About Us 2

Don’t we tend to dwell on the hardships, struggles and setbacks we face rather than the everyday blessings? What a healthy spiritual practice it is to instead pause to reflect on the goodness and blessings of God. Focusing on everyday blessings doesn’t negate our struggles, but it can help us put things into perspective and give us the courage to move forward. When we do this, we discover that our lives consist of more positive moments than negative, more blessings than trials.

Autumn brings a new season of blessings. The crispness of the fresh air. The beauty of the changing leaves. A pumpkin latte or a cider mill donut. A cozy sweater on a cool night. These are all simple blessings.

When we stop and reflect on those who are important to us, we remember they are a blessing in our lives. Our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and church family matter to us. We were designed to be in relationships. We are blessed by other individuals like teachers or medical personnel who cross our paths. The simplest interaction is an opportunity to create connection.

Most of all, we must remember to be thankful for God’s presence in our lives. No matter what problem we face, we are never alone. God is with us every second of every day.

I encourage you to notice the everyday blessings in your life. When stress, anxiety or sorrow strikes, we have a tendency to focus only on what is causing these emotions rather than the good that surrounds us.

But if we intentionally pause each day to reflect on our blessings especially the goodness, mercy, grace of God—our mood, attitude and perspective will improve. Every day with God is a good day.

Lord, thank you for the many blessings in our lives, especially Your presence. Help us to be mindful of them.

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.