University Congregational United Church of Christ

Roj & Gina

Welcoming and vibrant church! I love the children’s and youth programs and the support for providing housing. The church has hosted tent cities in it’s parking lot and really works to live out a faith of hospitality and caring. (And the music is varied, meaningful and terrific!)

Virginia S

Please help me find missing jacket (black/spider brand) from Betty Meaders memorial service this past Sunday October 7, 2018. Last seen on coat rack near kitchen. Thank you for your help

Michael Ryker

Great church. I felt welcomed, the people here are truly sweet and caring.

Casey Penk

Nice people. Inviting theology. What more could you ask for? First, some background. United Church of Christ is a liberal Christian denomination. It avoids extensive dogma and allows individual churches some leeway to make their own determinations. This is welcome in an age of individualism, although it makes it rather difficult to get a grasp on what the members of the church actually believe (if you want a real challenge, try to summarize the beliefs of Unitarian Universalists in one sentence... good luck). Despite challenges with definitions it is abundantly clear that the church is focused on Jesus's message of love and of social justice. The church emphasizes these two aspects repeatedly; one feels that this is not not only a welcoming place but also a place where people do great things outside the church walls. While Catholics focus heavily on social justice you don't see many Protestant denominations so heavily focused on the topic. The sermons were positive and uplifting. They will appeal to those who see Jesus as a bringer of peace and salvation, and want to live out that message in their daily lives. The two sermons I listened to (one online and one in person) were both deeply inspirational. They suggested a more encouraging attitude than the one traditionally associated with Christianity. I found the sermon I listened to online to be both powerful and profound, and deeply relevant. It used a boating analogy, which did not directly apply to me, but the pastor made it convincing. The lesson he ended up extracting touched me deeply. Not only did it reach to the bottom of my heart but it also seemed directly applicable to my life. The sermon I listened to in person had the additional benefit of being well-thought-out. It would appeal to those who are intellectual and may be more skeptical of religion. The sermon didn't rely on blind faith or unfounded assumptions but was careful and thoughtful. It was even challenging, digging into what the scripture actually says rather than relying on other people's interpretations. In all, it felt like an intellectually honest exploration of the given text. The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful, and the worship music and facilities are more traditional. In all these senses it's similar to a Catholic church, albeit with less ornamentation and a more compact footprint. You could call it relatively institutional, which is essentially opposite of City Church or Mars Hill, which have a more independent vibe. While this means there's less of the palpable energy, it also means that the church is simple and avoids the excesses involved in trying to be showy and flashy. I believe this church hews more closely to the type of life Jesus lived than many other churches do. Lastly, some context to give you a better appreciation for what this church can do. I was deliberating between going to a church conference or not. I listened to a sermon from this church on their website, with the hope that I might find some inspiration or encouragement. The sermon talked about finding peace and trust with God even in turbulent times, and about breaking away from the familiar to take a risk with the unknown. The first point was reassuring, but the second point was speaking to me directly. I realized that, while it entailed huge risk, attending this conference was a chance to to grow deep in my faith and learn more about God. It seems the Holy Spirit meant for me to hear that sermon. It set into action a chain of events that would see me explore my faith in a deep and engaging way, both at the conference and beyond. For that I thank UCC, and I hope you will find similar peace, joy, and love.