At the bend where Hovey meets Dennison Street in downtown Oxford, Michigan, a sanctuary whose bell tower can be seen from blocks away has been holding weekly worship since 1879. Immanuel Congregational United Church of Christ stands one block behind Centennial Park and the Oxford Theatre, and it is the oldest church building still in use in the Village of Oxford.
The congregation is small, about a hundred members, and members describe themselves as a "right sized church to achieve God's work here in Oxford." Their motto is: "Wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."
From Revival Meetings to the United Church of Christ
Immanuel was organized at the close of a series of revival meetings held in the local Christian Church at the corner of Pontiac and Burdick streets in Oxford on February 27, 1878. Members bought the present site for $200 and raised $1,000 to begin construction. When costs climbed, five men, three of them members, signed personal notes to pay the debts. The sanctuary, with its adjoining kitchen and fellowship room, was completed in 1879.
A handmade pulpit from Henry Knapp and gifts of pulpit furniture, chandeliers, and the belfry bell came from Congregational churches in Romeo, Detroit, Rochester, Jackson, and St. Clair. Many of those original pieces, including the bell and the sanctuary chandeliers, remain in place.
In 1957 the Congregational Churches merged with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches to form the United Church of Christ, and Immanuel joined at that time. The merged body adopted the motto "That they may all be one," a phrase Immanuel has carried into its ministry. Plans for a fellowship hall followed in 1959, and the hall, built on the site of the original parsonage, was dedicated on October 15, 1961. The kitchen and fellowship hall were remodeled in 2002, the sanctuary was renovated in 2006, and a new roof was installed in 2007.
Open and Affirming Since 2013
At the annual meeting in 2013, the congregation voted to adopt an Open and Affirming statement: "We welcome and affirm all people in celebrating diversity. We welcome to our faith family people of every race, gender, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability and those who have doubts or questions."
A transgender day of remembrance is observed each November. Beginning May 4, 2026, a new LGBTQ support group began meeting at the church on Mondays at 4:00 p.m., open to anyone in the community seeking a place to gather and fellowship.
Pastor Liz Wilson has written about why the welcome matters. "I love it that we are an alternative to very conservative denominations," she told the congregation. "I know from talking to people that an 'open and affirming' denomination is much, much more appealing than a restrictive one. I know people would rather serve than be made to feel constricted and guilty once a week."
Sunday Morning at Eleven
Family worship services are held every Sunday at 11:00 AM. Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month, and everyone is welcome at the table. As part of the church's "Children First" program, all children and youth remain in worship for communion rather than being dismissed to a separate classroom.
The congregation is explicit that there is no formal dress code. Infant and child care is provided during the service. Fellowship follows every Sunday in the fellowship hall, where members linger over refreshments after the benediction.
For those unable to attend in person, Immanuel offers online worship on its Facebook page. The weekly bulletin is available to download so worshippers can follow along and sing the hymns from home.
Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Easter, and Christmas Eve are observed each year. The Christmas Eve service at 7:00 PM is a candlelight worship, and the Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 PM includes music, communion, and the imposition of ashes.
Tuesday Dinners and Wednesday Meals
For years, Immanuel's most visible ministry to the wider community has been the free meals served from its kitchen.
Free dinners are served each Tuesday from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The Tuesday meals are a cooperative effort between Immanuel and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lake Orion, coordinated through Love In the Name of Christ, a network that brings together local congregations to address community needs.
On Wednesday evenings from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, free meals and groceries are distributed, with volunteers from the Oxford and Lake Orion area making the work possible.
The church publishes a monthly wish list for the Oxford Orion FISH food pantry, one of several community partners Immanuel backs. Recent items have included cereal, baked beans, salad dressing, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, gravy, and feminine hygiene products.
Music and the Choir Loft
Music has a long place at Immanuel. The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, with a Sunday morning warmup at 10:15 AM before the 11:00 service. Ken Martin directs the choir, with Ann McKinley at the piano. The choir sings at the 11:00 service and joins in special seasonal concerts, including the annual Community Sacred Christmas Concert that fills the sanctuary each December.
Children, Youth, and the Upward Bound Group
Immanuel runs an Upward Bound Youth Group for middle school and high school students. Sunday morning worship is built around the conviction that children belong in the sanctuary; the Children First program keeps children and youth in worship for communion rather than sending them to a separate classroom.
The church facility is shared with the wider community. Immanuel hosts choir concerts and recitals, community luncheons, dinners, and gatherings, and local Youth Assistance programs. The building is one block behind Centennial Park, and the bell tower can be seen from the surrounding areas.
Craftcapades, Shawls, and Prayer
Adult fellowship has its own rhythms at Immanuel.
Craftcapades is a monthly gathering of members and friends. After a shared lunch, each person makes two of the month's craft. One goes home, the other stays at the church to be sold at the next craft fair. The cost is usually about $5 a month, depending on the craft.
The Shawl Ministry invites knitters and crocheters of any age and experience level. Members make shawls that are given to people in times of need. The group begins its regular meetings in the fall and is led by Tammy Martin.
A prayer circle meets to lift up the concerns of the church family and the community. Weekly Bible studies for adults gather at varied times.
Mission Beyond the Walls
Immanuel's mission and ministry revolve around a clear statement: "We share the freedom of the Loving God; inviting and equipping all to walk together in community with Jesus Christ Becoming a Vital Church."
Volunteer groups from the church support three longstanding partners: the Oxford Orion FISH food pantry, the Baldwin Center, and CROP. Money raised at annual dinners supports local missions, and the church encourages local organizations to use its facility.
Pastor Liz Wilson has described the Tuesday night community dinners as "an added blessing." "I love listening to their stories," she wrote, "because I've 'been there' and can give them hope for a better future."
Pastor Liz Wilson
Pastor Elizabeth "Liz" Wilson is a licensed minister and a long-time member of the Immanuel faith family. She serves as the church's Pastor in Care, preaching and leading worship, visiting the homebound and hospitalized, sitting with families planning a last service for a loved one, and joining the Tuesday night community dinners.
Wilson has written to the congregation about the work: "I love it that I can 'be there' for people in times of great sadness. Planning the last service for a person is sad, but it's also very satisfying. It's satisfying because here I have the opportunity to do something that actually begins the healing process."
Sue Molcyzk serves as church secretary and custodian. Art Nagasaki looks after church building maintenance.
Visiting the Church at Hovey and Dennison
Immanuel's historic church sits at the intersection of Hovey and Dennison Streets in the Village of Oxford, Michigan, just west of Washington Street. The bell tower can be seen from the surrounding areas.
The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9 AM to noon. The office phone is (248) 628-1610. Email reaches the office at icucc@sbcglobal.net. The church is active on Facebook and Twitter.
Sunday morning worship begins at 11:00 AM. Infant and child care is provided, and there is no formal dress code. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of the month, and all are welcome at the table.
Contributions can be made through PayPal on the giving page, through Amazon Smile, and through the Kroger Community Rewards program. A QR code available each week makes giving on a phone straightforward.
Whatever stage of faith or doubt someone finds themselves in, the congregation's motto still says it best: "Wherever you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."