Community United Church of Christ

This week, Aravis and Rossi talked about feeling like you don't belong or fit in and how you can deal with that. "And we hope you have a great day!"

We are sharing this morning’s service. Thank you for joining us! If you like what you see on our YouTube channel, and want to join our weekly Zoom worship for a more interactive experience, please contact the church office at [email protected]/. We would be happy to get in touch with you. Original music by EJ Hinojosa, used with permission. Community UCC of Fresno is licensed by Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) to play copyrighted Christian music duri...ng worship (License No. 1835735). https://youtu.be/cK4ag3e7yKU

Today, Pastor Julia Penner-Zook will deliver a sermon titled "Do I Belong?" inspired by John 4: 5-15; 27-30. Join us at 10:30 a.m. on YouTube at http://bit.ly/cuccyoutube. If you like what you see, contact us to become part of our Zoom worship experience. #FindingCommunity #AllAreWelcomeHere

Pastor Julia delivered this week’s sermon, "Humanizing the Despised," inspired by Luke 10: 25-37 and Luke 18: 9-14. Our church website is communityucc-fresno.org/ If you’d like to learn more about our church or becoming a member, leave a way to reach you in a comment, by messaging the church’s Facebook page, or contact the church office at [email protected]/, and we will have someone from the church’s Extravagant Welcome team contact you soon.... All are welcome here!

In today's Childen's Message, Aravis and Rossi talk about how we are all different and that we shouldn't judge others. "And we hope you have a great day!"

We are sharing this morning’s service. Thank you for joining us! Original music by EJ Hinojosa, used with permission. Community UCC of Fresno is licensed by Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) to play copyrighted Christian music during worship (License No. 1835735). https://youtu.be/D8cwiiXEmPg

Welcome to our Christmas Eve service! https://youtu.be/QGk-HarCDUs

On each of the four Sundays in Advent, leading up to Christmas Eve, a candle is lit. Here is the lighting of the candle for the fourth week of Advent - Love.

On each of the four Sundays of Advent, leading up to Christmas Eve, a candle is lit. Pastor Julia describes this holy church tradition on the first Sunday of Advent.

2020 Advent Projects Each year the Missions and Social Justice Team plans four Advent projects benefitting various organizations that we can help during the Advent season. Typically, we spread these projects over the four weeks of Advent. But this year, since we are doing everything virtually and so you don't have to make multiple trips to the church office, we ask that you deliver your donations for ALL FOUR projects to the church office no later than Friday, Dec. 11. Here a...re this year’s recipients: Project 1 Snowflake Tree for students from Robinson Elementary We can help make Christmas merrier by providing gifts for 19 children at Robinson Elementary -- located across Robinson Park from CUCC. Click here (https://docs.google.com//14dFfNqwamkgc7k7PQCQ606nQAP/edit) to sign up and see a spreadsheet that lists toy preferences and sizes on clothing. If you need assistance signing up to donate to a child, please call Kathy Lukan (559.970.0504) and she can help get you signed up for the child or children you would like to help. Project 2 Teens in Foster Care Gifts cards for teens living in foster care arranged by Uplift Family Services, a Fresno nonprofit. We recommend cards valued at $10 or $15 from Target, Starbucks or any other business you think a teen would go to. Project 3 Dakota EcoGarden Money to provide basic needs for folks who live and learn at Dakota EcoGarden in Fresno. According to its website, the mission is to empower formerly homeless individuals with the skills needed for self-sufficient lifestyles that enable happiness, health and success. Donations can be made on Givelify or by sending a check to the church office. Please write For Dakota EcoGarden in Givelify’s Add Message space or on the check. Checks should be made out to CUCC. Project 4 Twilight Haven Blankets and/or socks for residents at Twilight Haven, which offers retirement apartments, assisted living, and skilled nursing care on a 10-acre campus in southeast Fresno near Fresno Pacific University.

For today's first Sunday of Advent, Pastor Julia delivered today’s sermon called She Knew, based on Luke 1:39-55. Our church website is communityucc-fresno.org/ If you’d like to learn more about our church or becoming a member, leave a way to reach you in a comment, by messaging the church’s Facebook page, or contact the church office at [email protected]/, and we will have someone from the church’s Extravagant Welcome team contact you soon.... All are welcome here!

God’s work must continue through people of faith, but we offer an entirely different approach to how that faithfulness is demonstrated. Online now, this Valley Voice by Pastor Julia will appear in the print edition of Tuesday's Fresno Bee.

In today's Children's Message, Aravis and Rossi talk about how to get in the Christmas spirit, even though things are very different this year. "And we hope you have a Merry Christmas!"

