June - God and Rest:  What is Sabbath?

July -  God and Compassion: What is Mission?

August -  God, Greed & Giving: What is Biblical Economics?

Our June study, reflective of the sabbatical time being observed this spring and summer by our pastoral staff, will focus on the ancient spiritual practice of Sabbath.

June 3:  Sabbath in Christian Tradition: Karen Tye, Professor Emeritae of Christian Education at Eden Theological Seminary, will lead us in an exploration of Sabbath in Christian tradition and scripture as well as compare and contrast the practices of sabbath and sabbatical.

June 10: Sabbath in Practice: Devoree Crist, M.T.S. graduate of Eden Theological Seminary and graduate in Spiritual Direction from the Aquinas Institute of Theology, will host a mini-Sabbath retreat as we learn how to incorporate simple Sabbath practices into daily life. . . including our approach to weekly Sunday worship.

June 17: Sabbath in Art: Johnathan Loesch, graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, will facilitate an intergenerational creative experience around themes and ideas related to Sabbath.  A variety of artistic materials will be available to help us interact with God’s creative spirit around the practice of Holy rest. All ages are welcome to participate in this hands-on activity.

June 24: Sabbath in Jewish Tradition: On this Sunday we’ll explore the practice of Sabbath in orthodox Jewish tradition. This session will be hosted by Rabbi Hyim Shafner, rabbi of Bais Abraham Congregation in St. Louis (located adjacent to Washington University where Shafner served as Campus Rabbi of the Hillel for 8 years).  Rabbi Shafner holds a rabbinical ordination, a Masters in Social Work, and MA in Jewish Philosophy from Yeshiva University in New York City.

Participants are welcome to come for the whole event, one day, a few days and a night -- whatever best fits your schedule. Supervision will be provided for children or youth 3rd grade and older who attend without a parent or guardian.  You can find out more information and download forms here.

The event will begin at 2 pm on Tuesday July 24 and ends at 10 AM on Saturday July 28.

The mission of North Side Community School, a small K-5 charter public school serving predominantly low-income, urban, at-risk students, is to ensure that all of its students acquire the skills, knowledge, and personal qualities needed for success in our classrooms and in middle and high school. These will be acquired through the use of innovative technology, individualized instruction, small class size, low student/teacher ratio, and the active involvement of parents and families.

While in Jopilin, projects will include, but not be limited to, home repair, rebuilding, and new construction, as identified by the Joplin Long Term Recovery Committee. Transportation to Joplin for the group will be arranged. Housing will be provided by South Joplin Christian Church. Bunks, bathrooms, showers, kitchen facilities and access to laundry facilities are available at the church.

Anyone interested in participating should contact Rev. Brian Kirk at bkirkuacc@yahoo.com

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 another person in casual clothing, including shorts.

Our pastors, Senior Minister Suzanne Webb and 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 a.m. and worship together at 10:45 a.m. 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 second 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 a.m. 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.