About Us 2

September 2023

From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

As we kick off the autumn season in the life of the church and prepare for the upcoming holidays, the aforementioned scripture has resonated with me. Paul has given us a valuable piece of advice here. Truthful, honorable, and respectful thoughts, words, and actions should be our norm as Christians.

Did you ever notice that the people who live by all these things are pleasant, and we love to be in their presence? Or how much do we enjoy being around those who look for the good in life and those who focus on the positive? We gravitate toward people who recognize God working in their lives. This lifestyle aligns with our faith and brings us closer to Christ.

I believe these gifts are found at Hope Church and are evident in our authentic and positive fellowship, worship, and ministry. I am excited to see how this love-driven energy will unfold as we come together and get back into full gear.

We embrace the motto of the UCC: "Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here". Whether you grew up in the church or are new to this place, we want you to feel connected to the positivity and life-giving energy of Christ.

Realistically, we all face challenges. The church of today faces challenges. We do not dismiss our concerns; rather, we work to focus our minds on all the positive things listed in the above verses and implant them into our hearts. It takes determination, but the effort is well worth it. When we commit to embracing, "all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise." then we will be the people and the church Christ calls us to be.

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.