Grace United Church of Christ

06/15/2026

🗓️ Join us Wednesday, June 17th, 6:00-7:00 pm ET, for an online ecumenical worship service in observance of World Refugee Day.

🧡 With the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program frozen since January 2025 and resettled refugees facing an onslaught of diminishing protections and expanding threats, it is more important than ever to gather in lament, solidarity, and celebration of the right to seek refuge.

🧡 With contributions from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Church of the Brethren, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Pacifica Synod ELCA, and the United Church of Christ, we will worship through prayer, art, music, and reflections from pastors with their own stories of migration.

Register: https://ow.ly/xY4b50ZbTEn

06/15/2026

As a pastor, I often have the privilege of hearing part of someone's story and each time that happens, my connection with that person gets a little deeper. I love that about ministry. All of us have a story. Some parts of our story are joyful, others are painful, yet they are all a part of our story.

I have been hearing from many people that one of the things that they are looking for is community and connection. Our worship communities should be places where this happens, yet sadly, for any number of reasons, community and connection can seem so elusive.

Grace UCC strives to be a place of healing, community, and connection. Like every faith community, we fall short of this from time to time, but we learn and grow together. With all of this in mind, I have been thinking about how powerful it is when we get to know one another and share parts of our stories with each other. Each of our stories are like tiny pieces that can form a cohesive masterpiece when they are brought together. With that in mind, I would like to invite anyone who is interested, whether you are a Grace UCC member, attender, or neighbor, to join us for the first gathering of The Mosaic. We will gather at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, July 22 at Grace UCC (25 E 2'nd Street Frederick). At this first gathering, we will simply get to know each other better and share some light refreshments with each other. There may be some sharing of stories if you feel comfortable, and everyone can share, but no one HAS to share. I have learned over the years that not everyone deserves to hear my story, and none of us should ever feel compelled to share.

If you are seeking community and connection, this is your invitation to give The Mosaic a try. You will be invited to get to know someone knew, or get to know someone better that you already know. This is also your invitation to simply come and be with others in the community even if you don't say a word...there is a lot of power in that as well.

We hope that this will be a monthly gathering so come on out and give it a try...won't you?

06/13/2026

Please mark your calendars and join us for the first concert in our upcoming Candlelight Concert Series. These concerts will be on the fourth Friday of each month beginning in August. Spread the word and invite your friends to join us!

06/11/2026

Date : September 25th-26th Location : Doubletree by Hilton - 1400 E Market Street, Harrisonburg VA 22801 -and- online via Zoom Please Note: Scholarships will be available on a first-come, first served basis. Please contact the Conference Office at 410.788.4190, or by email at: admin@cacuc

06/11/2026

United in Prayer: U.S.–Germany Prayer Gathering

Thursday, June 25 at 12:00 p.m.

You are invited to join the next United in Prayer gathering, a 30-minute online prayer service via Zoom connecting friends, congregations, and partners across the Central Atlantic Conference and the EKM, the Evangelical Church in Central Germany.

Hosted by Katja Albrecht and Kathy Dwyer, this time of prayer will include reflections from Shelli Poe and Judith Königsdorfer. Together, we will pause across distance and difference to bring before God the concerns we carry for our churches, our communities, our countries, and our world.

Here is the Zoom link: https://eu01web.zoom.us/j/61246915395

Meeting-ID: 612 4691 5395

In a time marked by uncertainty and change, we will make space for prayer, reflection, courage, peace, and companionship - trusting that even across oceans, we are joined in God’s presence and held in love.

Please join us for this shared time of prayer.

06/11/2026

My heart breaks for women in the Southern Baptist Convention. This week, the SBC voted to move forward with an amendment that would place harmful restrictions on churches that affirm women serving in pastoral roles, including preaching. I grew up in a faith tradition that did not allow women to serve in pastoral roles, and it wasn't until I walked through the doors of a United Church of Christ that I experienced the gift that women preachers are for the life of the church. Rev. Susie Smith was the first woman that I had ever heard preach, and I say unequivocally that she is the reason I am where I am today. She, and many after her (too many to name here), have affirmed my call to ministry and I can't imagine what my life would be like had I not met them along my own journey. I have been blessed by their preaching, teaching, loving, caring, and serving and to think that thousands of people in the SBC may be denied that opportunity if this amendment is ultimately passed next year, is heartbreaking.
I am praying for my siblings in the SBC that those in power will open themselves to the expansiveness of God's love and God's call. I am praying for those hurt by this decision. God, in your mercy, hear my prayer.

06/10/2026

We hope you will join us for worship this Sunday at 11:00 am. This Sunday is the last Sunday for our choir and handbell choir before they take their summer break. Following worship we will have a Music Ministry Appreciation Reception as we "thank them for the music" so please plan to join us for that as well!

All are welcome...come and join us, won't you?

06/10/2026

06/09/2026

🙏🏾 God,
Show us the way to make love and acceptance the norm and not the exception.

Amen.

-Pat
Knoxville, TN

👉🏾 Share your prayers with us: https://ow.ly/aqUl50Z6XLq

06/06/2026

We hope you will join us!

Please join us for this important conversation...