Our Ministries

Mission

Mission is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “a body of persons sent to perform a service or carry on an activity.” Here at Samuel UCC, we do this in numerous ways:

• We are an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation. This means that Samuel UCC welcomes the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons (LGBT+) in the church's life and ministry.
• We are members of Gateway ONA Coalition with other churches in the area, which provides support to new congregations looking to become ONA and reaches out to the community in various ways, including a presence at the annual PrideFest in June.
• We help Habitat for Humanity by participating in the UCC Habitat Build and by hosting an Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. In 2021, the dinner raised $10,000 for Habitat through an online campaign as the dinner was canceled due to the pandemic.
• Each year, we sponsor a student through the Fundación A. Jean Brugger. This foundation was created by a former member, Jean Brugger, who is currently living in Nicaragua. Our sponsorship of this student pays for all his education expenses (books, tuition, and other expenses) for the school year.
• Each month, we gather nonperishable food items to benefit local food pantries, such as the one at Centential Christian Church.

Worship Team

All our ministries bring us to what happens on Sunday mornings: Worship. A chance to gather, to breathe, to still our minds for an hour as we sing, pray and commune together as one people in Christ’s name. But there are many things that go on behind the scenes to make Sunday Worship possible. Our bulletins have been lovingly hand-folded by one member for more than 40 years. Our decorators will have dressed the church for the season, bringing us joy at Christmas, hope on Easter and brightening the normal Sundays with banners and other decorations. Our ushers will greet you when you enter and make sure you have all you need to fully enjoy the service. Our bell ringers will ring out the news that service is starting. The choir will make a joyful noise unto the Lord, led by the multitalented Nicolas Valdez, our Minister of Music. And our communion stewards and preparers ensure that all can share in the table of Christ, even those who are gluten free. At Samuel UCC, worship is an experience we love to share.

Music Ministry

Music is a vital part of our worship at Samuel UCC! We believe God speaks to us in different ways through all kinds of music. Our Chancel Choir, under Nicolas Valdez, sings wonderful contemporary and classical songs. We may sing familiar hymns along with others that may soon become favorites. In fact, we like to sing so much, we use two hymnals: The New Century Hymnal of the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Hymnal. Each Advent, the Choir performs a Christmas Cantata, and for several years now, they have also performed the Gospel Mass in the weeks following Easter. Our rehearsals on Thursdays at 6:30pm are relaxed and warm. For many of us, the choir is a place of renewal and support.  You don’t need to be able to read music or have any experience singing to join us.

Samuel Preschool

Samuel Preschool was started in the 1960s and is still going strong more than 50 years later. The Preschool is a secular play-based environment where children of all races, religions and nationalities are welcome to come learn, play and grow. Guided by caring teachers, children ages two to five grow in our small classrooms, each led by two teachers. Jane Strauss is the Preschool Director and shares her gifts with all students who are enrolled here. Click here to find out more about Samuel Preschool: