Sunday Mornings on 32nd Avenue
Hudsonville Congregational United Church of Christ gathers each Sunday at 10 a.m. for worship that is both contemporary and traditional. The service is livestreamed on Facebook, and recorded sermons are kept online for those who want to revisit a message. Following the service, refreshments and fellowship are served at 11:15 a.m., and on the last Sunday of every month that time together takes the form of a birthday potluck, with members and friends bringing an appetizer, main dish, or dessert to share.
The church sits at 4950 32nd Avenue in Hudsonville, Michigan, a small city in Ottawa County just west of Grand Rapids. The building is a familiar presence in the neighborhood, and its parking lot fills each Sunday with members, families, and visitors drawn to a congregation that has worked for years to be a place where everyone feels they belong.
An Open and Affirming Congregation
HUCC is an Open and Affirming church within the United Church of Christ, part of a wider movement of congregations that publicly welcome people of every background. The church's own statement celebrates the diversity of race, age, cultural background, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, family structure, education, faith history, economic status, marital status, spiritual journey, and life circumstances. It affirms that all people are created in God's image and that all are invited into the life and ministries of the church.
The same conviction shapes the congregation's internal life. Women and men may serve in all aspects of church leadership, including on leadership boards, as officers, and in pursuit of ordination. All genders, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, and cisgender people are welcomed as full participants. The church belongs to the Coalition of Michigan UCC Open and Affirming Churches and to the wider national Open and Affirming movement.
Worship, Music, and the Life of Faith
The church's worship is lively and rooted in a faith that is a life-long journey. Music is led by Music Director Ali Bendert, and services draw on both contemporary songs and traditional hymns, reflecting the congregation's blended character.
Beyond Sunday morning, the church encourages members to grow in faith through thoughtful small groups and Bible study, and through service to neighbors near and far. Two pastors share preaching and pastoral duties: Senior Pastor the Rev. Dr. Dan Furman and Pastor Rae Mieskowski. The Rev. Furman also officiates at weddings held in the church.
Walking with Local Children
Children and young people are at the heart of much of HUCC's mission work. The congregation partners with Kids Hope USA to mentor students at South Elementary School in Hudsonville. Adult volunteers spend one hour each week at the school reading, talking, playing, and listening with a child identified as at-risk. The relationship is simple but intentional, and the church sees it as one of the most direct ways to love a neighbor.
The congregation also partners with Hand2Hand Ministries, a community program that works to address weekend hunger among schoolchildren. HUCC volunteers gather to stuff backpacks with food, receive donations, and deliver the filled backpacks to schools in the area. The church additionally supports Nestlings Diaper Bank in Holland, recognizing that diapers are one of the top unmet needs of low-income families in the region.
A Wider Reach Against Hunger
Hunger relief is a recurring theme across the church's local partnerships. HUCC works with Feeding America West Michigan, the regional food bank that supplies more than 1,200 pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters across forty counties. The congregation also takes part in the annual 5K Hunger Walk organized through Access of West Michigan, an event that raises funds for pantry assistance, emergency meals, urban gardening, farmers market initiatives for low-income families, senior assistance, and international development.
These partnerships are guided by Janet Overbeek, who serves as Mission Chair, and they reflect a value the church holds: that serving those who are oppressed, who lack food or clothing, or who simply need God's love is itself an act of worship.
Weddings, Rentals, and the Building Itself
HUCC hosts weddings for both members and non-members, including same-gender and opposite-gender ceremonies, with the Senior Pastor officiating. The church building includes the sanctuary for rehearsal and the wedding day, the narthex for a receiving line, and rooms for gathering and set-up. A written wedding policy and request form are available.
The facility is also available for rental by members and non-members, with separate request forms and pricing for each. Uses include special events and community gatherings, and inquiries about rentals are welcomed.
How the Church Is Led
Day-to-day governance of the congregation is shared between the pastors and a council. Christina Breen serves as Church Moderator, and the council includes Taliyn Merchant and Millie Bendert as Council Members at Large, alongside Janet Overbeek as Mission Chair. Ali Bendert leads music, and the council works in partnership with the Senior Pastor on the congregation's life and decisions.
Volunteers are regularly needed to greet visitors, help with the coffee hour, and assist in the nursery; those interested in nursery work are asked to complete a background check form. Members of the broader community are invited to worship, to share a potluck, to mentor a child, to walk against hunger, or simply to come as they are.