In a society...
Covid Relief Funds Distribution Team Update
During 2020 the U.S. Federal Government provided financial support to a wide range of companies and organizations across the US to help them weather the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Payroll Protection Program (PPP) was designed to help pay salary expenses to...
A letter from Pastor Catherine
May 18th, 2021 Dear UCUCC Members and Friends, On December 1st, 2001, I began my ministry here with University Congregational United Church of Christ. I have loved being your pastor for over nineteen years. Now I am writing to let you know that I will be retiring on...
Grace, Grief and Grounding: a faithful re-sponse to the climate crisis, cultivating shared wisdom, connection and hope
Saturday, June 12, 2021 9:00 am -1:00 pm PDT / 10:00 am - 2:00 pm MDT A Regional Gathering of the Pacific Northwest, Central Pacific and Montana/Northern Wy-oming Conferences of the United Church of Christ, sponsored by the Wholiness Project, this event is designed to...
Visiting theologian
University Congregational United Church of Christ is excited to welcome Rev. Yolanda Norton as our Visiting Theologian for the next year. Rev. Norton is a Ph.D. candidate in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel and Theology and Practice Fellow at Vanderbilt University. Her...
Gathering Ground | May events
We're continuing the theme of THRESHOLDS, recognizing this time of transition and transformation: racial, environmental, economic, cultural, spiritual. How to leave behind old ways and enter into new ones? How to be with the uncomfortable space of not-yet, the messy...
May Special Offering
Our Strengthen the Church national United Church of Christ offering will help our congregations continue to be church in new ways during this ongoing pandemic. Last year’s STC giving helped Plainfield Congregational Church, just outside Chicago, when it found that its...
Sacred Earth Matters | annual retreat and treaty-reserved fishing rights
Sacred Earth Matters annual planning retreat Please join us on Saturday June 5 for a fun meeting to plan the activities of SEM for the year 2021-2022. This is a time when we brainstorm all of the possibilities for actions that address our mission. If you have ideas,...
Youth Sunday and Confirmation Sunday
Confirmation Sunday: May 23, 2021 Since late January, six youth have been on a Confirmation journey called “Faith By Heart”. Each week we have explored different topics about Jesus, God, the Bible, and more! They are a very thoughtful group with lots of wonderful...
Spring updates from Mwanzo
We have just celebrated Earth Day, reflecting on how our church can live out its commitment to care for God’s creation. The theme for this year is “A new Heaven and a New Earth: Health, Environmental Racism, and Eco-Justice.” According to Cathedral on Fire, the UCC...
Worship and preaching calendar
Our Sunday worship services will continue to be streamed at 10:00 am on Facebook and YouTube. Eastertide: After the Prophet is Gone How did the early followers of Jesus hold on to the vision of The Way (one of the earliest names for what would become Christianity),...
It’s not too late to visit a committee!
I have always found that when I say ‘yes’ to a purpose and walk with others striving to reach a goal, that I am enriched more than I imagined. Faith and good works are so intertwined, so the Engagement Committee extends the invitation to you to “visit a committee”...
Covid-19 Action Team update
In some ways, our transition to online worship and virtual church was simple. It was difficult and overwhelming and heartbreaking, but it was also simple: we had a clarity of purpose and shared sense of urgency. Emergence from the pandemic will be a slower and more...
New Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries!
We are excited to announce that Margaret Swanson is our new Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries! In this role, Margaret will build consistency within the program across all ages. Families with students in different age groups can communicate with her....
Children, Youth and Family Ministry news and events
Children Final Parenting Sanctuary Gathering Wednesday, May 5, 8:00 - 9:30 pm Parenting Sanctuary has been a deeply meaningful space for connection for those in our congregation parenting any age children. We have weathered the rollercoaster of this time of isolation...
Superfluity News
The Superfluity Plant sale continues! Now is a good time to find something new for your garden; some vegetable starts are available too! Margaret Stine is hosting the sale out of her yard. Please call to be sure she is home before you head over. If you have extras,...
A Personal Note from Jennifer
Dear Church Family, We have been on a wild journey together for a year or so now. When I was first asked to consider this interim position, I never could have imagined what it would be like. I’ve been with you as your Interim Director of Children’s Ministry for a...
Returning to Our Future Sanctuary
Sanctuary Study Group The Sanctuary Study Group has been meeting to discuss our past, recent, and future uses and configuration of the sanctuary space. Members have met with some ministry committees, leadership, and have also held two conversation forums via Zoom with...
Wisdom for Each of Us
Wisdom for Each of Us ~ Carol Scott-Kassner As we journey through life, we are often struck by the wisdom of people who are ahead of us on our journey. Enjoy the wisdom from elders contained in these statements. - Don’t listen to what people say. Watch what they do. -...
A death in our community
Joel Godston Born: July 4, 1934 Died: March 30, 2021 Joel passed away surrounded in love from his family and community. Our church has been blessed by his presence and his wife Annemarie’s for the past 8 years. They joined UCUCC in October 2012 after moving to Seattle...
StoryTime & StoryTime Live book list, 2020-21
We thought some folks might like a list of the books Jennifer shared with us on Storytime Live. This list will be updated as we continue to compile all the titles from the last year. The livestreams will continue to be on our Facebook page for those who missed them...
Seabeck Summer Camp July 11-16, 2021
Register here for Seabeck 2021! To attend camp, you can choose your own level of payment from $0-$90. Please register by June 1 to ensure that we can communicate with you in advance of the start of camp. Donations are also appreciated to cover the full cost of the...
Covid-19 Action Team update
With Washington State moving into Phase 3, the UCUCC Covid-19 Action Team met to discuss how the church will navigate this next chapter together. All our conversations are guided by our values: we will be inclusive and thoughtful about access to participation by those...
Celebrating Jennifer Butner!
This month we honor and celebrate Rev. Jennifer Butner as she completes her work as our Interim Director of Children’s Ministry. Over the past year she has gifted our children, their families, and the whole church with opportunities to grow in faith, learn through...