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.
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.
November greets us with the conclusion of our fall worship series, Ubuntu: I am because we are. Our texts look at the expansiveness of God’s love – a call to be a house of prayer for all peoples, a declaration to the Ethiopian eunuch that God’s blessing is for all ethnic, religious, and gender non-conforming people, a reminder that Jesus tells us he has other sheep that we do not know. With these scriptures in mind, we start to see the ways our congregation is called to an interconnectedness and kinship throughout the community.
We have incredible preachers lined up for this month. Learn more about our visiting preachers. On November 6, Rev. Traci Blackmon (she/her), Associate General Minister of Justice and Local Church Ministries for the United Church of Christ, will preach for our service of Memory and Hope and Rev. Courtney Stange-Tregear (she/her), Acting Conference Minister for the Pacific Northwest Conference will be our presider.
On November 13, Rev. Paul Ortiz, pastor at University Gathering (formerly University Temple) will preach and we welcome Vania Bynum and Betsey Beckman to offer liturgical dance. November 20th concludes our Ubuntu series as our covenant partner Rev. Deb Jarvis preaches.
This month will also see the beginning of advent, our preparation for the joy of Christmastide. Our advent theme is Harambee!, a kiswahili word that is understood as let’s pull together! The word is on the coat of arms for Kenya and has been an important part of the political and cultural identity particularly since Kenyan independence in 1963. Within the USA, Harambee chants are part of many Kwanzaa celebrations. Learning from our Kenyan friends, we will spend this season pulling together in anticipation of a more just and vibrant world anticipated with the presence of Christ. Our first Sunday of Advent is November 27 and Katrina Fitzpatrick will be our preacher.