Classes & Groups
Ministries: How You Can Connect and Serve
There are many ways to become involved in the life of the congregation by connecting, learning, serving, and sharing your gifts! Check out various opportunities for getting involved:
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UCC includes and welcomes children fully into the life of our congregation.
On Sunday mornings at 9:30, we offer Children’s Sunday School. Our sanctuary has a special PrayGround area especially for kids to enjoy during worship, where they can color, do puzzles, read, and experience worship in a way that is fun and interesting to them.
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Throughout the year, we offer different experiences in person and online to help us all grow closer to Christ and one another. Activities include things like morning prayer via Zoom and Facebook Live, Wednesday noon prayer in the chapel, lectio divina groups, and email devotionals. Follow our Facebook page, check the calendar, or contact the office to find out what opportunities are currently available and what’s coming up soon.
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The Community Ministry plans and oversees much of congregational life, including fellowship events, hospitality, Christian education, worship, and evangelism. Contact the office if you’d like to learn more about getting involved with this ministry.
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This ministry focuses on the development and use of talents of our community, including coordinating Sunday morning volunteer scheduling (worship leaders, greeters & ushers, and communion servers). Contact the office to get connected to this ministry.
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In addition to administering the disbursement of the annual designated outreach funds, the Stewardship Ministry develops the annual budget and stewardship campaign and connects the congregation to a variety of outreach and service projects and events. Contact the office to find out more.
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The Operations Ministry acts to maintain, preserve, and update various physical, digital, and real property matters, as well as overseeing the wedding ministry. Contact the office to learn more.
Who We Work with and Support
Current Ministry Partners and Outreach Fund recipients include:
Be the Neighbor: hosts serving and learning mission weeks focused on Food Justice, Refugees and Immigration, Race and Reconciliation, Poverty Relief, Eco-Justice, and Homelessness. They are an open and affirming organization related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.
Micah 6: UCC is a founding supporter of Micah 6, the largest food pantry in Austin. As UCC’s biggest community commitment, the church collects food for the pantry, volunteers at the pantry every week, and collects monetary donations for the organization.
LifeWorks: A self-sufficiency advocate for youth and families in Austin. UCC provides funding for a full-time social worker and hosts a LifeWorks office in the church.
Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries: Ministry dedicated to helping refugees and asylum-seekers in South Texas.
Juliette Fowler Communities: An inter-generational community in Dallas that serves senior citizens as well as children, youth, and families.
iACT (Interfaith Action of Central Texas): An organization that cultivates peace and respect through interfaith dialogue, service and celebration. Interfaith Action of Central Texas exists to build healthy relationships between the faith communities of Central Texas.
University High School: University High School is the only high school in Austin for students recovering from substance use disorder. The high school shares our church space for weekday class, graduations and events.
Jarvis Christian University: A liberal arts, baccalaureate degree-granting historically Black university affiliated with the Christian Church. UCC donates $5,000 annually to the music program at Jarvis to honor formerly enslaved siblings in Christ who first gave voice to the spirituals we often sing in worship.
Week of Compassion: As the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church, Week of Compassion works with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world.
Organizations we’ve previously supported:
Community First! Village: UCC donated two micro-homes in this affordable housing community for formerly homeless individuals and participated in their home blessings.
Brite Divinity School at TCU: Christian Church-affiliated seminary that builds individuals to be leaders in the Christian Church. UCC contributed $65,000 in 2016 to Brite for student scholarships.
Bethany Fellows: Spiritual formation, mentorship, community-building, and leadership training for young clergy.
Street Youth Ministry: An organization dedicated to helping street-dependent youth in Austin.
National Benevolent Association: A Christian Church ministry dedicated to helping health and human-service organizations around the country in need.