A new church at the Villages!
Welcome to our Web site! We are glad you are here. Please click around and read up a little on what we are all about. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. Better yet, come, visit us and see for yourself that we welcome you.
Our church is very new; we held our first service on Sunday, December 14, 2003. We moved into our new house of worship in August 2010. Continuing in the traditions of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, we believe that GOD IS STILL SPEAKING.
- We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit: Creator, resurrected Christ and the Holy Spirit.
- We believe that each person is unique and valuable.
- We believe that each person is on a spiritual journey and each of us is at a different stage in the journey.
- We believe that the persistent search for God produces an authentic relationship with God.
Membership Preparation
For those interested in becoming a member of our congregation please call our office at 352-748-9199. or you may send an email to uccatvoffice@aol.com
Florida Conference UCC Video
Watch this great message/Video from The Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ
New additions to our website!
THE GATOR EVENT
FEBRUARY 18, 2012
UCC AT THE VILLAGES
9 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
The Gator Clergy invites you to a day apart filled with special discussions.
A gathering time: 9 a.m.
seminar 9:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Cost: Lunch $15.00
Come and enjoy other UCC’ers building relationships, sharing thoughts, learning, listening to each other.
THE GRAND FINALE: GLIMPSES INTO REVELATION
Rev. Dr. Carlan Helgeson pastor Spring Hill UCC
Description: Far too many people have been held captive to fear and consternation by trendy, but poor, interpretations of the Bible's last book. Come, learn to see Revelation as a book of encouragement and hope.
Some Dangerous (but Interesting) Re-readings of Scripture Texts
Description: (Rev.) Ronal K. Freyer-Nicholas, OSL; pastor Pilgrims’ UCC, Fruitland Park . Description: A brief, in-depth, look at several texts which open the texts to reconsideration for what they say. What did Gabriel really say to Mary at the Annunciation? Does God (Yahweh) have a feminine side? Why does the Hebrew Bible use the plural “elohim” for God rather than the singular “el”? Does any of this matter to us? Should it?
"Worship Ain't Art"
Rev. Dr. Hal McSwain, pastor First Congregational UCC, Ocala
Description: Although Christian worship is chocked full of artistic objects and experiences (including music, visual images, flavors, smells, and textures---some more, some less), worship isn't a time for Siskel and Ebert "thumbs up, thumbs down movie-type reviews." Worship is encounter between God and the community of faith---and artistic objects and experience can hasten that encounter. Dr. Harold W. McSwain, Jr. ("Hal"; pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Ocala, Conductor of the Central Florida Master Choir, holding Masters degrees in both music composition and conducting) is the author of "A Relational Aesthetic for Christian Ministry and the Arts" and "A Relational Aesthetic." Hal will show us at least ten ways to enliven and hasten Christian worship not pivoting on "That's Entertainment!" but on "Worship as Genitive to Worshipers---and God."
“IMAGINE: Readers’ Theatre of The Mind – and Heart”
Rev. Drew Willard, pastor UCC at the Villages.
Bringing Bible stories and their lessons alive in a fun way for those who perform as well as their audience. A contingent benefit is experience in public speaking and confidence-building. When we ‘tell’ Bible stories, we give others an opportunity to hear their wisdom in new and meaningful ways.
A Dog as a full member of the Church
Rev. Dr. David Wild, pastor Community Congregational, Marion Oaks. Description:
Marianne Hughes, moderator for Community Congregational UCC, Marion Oaks, Is a gifted lady who is blind. Her German Shepherd is a full member of the church. Marianne will discuss and demonstrate the training process that is undergone by both dog and owner. Highlighting the month long in house training where dog and sightless owner spend 24 hours a day, seven days per week together in such venues as city streets, department stores, airports and of course traffic.
Agenda:
9:00 Gathering
9:15 Worship
9:30 Session 1 The Grand Finale: Glimpses into Revelation
10:30 Session 2 Some Dangerous (but Interesting) Re- readings of Scripture Texts
11:30 Lunch
12:15 Session 3 "Worship Ain't Art"
1:15 Session 4 “IMAGINE: Readers’ Theatre of The Mind and Heart”
2:15 A Dog as a full member of the church
3:15 Closing prayer
UCC Villages on Face Book
Visit Face Book at www.facebook.com to check out UCC Villages page. Join in discussions or create your own!
Checkout the new UCC at the Villages video
Click on the picture/youtube link below to see our latest church video
Pastor Drew Willard's Sermons are now on our website. Click on the Our Beliefs Tab to see the most recent sermons.
Bible Study meets at the Church Monday evenings, 6:30 - 8:00 pm. To see recent discussions click on the Ongoing Events Tab.
Click on the Photos tab to see photos from the recent Chicken BBQ Dinner.
Click on the Photos tab to see Pastor Drew and LASER efforts to distribute school kits to children in Haiti.
Meet our new Pastor. Checkout the Our Pastor tab and read about our new Pastor Rev. Drew Willard.
The Sacred Conversation on Race
Click on the Photos tab to see Scenes from Our First Session on Conversations on Race.
Kadimah - Pilgrimage
Click on the Photos tab to view a slide show of our Kadimah (pilgrimage)
Click on the Enews tab to see the most recent issue of our enews and reporter (contains calendar) or
Click on this enews link E-News January 25, 2012
Click on this reporter link Reporter December 28, 2011
Hygiene Kits and School Kits! - Please checkout the ongoing events tab to see how you can help people in need with these important kits..
New Church Completed !
The UCC at The Villages entered its new building on CR
Route 101 on August 15, 2010. The festivities began with a kadimah, or pilgrimage -- in the tradition of its current host, Temple Shalom,
which
provided
worship space
for more
than three
y e a r s .
W h e n
members
of Temple
S h a l o m
m o v e d
t o t h e i r
p r e s e n t
l o c a t i o n
from the
Methodist
church
where they
had worshiped
while
their Temple was being constructed, they carried their Torah more
than four miles. The UCC The Villages members also carried their Bible, chalice, and cross nearly a mile down the same road, starting at Temple Shalom where their Jewish friends sounded the shofar (ceremonial ram's horn) and sang farewell. The members of the congregation and their guests celebrated the first service in their new home, including Holy Communion and an inclusive Agape fest. Two interfaith events have already been planned.
First, Pastor Rev. Drew Willard will reunite with storyteller friends
Emily Harris and Imam Wilmore Sadiki on September 14th for “An
Evening of Sacred Storytelling.” Several weeks later on October 5th
The Villages will host a tri-county community presentation, “Students
for a World of Peace.”