What is the United Church of Christ?*

The UCC came into being in 1957, a union of other Christian churches who had in common a driving concern to help those on the margins of society. UCC churches quickly took up the cause of Civil Rights. Issues of peace and justice continue to top the denomination’s agenda.

One of the major historical components of the UCC was the Congregational church. That word still resides in our church’s name. “Congregational” emphasizes that each individual church determines it’s own direction, while at the same time each is also connected and committed to other churches in the denomination, and readily engages with churches of every kind as we seek to live out our Christian faith.

To know one UCC church is not to know the entire denomination. To know the entire denomination is to know a little about each particular church. Three sayings mark the UCC’s life:

God is still speaking!
Never place a period where God has placed a comma.**
No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.

*For more on the UCC, look under the “Links” tab.

**A statement attributed to Gracie Allen, a well-known comedienne who partnered in radio and TV with her husband, George Burns.

CONTACT INFORMATION
First Congregational Church UCC
2001 Niles Avenue | St. Joseph, MI 49085
Click for Directions / Map

Telephone: 269-983-5519
FAX: 269-983-5988
Email: office@fccstjoseph.org
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who we are

We are a congregation here and now.

We value a common Christian center while acknowledging and celebrating our diversity, from one end of the spectrum to the other. And we’ve got them all!
We value each individual—gifts, ideas, opinions—and our church family as a whole.
We value both traditional Christian beliefs and the questions that naturally arise when those beliefs encounter—sometimes collide with!—our everyday lives and our constantly changing culture.
We value the personal nature of our church family, and we keep our doors wide open to the stranger and visitor looking for a place to call their faith home.
We value financial responsibility and accountability, taking care of our members, resources, and facilities, while responding to Christ’s commission to reach out to others by sharing the Good News in word, action, and capital—locally, nationally, and abroad.

We are Christian in name, faith, and commitment.
We are First Congregational United Church of Christ.
And you are welcome here.