On behalf of the Congregational Church of La Jolla (UCC), I welcome you to our home on the web. We hope the format of our website reflects our church: practical, current, respectful, and intelligent. On these pages you will find basic information about us, and answers to your questions about membership, weddings, and baptisms; as well as resources you can use every day, such as the daily devotion (automatically updated every night at midnight!) which will give you a reason to keep coming back.Many people are attracted to us because of our lovely little mission style church building. But as beautiful as our facilities are, the church is not a building, it is a people. Should you visit us, you will be greeted warmly (not overwhelmed, singled out, or embarrassed) before and after worship, and enjoy a reverent atmosphere during the service.
As a small congregation (we average about 80 in Sunday worship), we are not (nor do we try to imitate) a megachurch. You won't find here a rock band, but a classic pipe organ and well-trained choir. We don't sing repetitive praise choruses, but the classic hymns and psalms of historic Christianity. And the sermons are not projected onto a screen and delivered by a wandering showman, but are well-researched, challenging, and delivered from a venerable old pulpit.
Another important aspect of our church is that, to us, God isn't just a word, and Jesus Christ isn't a set of rules by which we judge others. God is a loving presence in our lives, and Jesus Christ - through the Holy Spirit - transforms us into a family which cares for its members and
reaches out to the world. Despite our old-fashioned architecture and traditional worship, we are also a very open-minded congregation. With the rest of the United Church of Christ, we value diversity, and decry discrimination in all its forms.Whether you can join us for just one Sunday while you're visiting San Diego, or are interested in membership, we look forward to seeing you. If, in the meantime, you have any questions, don't hesitate to call us at 858-459-5045, or send me an e-mail at pastor@lajollaucc.org.
- Sam Greening, Pastor
About Our Pastor
Sam Greening, a native of Kentucky, has been serving as pastor of the Congregational Church of La Jolla since 2005. He received a B.A. from the University of Louisville, and an M.Div. from Drew University (Madison, NJ). Before settling in California, Sam served churches elsewhere in the United States as well as in Germany, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. Sam is interested in Reformed theology, languages, and the Louisville Cardinals. He is active in the Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, where he serves on the Board of Directors; and in the Southern Association, where he is chair the Committee on Church and Ministry. In the community, Sam is an officer in the La Jolla Kiwanis Club, and is a board member of the University Community Planning Group.
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