Welcome to University Congregational Church, United Church of Christ! UCC Missoula is an Open and Affirming, Creation Justice church cultivating joy and justice through the life and teachings of Jesus. This means we embrace and affirm the identity and ministry of everyone no matter their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability/ability, age, faith perspective, or any other factor.
As a congregation we have a culture of asking hard questions about life and faith, looking at our history with honesty and humility, caring for each other and others in need, working towards justice and equality for all people, and living into the sacredness of all life on our planet. We do this through weekly worship, music, reflection, prayer, and connection with each other. We also do this through small groups, action teams, and in collaboration with many other faith communities and nonprofits in Missoula.
Please join us in person or online via Facebook or YouTube at 10am every Sunday. If you would like our weekly e-news, you can sign up here.
Land Acknowledgement
In the interest of truth and healing, we acknowledge that the Séliš and Q’lispé people have lived on and cared for this land for thousands of years. As part of Western Expansion settlers claimed this valley, including the land upon which this church is built. As witnesses to the historical and ongoing harm done by colonization to Indigenous peoples, lifeways, and the land, we commit to learning from the original peoples of this place, to building friendships, and to taking action to work toward a more just and equitable future.
Often Christmas, and the weeks of Advent that precede it, is a time when the juxtaposition of the sacred and secular feels sometimes blatantly opposed, and sometimes quite blurred. This theme invites us to imagine that indeed, every thing, every one, every encounter, is pregnant with the sacred. Not in a “where is God in this?” notion, but in a much more radical “Christ is here and permeating and radiating from everywhere” kind of way. Richard Rohr calls this the “Universal Christ” and asks “What if Christ is another name for everything–in its fullness?” Always birthing in and through all of us. This Advent, we invite you into a spiritual and incarnational journey of imagining everything is ‘reflecting the sacred’.
Ways to Engage the Season
- Advent Festival
- Wednesday Soup dinners followed by Holden Evening Prayer
- Opportunity to journal or reflect through art/photography
- Meet with others to share your reflections.
- We recommend a couple of books as well, which pair well with this theme.
Christmas Eve Services Wednesday, December 24 at 4:30, 7:00 and 9:00 pm
We hope to see you at one of our three Christmas Eve services. The 4:30 service is geared for families and includes a special activity for children. The 7:00 service features music from the Chancel Choir. The 9:00 pm service has a more contemplative feel. All services include carols, a message and candle lighting.