Saugatuck Congregational Church, UCC

Who We Are

We are a diverse people unified by our choice to share the journey together. We come from different backgrounds and have many different perspectives in our congregation. We discuss and deliberate. Yes, even about faith. Sometimes especially about faith. We ask lots of questions. We don’t have all the answers, but we feel closer to God and more connected to the world when we seek them together.

We have a long and colorful history. The church was founded in 1832 in what was then the center of Saugatuck by some of the region’s most prominent leaders. The 1835 announcement regarding the incorporation of the town of Westport was nailed to our meeting house door, and town meetings were held here for years. In 1950, in a momentous occasion featured in Life Magazine, our church was moved across the Post Road to its present location – the whole church.

Our annual Community Feasts project serves hundreds of meals during the holidays each year. We were instrumental in the formation of both the town’s Interfaith Council and Homes with Hope, an organization that supports the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. We place a lot of importance on engagement and action. Our partnerships with other faiths and community or local organizations matter a great deal to us.

What We Believe

We believe that God loves everyone unconditionally and is present with and through us.

Because of that:

We are a member of the United Church of Christ, a denomination with a long history of openness, inclusion, and advocacy.

We welcome anyone who seeks God into the fellowship, worship, and work of this church without regard to their race, ancestry, age, physical or mental ability, gender, sexual orientation, social and economic status, or religious background.

We embrace religion and science, head and heart, as we seek and listen for God’s presence in the world.

We practice open communion. All are welcome at the table. Jesus didn’t turn anyone away and neither do we.

We work mainly locally but think globally when it comes to prayer and advocacy for people in need.

We form partnerships with people of other faiths, because we know we neither have all the answers nor sole claim to God’s love.