Aravis and Rossi have something to tell us about patience in yesterday's Children's Message. "And we hope you have a great week!" #MondayMotivation

Our music director EJ Hinojosa delivered today’s guest sermon called Arriving, based on Joshua 3:9-17. Later today, the edited version of this morning's worship will be available on our YouTube channel: bit.ly/cuccyoutube. Our church website is communityucc-fresno.org/ If you’d like to learn more about our church or becoming a member, leave a way to reach you in a comment, by messaging us on our Facebook page, or contact the church office at [email protected]/, and w...e will have someone from the church’s Extravagant Welcome team contact you soon. All are welcome here!

Pastor Julia delivered today's sermon called She Knew, based on Luke 1:39-55. Our church website is communityucc-fresno.org/ If you’d like to learn more about our church or becoming a member, leave a way to reach you in a comment, by messaging the church’s Facebook page, or contact the church office at [email protected]/, and we will have someone from the church’s Extravagant Welcome team contact you soon.... All are welcome here!

We are sharing this morning’s service on our YouTube channel. Thank you for joining us! Original music by EJ Hinojosa, used with permission. Community UCC of Fresno is licensed by Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) to play copyrighted Christian music during worship (License No. 1835735). https://youtu.be/r-UZSEtqL5M

Good morning! On this Sunday after a tumultuous week, emotions are high and thoughts are many. I repeat the words of Rev. John Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ: We as a church and nation are in need of God’s providential mercy. A political battle has been waged in the midst of a global pandemic and a domestic pandemic of race hate whose wounds are both ancient and fresh. We at Community United Church of Christ will worship with that as a backdrop today. We will worship in joy and we will we worship knowing our country is divided and hurting. We will also worship as a body whose mission it is to welcome, to include, to heal, and to work tirelessly for justice. Join us at 10:30 AM Pacific Time bit.ly/cuccyoutube.

As we begin a new day, I draw your attention to the words of Sister Joan Chittister: As a people, we are at a crossover moment. It is a call to all of us to be our best, our least superficial, our most serious about what it means to be a [follower of Christ] as well as a citizen. . . . Wait in hope!

Here is Pastor Julia's sermon from this morning "They Went Through Some Stuff." As always, the full worship can be found on our YouTube channel bit.ly/cuccyoutube

We are sharing this morning's worship: https://youtu.be/5TvYAjH1Xpo

Good morning on this All Saints’ Day! In keeping with our observance of this important day, a time in which we remember those who've gone before us, the sermon will also draw our attention to our ancestorsthat cloud of witnesses, as they are mentioned elsewhere in Scripture. They Went Through Some Stuff, just as we are going through some stuff in our time. Please join us at 10:30 AM Pacific Time as we live-stream on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oLrdqG

Today’s guest sermon is called Words from the Congregation. The Worship Team invited four members of our congregation Sue Hipp, Gary Walker, Felicia Rocha and Doug Hoagland to speak about their thoughts during this challenging time. Many of us are looking for those things in our lives that give us hope, perspective, and inspiration. We may also be using this time to think through what is important to us and to reaffirm what we believe and about which we are passionate. ...Here's what our members had to say. Our church website is communityucc-fresno.org/ If you’d like to learn more about our church or becoming a member, leave a way to reach you in a comment, by messaging the church’s Facebook page, or contact the church office at [email protected]/, and we will have someone from the church’s Extravagant Welcome team contact you soon. All are welcome here!

We are sharing our worship on YouTube.

Pastor Julia Penner-Zook delivered a sermon titled Smooth Talker inspired by Matthew 22:15-22. Julia writes: "We are bombarded with words, images, sounds, impressions and opinions. They are everywhere! Beware of smooth talkers! Take just a few minutes to step back when you interact with those who smile and give you disingenuous messages about who they are, and who they perceive you to be. Always weigh questions about the right and wrong, politics and faith carefully. This m...orning at Community United Church of Christ we’ll look at how Jesus related to smooth talkers." We broadcast our worship live at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday on our YouTube page: bit.ly/cuccyoutube. Our church website is communityucc-fresno.org/ If you’d like to learn more about our church or becoming a member, leave a way to reach you in a comment, message the church’s Facebook page, or contact the church office at [email protected], and we will have someone from the church’s Extravagant Welcome team contact you soon. All are welcome here!

Good morning friends, We are bombarded with words, images, sounds, impressions and opinions. They are everywhere! Beware of smooth talkers! Take just a few minutes to step back when you interact with those who smile and give you disingenuous messages about who they are, and who they perceive you to be! Always weigh questions about the right and wrong, politics, and faith carefully. This morning at Community United Church of Christ we’ll look at how Jesus related to smooth tal...kers. You can find the story in Matthew 22: 15-21. Join us at 10:30 AM Pacific Time at bit.ly/cuccyoutube. ~ Pastor Julia Penner-Zook See more

I’m so grateful to be a part of a church that encourages love and justice for all! If you would like to post something like this in the window of your home, please contact the church office!