The event is free and open to the public — a freewill offering will be collected to support Sister Helen's ministry.

Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of The Death Penalty In the United States is the book written by Sister Helen that inspired the 1995 Academy-award-winning movie and the critically acclaimed opera. The opera was composed by Jake Heggie with libretto by Terrence McNally. It is an American story that touches upon the universal themes of justice, redemption and reconciliation.

Confronting both the plight of the condemned and the rage of the bereaved, Dead Man Walking [the opera] seeks to find a deeper understanding of the human capacity to forgive. This is not an opera about the death penalty. It is about redemption and the struggle between vengeance and forgiveness. Dead Man Walking is an unconventional, spiritual love story in which a brave and generous woman strives to find a way to help a seriously flawed man.

Don't miss your opportunity to hear one of America's leading advocates for social justice and capital punishment reform.

WELCOME to Union Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where diverse hearts and minds come together to worship God and demonstrate Christ's love by becoming Biblically informed, socially responsible, and artistically alive. Whether you're searching for a new church home or seeking a closer relationship with God, we invite you to explore our site. Whatever your reason for visiting, we hope that in these pages and links you will find a connection to the divine and a reason to celebrate and rejoice in the blessings of God.

WILL I FEEL WELCOME?

Our congregation is diverse in age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and political inclination. We celebrate and honor that diversity and welcome the struggle necessary to maintain it. This diversity is exemplified in our leadership, our study together, and even in the comfort of our various dress styles. There is often someone in a dress suit on Sunday morning sitting near anther person in casual clothing, including shorts.

Our pastors, Senior Minister Suzanne Webb, and our Associate Minister Brian Kirk, focus on different areas of ministry and have different preaching styles, offering those with intentionality to the congregation. Although their theology is quite compatible, their gifts are complementary rather than identical.

WHAT KIND OF CHURCH IS UNION AVENUE?

Union Avenue Christian Church is a progressive congregation located in the Central West End of St. Louis. We are part of a mainline denomination called The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which values diversity of thought. As you consider your faith journey and know that you want to be part of a people who thoughtfully read and openly share their opinions, this could be a community for you. If you are hungry for spiritual development and discipline, you might find a pathway for personal growth at Union Avenue Christian. If you have come to realize that artistic expression is God’s gift and an important avenue for God’s message, you will find many others at Union Avenue with that clarity. If you are strongly convinced that God has called us to serve others and to be a part of restorative justice for all peoples, there is a place for you to join others at Union Avenue.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I VISIT?

Our congregation is located at the corner of Union Avenue and Enright (1 ½ blocks north of Delmar).  We share in Christian formation and education opportunities each Sunday at 9:30 AM and worship together at 10:45 am. Although classic in style, worship allows for informality and expression in various ways. A choir of renowned musical excellence deepens each service. Worship each Sunday includes hymns, prayer, a children's moment, sermon, and the sharing of communion which is open to all.  Children have their own quiet corner in the sanctuary, and young children are offered the opportunity to be together in our 2nd floor educational space during a portion of the worship service.  Or, if your children feel more comfortable staying with you, they are more than welcome in the worship service.  Parking is available in the rear of the building and most people attending worship enter through the glassed-in entrance off the parking lot.

HOW CAN I GET TO KNOW OTHERS AT UNION AVENUE?

Members and friends of the congregation are involved in a growing small group ministry. Some of these meet at 9:30 am on Sunday morning but many others meet throughout the week. Book studies, Biblical studies, work groups (e.g., tutoring, planting community gardens, collecting food for neighbors in need, hosting mission groups), art groups and exercise/walking groups are just some of the offerings. Many of our church members and friends help with our ongoing Urban Mission Inn ministry which hosts volunteer groups from around the country who come to serve the inner city.  We are all journeying in faith and find ourselves at many places, and yet all of us are trying to deepen and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

We sincerely invite you to consider Union Avenue Christian Church as a place to explore faith. This website will give you more information as you continue your journey.

Death & the Knight Play Chess

Our "Reel Faith" film series continues Thursday Oct. 22, 2009 with a showing of the Ingmar Bergman Classic The Seventh Seal  (1957) at 7 pm in the Fellowship Room. 

This beautiful black and white drama follows the journey of a world-weary knight (Max von Sydow) returning home from the Crusades when he encounters Death on a beach.  The knight challenges death to a game of chess -- a symbol for the film's themes of the human struggle with life, death, love, pain, purpose, and the existence of God.  If you haven't seen this masterpeice since your college film class, it's time to revisit it again.  Following the film there will a brief discussion.  As always, free popcorn will be available. 96 minutes with Swedish subtitles.

See a clip of the film here or read what others have to say about the film here and here.

The Reverend Dr. Jackson is Senior Pastor of Park Avenue Christian Church in New York City, and a former moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He also has served as pastor of National City Christian Church (Washington, DC), Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Memphis), which experienced phenomenal growth during his nearly 20 years as pastor, and Louden Avenue Christian Church (Roanoke, VA).

Dr. Jackson will preach a sermon entitled “No Strangers Here!” from the New Testament texts Acts 8:26 – 40 and Luke 14:1, 7 – 14.