Belonging at UCC means receiving Christ's welcome—and ours—regardless of where you are along your faith journey.

Welcome.

SUNDAYS

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Close-up of a stained glass window with a circular blue, red, yellow, and purple design.

What’s your service like? 

Our worship follows a similar rhythm from week to week and generally includes a time of singing, prayer, teaching, and proclamation. We share in the Lord’s Supper together every week, welcoming anyone who would hear Jesus’ invitation and choose to respond. It is our belief that Jesus welcomes everyone who wants to share in His feast.

What time should I arrive?

Worship begins Sundays at 9.45am. Bring your favorite mug from home, come a little early, and enjoy a cup of Pneuma coffee before service!

Where’s your building? Where can I park?

We worship at 245 W. McMillan Street across from Hughes High School. You’re welcome to park behind Hughes in the surface lot. Street parking is often an option, (free on Sundays), and there are two accessible parking spaces in front of our building as well.

Are kids welcome?

Absolutely! We provide childcare (ages 2 and under) and faith formation for children on the lower-level of the building. Children aged 3–12 are invited into our Montessori-based environment where they experience God and learn about Jesus in developmentally-appropriate ways. If you prefer to keep children with you in service, we have some quiet activities available for use upstairs as well.

Even teens?

Of course! We invite teens to join their parents (or friends) for worship in the sanctuary, then stay for youth group (YUCC) from 11.30am–12.30pm upstairs. This small-group time is guided by adult leaders and is designed to help teens grow in their relationship with Christ. Outside our time together on Sunday mornings, teens are invited to participate in a once-a-month youth group on Sunday evenings from 6.00–8.00pm.

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What should I wear?

Most people dress casually. Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.

How can I receive prayer?

On the fourth Sunday of each month our prayer team is available during/after communion for those who need prayer. We invite you to reach out for prayer throughout the week too. Use the form on the CONNECT page and one of our pastors or a member of our prayer team will follow-up with you promptly.

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At UCC, we extend Christ’s invitation to seek, explore, ask questions, follow, lead, take risks, and participate in life as His body.

DAILY LIVING

Life with God, in community.

Church is more than a Sunday morning gathering.

It's about joining God's unfolding story, and discovering the ways God invites all of us to participate in His creative, redemptive work in the world. You may wish to explore what it means to follow Christ for the first time. Or, perhaps you require a place for rest and healing. Maybe you’re searching for practical ways to express your love for Christ. Whatever your reason, we’re glad you’re here. Everyone who calls UCC home brings purpose, gifts, and passions that enrich the perspective of the whole body, and help grow our fruitfulness in sharing Christ’s transforming love across the city. 

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A group of people gathered in a room with a stage, band members performing with microphones, guitars, and music stands, and windows in the background.

At UCC, there are several ways to engage:

  • Since our founding in 1989, our mission has been centered on reaching the campus with the good news of Jesus. Our Campus Engagement Commission gathers monthly to shape and organize church-wide campus ministry efforts including prayer walks, student-led missional communities, meals for students, and other special happenings throughout the year.

  • One of the primary ways our building serves the campus is through Rohs Street Cafe. What began as one student’s small seed of an idea—to create a monthly, pop-up coffee shop and concert venue in the basement of the church building—has grown through the years into a much more robust business operation. In 2022, UCC partnered with The 86 Ministries to help sustain Rohs Street's presence, and launch the shop into a new era of campus-focused ministry. Today, the cafe continues to operate seven-days a week, year-round, offering space for community and creativity to many.

  • The faith formation of our children and teens is a vital part of our ministry at UCC. Whether it’s serving with the children on Sundays, or walking with teens on their journey with God throughout the week, there are a number of ways to participate in this part of the ministry—to help every child and young person know, love, and follow the Good Shepherd.

  • Jesus calls us to care for the foreigner, the orphaned, the widowed—the ones who society deems “unclean” and “unworthy” of love. One of the ways we respond to this call is through our partnership with City Gospel Mission. On the fourth Wednesday of the month, we prepare and serve a meal together at the men’s shelter. All are invited to offer their presence and service, as we come alongside the more vulnerable here in our city.

  • We gather every Sunday to lift up our hearts and voices in worship together. Our worship team, made up of volunteers from within the UCC body, leads us each week from the stage and behind the soundboard. It would be a blessing to the whole church to offer yourself in service with this team.

  • Births. Deaths. Hospital stays. Other unforeseen events. There are plenty of times when folks from within the church (and those adjacent) could use a little extra support. Our “Loaves & Dishes” ministry team provides meals (or giftcards) for individuals/families when needs arise.

  • God has blessed UCC with a building on an anchor corner in the heart of Cincinnati. Thank you, Jesus! And God knows, we use it! We are always looking for folks who are willing to help vacuum, dust, mop, weed, and take out trash—once a week, or once a month. Additionally, we’re often looking for skilled folks to join our building team and volunteer to support projects as needs arise.

  • A number of small groups and bible studies—under the care of lay leaders and campus ministry partners—meet each week at the church building and in homes across the cities. These groups are designed to deepen our walk with Christ and with one another. The best way to stay abreast with current groups and schedules is to sign-up to receive our weekly email. Hop on over to the CONNECT page and drop us a line to sign-up!

All are invited to prayerfully discern ways they’re feeling led to participate in UCC’s mission—be that by joining an existing area of the ministry, or envisioning new ways we might share the love of Christ with our neighbors. To get connected with leaders entrusted to oversee the ministry areas above, send a note using the form on the CONNECT page and one of our pastors will follow-up with you very soon.

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FORMED THROUGH PRACTICE

We believe Christlike formation is a lifelong process that requires faithful practice.

Together, we anchor to four core practices that help us deepen our discipleship to Christ and our commitment to one another. 

  • We're committed to saying "yes" to regular fellowship within our church community, and being faithfully present in our university neighborhood. This means being welcoming, kind, and generous to everyone who crosses our path—whether they're longtime members of the community or someone walking through our doors for the first time. We believe there's something beautiful about putting down roots and really showing up for the people God brings around us.

  • We're actively pursuing unity even when (especially when) so many of us come from different backgrounds and perspectives. We honor every person as someone made in God's image, and we stand alongside those who feel lonely, overlooked, or pushed to the margins. It's not always easy work, but we believe it's essential to who we're called to be as followers of Christ.

  • We spend regular time together diving into the Bible and sharing personal stories of how we've experienced God's goodness and love in our lives. We're also finding fresh ways to connect with the rich traditions and practices that have shaped the Church throughout history. There's wisdom in these ancient rhythms that still speaks to us today—so we look for it, talk about it, and try to embody it.

  • We're choosing to embrace the slower, more relational ways of Christ in every part of life. This means setting aside regular time for prayer, fasting, quiet reflection, sabbath rest, and yes—even play! We walk alongside each other in our growth, trusting the process and God's timeline for each person.

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As we step into these practices together, it’s our hope that we’ll grow in our ability to love one another across divides, and through the tensions we encounter, when faced with perspectives and experiences that differ from our own.