Visitor Information

Worship Location and Mailing Address:
1017 Elliott Avenue
Charlottesville, VA 22902-6218
(Corner of Elliott and Monticello)

Worship at 9:30 a.m., coffee and fellowship afterward.

Phone: (434)-977-1481

E-mail: Churchoffice@sojourners-ucc.org

Web: http://www.sojourners-ucc.org

Sojourners United Church of Christ is an “Open and Affirming” (ONA) congregation. This is an official designation of the UCC. From its beginning

Sojourners has been committed to full inclusion of gay and lesbian members, to affirming and celebrating the gifts they bring to the community, and to being a voice on behalf of justice and fairness for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the community at large.

A Greeting from the Pastor

“No matter who, no matter what, no matter where you are on life's journey, you are invited and welcome in the United Church of Christ.” God's extravagant welcome as expressed by the UCC, our parent denomination, is lived out at Sojourners. We welcome all who are visiting for the first time, those seeking spiritual community, and those who may be “rediscovering” us once again.

If you visit on a Sunday morning, you will find that worship is lively and informal yet prayerful and full of spirit. Coffee or tea is available before the service and you may bring it into the sanctuary. Joys and concerns are often shared. Congregational singing is accompanied by piano or occasionally drums; the choir generally sings a capella. Young children participate in a “Time with Children” before they go to children's church (Godly Play) during the school year or Summer Sundays (a parent-led story, craft and playtime).

Sojourners is a unique community of faith that not only practices God's extravagant welcome, but also seeks justice and inclusion for all. Please join us as we travel together in worship, nurture and service.

--Patricia Barth, Interim Pastor

pbarth@sojourners-ucc.org

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a uniting church that strives to incorporate many traditions into its life of worship and service. The UCC is a national denomination whose spirit is expressed by the phrase "in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, diversity; in all things, charity."

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Come join us in creating an inclusive church that seeks to respond to the needs of this community.

You are invited to grow with us through...

Worship/Education

Informal, participatory style of worship

Choir and musical variety

Development of Christian education for all ages

Community Outreach

Social Justice groups

Food collection for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Book collection for the "Books Behind Bars" program

Welcome Table

Small Group Opportunities

Bible and book discussion groups

Spiritual growth groups

Intergenerational experiences

"We are a community of faith called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in the way of Jesus, by including all peoples in all walks and ways of life, in our life of worship and celebration, nurture and growth, love and services."

- Our Congregation's Covenant

"...We embrace those who have already been welcomed into our Christian Church. We also reach out to those who are not involved in a Christian community. We welcome and affirm those who have been wounded or accepted only conditionally in the past because of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or their physical, mental, spiritual, or economic conditions."

- Our Mission Statement

The name Sojourners was adopted in 1995. A comment at the time explained the choice of the name: "the word 'sojourner' connotes movement, fluidity, pilgrimage, inclusion of those who do not want set answers or rigid systems, but who, instead want to be in a moving, changing relationship with God, and with each other. Sojourners UCC is a community of faith, called to be on a journey together with other sojourners, always open to God's call to move on."