About Us 2

I found this sweet story online. A golden colored dog arrived in a woman’s garden, wagging his tail. He made his way into the house, found somewhere to curl up and went to sleep. After an hour or so, he got up, stretched and left the house, but he returned again the next day and several days after that. Eventually the homeowner attached a note to the dog’s collar –

“I’m curious about the owner of this delightful dog who comes regularly to take a rest in my home. The next day the dog arrived with a reply

attached to his collar: “He lives in a house with 6 children, 2 of them under 3 years old. Tomorrow I’m coming with him!”

That dog knew the wisdom of taking a break from our hectic schedules. When God created the universe and we are told that the Creator then rested. Sabbath laws provided those who did hard labor, even the animals, a day to rejuvenate. A day to focus on God’s love.

We do not honor God, when we work non-stop and maintain a chaotic schedule. Parents provide their children with a powerful lesson by teaching them to take time to unplug. Adults can learn that saying, “No” on occasion will allow them to more fully say, “Yes” when the time is right. We all need to take time out to recharge our batteries and to refocus our priorities.

As we enter this summer let us be intentional about creating sabbath. When we take the time to hit the refresh button, we come back invigorated and better able to serve others.

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church to join faith and action. With over 5,000 churches and nearly one million members across the U.S., the UCC serves God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world. The UCC is a church of firsts, a church of extravagant welcome, and a church where "…they may all be one" (John 17:21).

The Church of Firsts

Since 1957, the United Church of Christ has been the church of firsts, weaving God’s message of hope and extravagant welcome with action for justice and peace. Together, we live out our faith in ways that effect change in our communities. The UCC's many "firsts" mean that we have inherited a tradition of acting upon the demands of our faith. When we read in Galatians: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus"—a demand is made upon us. And so we were the first historically white denomination to ordain an African-American, the first to ordain a woman, the first to ordain an openly gay man, and the first Christian church to affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry. We were in the forefront of the anti-slavery movement and the Civil Rights movement. Our response to the demands of our faith is woven into the history of our country.

A Church of Extravagant Welcome

Today, we continue to change lives throughout the world. We work alongside more than 200 mission partners. We labor ceaselessly to fight injustice, in the United States and abroad. We instill our vision into our youth and young adults, forging leaders who will imagine new dreams. And we sustain and develop church leaders, pastors, and our local churches to live their faith in exciting new ways. We believe in a God that is still speaking, a God that is all-loving and inclusive. We are a church that welcomes and accepts everyone as they are, where your mind is nourished as much as your soul.

We are a church where Jesus the healer meets Jesus the revolutionary, and where together, we grow a just and peaceful world.