If you haven’t been to church in a while, you should come. 

Last Sunday, looking around the courtyard between services felt SO GOOD! It felt normal*. 

A dozen teenagers were receiving donations for our gift bags for Grace Marketplace, then sorting them with members of Compassion in Action and making beautiful gifts of love for less lucky. One table was set up to receive registrations for the Women’s Retreat. Another one entices folks with promised popcorn for those who pre-register for our Wednesday Night Film Series with the Racial Justice Committee (for what is guaranteed to be important and worthwhile viewing and conversation). The seminar about the Labyrinth was well attended (both in-person and online), and the worship service had a little laughter, a couple of tears, some fantastic music, dancing, and a great message fitting for our times. And there was coffee, and there were cards, and there were UCGer’s, new and old, gathering in good community, and it felt so good.

We hope you’ll make your way back to us. This month there are plenty of outside opportunities to gather for those who are still wary of public gatherings- including our Taize in the Courtyard (every Thursday during Lent at 6:35 pm) and The People’s Potluck on March 13th (4-6:30 at Parker Park, just up the street from UCG). And so many more opportunities together they are too numerous to count- INCLUDING our upcoming All Church Retreat on April 1-3. So register today, and check out the article enclosed.

Out theme, this year for Lent is “Broken Heros.” We figured there’s something that feels a little broken in all of us after the tumult of the last few years and how history is playing out in real-time right before our very eyes. So really, there is no better time to gather together in a friendly community with your church family, to remind us of the roots and branches that bind us together, and reaffirm that when we walk, work and worship together, we are better people, making the world a better place.

We can’t wait to welcome you home.