About Us 2

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden… let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 7: 14, 16).

Isn’t it magical to witness the dance of a firefly? Fireflies…also known as lightning bugs, are in the family of winged beetles and are known for their use of light to attract mates or prey. August evenings in Michigan are lit up with the choreography of the firefly! After dark their lights are easily observed. When I was a little girl, my friends and I spent summer evenings running through the yard scooping up these tiny creatures. We then placed them in our ready-made mason jars, complete with a few holes in the lid and grass inside. I would place the jar in my bedroom and pretend it was a living nightlight. In the morning I would release them so they could continue to share their light each night.

From the beginning light has always served a purpose, and humanity has tried to

capture the power of light. Historically campfires and later fireplaces provided light among other uses. Candles and oil lamps illuminated dark rooms for tasks such as reading. Streetlights gave light to travelers, and finally electricity made it possible for light to appear with the flip of a switch.

Light has a purpose. In nature the light within the firefly serves to attract a mate.

Humanity has harnessed light to improve our quality of life. And according to Jesus our inner light also has value. Unfortunately, we know that our unhealthy choices or when we are not our authentic selves or when we judge others these actions tend to diminish our light. On a positive note, when we put energy into loving others unconditionally, accepting others just as they are and being hospitable these actions allow our light to radiate a warm glow.

Jesus tells us that when our light does shine, others will be attracted to our light and hopefully recognize that our light is truly a gift from God. As Christians we want others to see Christ shining through us. We are called to make a deliberate choice to practice letting our light shine.

When you see the dance of the firefly let it serve as a prayer reminding you to act in a way that allows others to see your light and perhaps, they will praise God too!

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.