We are a caring, supportive congregation that values the relationships we form with one another through worship, service and fellowship. Union Cong is an open and inclusive church located in Montclair, New Jersey. We welcome and celebrate all persons, without exception, to participate in worship and fellowship. We are a vibrant community of faith that seeks to follow Jesus' example of welcome and hospitality. We are a congregation of people from all walks of life and faith traditions.
Recalling our vision that Union’s ministries reflect our mission, as well as our desire that we engage the passions and energy of our members and friends, small groups and ministry teams at Union Congregational Church bring forth intentional groups that build community within our congregation, deepen relationships, organize service work for communities in need, and cultivate a sense of belonging.
The congregation was first gathered in 1881. The church, a congregational church, belongs to the United Church Of Christ denomination, but the congregation governs at the local church level. In 2001, the congregation adopted an Open And Affirming Covenant welcoming LGBTQ+ people into the full life and ministry of the church. Our congregation draws both individuals who are on lifelong spiritual journeys and families with blended religious traditions.
In her Mother's Day message this year, Rev. Katrina urged us that "God is already here; it is WE that need to become more present and attentive. The divine life is swirling in and through and all around things, wll the time. all the way out to the edges of creation and beyond." She asks the question "how can we enhance our awareness of the God in whom we have our being and how can we take that knowledge into our own lives?" She answers "First, by expanding the canon in which the west acknowledges as sacred. Undoing centuries of exclusion of women, colonized people, LGBTQ people, and others whose theological knowledge was discounted. Next program year, we will follow a lectionary created by womanist scholar Dr. Wilda Gaffney, which centers women in our scripture. Second, we can make a practice for looking for God, of being attuned to his divine presence. This can be as simple as a moment of gratitude each morning or a midday pause for just a few minutes to find our breath or observe the birds or a breeze in the trees nearby. Third, to pay attention to our longings, to the idols we make. What do we fill our time with that isn't God and why? What are we striving for that is about an insecurity, an unmet need, or an unattended wound, that we could instead tend to with care, compassion, and invitation for God to make well."
Rev. Ron Verblaauw offers a way to "open us up to God by following Jesus, not because you believe in Jesus or to worship him, but to follow his example. So that we can hear those that cry for help. That when we look to set our priorities, as individuals, as a congregation, we can hear those crying out right now."
In her sermon, "Touching The Face Of God," Rev. Connor reminds us how to live our lives in Jesus by following the rules of a salon dinner party.
Rev. Dr. Andrea Vassell Pride Sunday - June 4, 2023
As Christians and as members of Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, we believe it is our purpose and calling to...
grow in relationship with God and neighbor through communal worship, fellowship, mutual respect, prayer, and service;
empower each other, across generations, to discern Christian truth and meaning using a variety of sources;
welcome and celebrate God’s people, and affirm the many images of the Divine manifested in differing abilities and disabilities, ages, gender expressions, gender identities, sexual orientations, faith traditions, social and economic classes, ethnicities, colors, races, immigration statuses, and nationalities;
minister to others using our spiritual gifts and financial resources ethically, mindfully, and creatively;
work to recognize and relieve systemic oppression, individual suffering, poverty, and isolation, through dialogue, action, and partnership with other religious and secular organizations;
honor the environment as God’s sacred creation, worthy of praise and protection;
and reflect the love and grace of God in all that we do, joyous in Christ and grateful in the Spirit.
Copyright © 2022 Strategic Visioning #loveunionsjourney 2022 Union Congregational Church - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.