University Presbyterian Church is on East Alameda Drive in Tempe. Founded in 1952, this open PC(USA) congregation is known for 9:30 a.m. worship that blends traditional music and liturgy with sounds of today, for learning across generations, and for a strong emphasis on welcome and justice. The sanctuary at 139 E. Alameda Dr. is the visual anchor of a campus where hymn singing, quiet meditation, children's participation, coffee after worship and service to neighbors all have a place.
Open and Affirming on East Alameda Drive
UPC's motto is "Open and Affirming to All, Glorifying God, Growing in Love." The congregation is an open Christian community that joyfully worships, learns and serves, embodying Christ's love through compassionate action, fellowship and the pursuit of justice for people in need. It tends to sit on the more liberal or progressive end of the theological spectrum, but its welcome is intentionally broad. UPC welcomes people of every shape and size, color and culture, age and ability, sexual orientation and family type. It calls the congregation a safe place to be and a place for inquiry, seeking to welcome and fully value all persons.
At the center of that welcome is a conviction in one God, known especially through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and known by different names in other traditions. UPC seeks to challenge injustice, discrimination and inequality, to transform the world through the inclusive love of God, and to recognize the image of God in every person. Its spiritual practices are stated plainly:
- Loving God.
- Loving the neighbor as "self."
- Giving witness to the light of Christ in the world.
- Calling others to become followers of Jesus.
- Working for the well-being of all creation and all its peoples.
The vision describes UPC as a beacon of God's light, pursuing justice, compassion and healing for anyone experiencing hunger, hurt or pain. It names an open and inclusive community of faith, a choir that uplifts the soul, service that transforms lives and a willingness to listen for God's presence. That combination of welcome, serious attention to Scripture, communal life and outward service gives the church its particular character.
Sunday Worship at 9:30
Sunday worship begins at 9:30 a.m. and can be joined in the sanctuary, on Zoom after registration, or on YouTube. The congregation follows the PC(USA)'s biblical lectionary through the church year, moving through Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and the Advent and Christmas seasons. Scripture, prayer, music, a sermon and congregational participation shape the gathered service.
Finding the Sanctuary
Most people park in the lot at the southwest corner of E. Alameda Dr. and S. College Ave. For people who live nearby, the short walk or bike ride to the church can be part of the Sunday rhythm. The sanctuary is the tallest building on the campus and can be reached directly from the parking lot, with its entrance doors on the right. Ushers greet people as they arrive and help them find their way. Clothing styles at UPC vary widely: jeans, slacks, skirts, dresses, shorts and lightweight clothes are all familiar. The practical guidance is simply to wear what is comfortable and to wear clothes.
Tradition, Relevance and Quiet Space
Worship mixes traditional music and liturgy with the sounds of today. Sermons are biblically based, but they are shaped to inspire worship and translate Scripture for present-day followers of Jesus. UPC considers relevance and sacred space equally important, so the service also includes musically inspired meditations and brief moments of silent meditation. Current events often become part of worship, either through the sermon or through the Prayers of the People. Participants are encouraged to engage at whatever level is comfortable for them.
After worship, the congregation gathers on the patio outside the sanctuary for fellowship and refreshments. Cafe Justo coffee is a familiar part of that gathering, along with tea, juice and other refreshments.
Children Belong in the Sanctuary
Children are a vital part of UPC's faith community and are welcome in every part of its life, including worship. The church expects noise from young children and regards it as part of a "joyful noise to God." A children's corner at the back of the sanctuary has quiet activities that help younger children remain part of the service. When parents need a break, childcare is available upon request for children through age five; an usher can help arrange it on arrival.
As part of worship's "Listening for the Word of God," children are invited forward for a special Children's Moment that helps them understand their place in something larger than themselves. Older children are often invited to serve as acolytes. They light the candles on the communion table representing the three-in-oneness of God and the Christ candle representing the presence of God's love revealed through Jesus. At the end of the service, the acolyte helps carry the light of God out into the world.
Children from three years old through fifth grade also have Sunday School from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. during August through May. Classes use the PC(USA) lectionary-based Feasting on the Word curriculum, connecting Scripture, the sermon, music and crafts with the worship service happening at the same time.
Learning Across Ages on Sunday and Wednesday
At 11 a.m., Sunday learning continues across generations. Youth Fellowship for grades 6 through 12 meets weekly from September through May in the Youth Room, west of the sanctuary and across the courtyard. Its studies range from world religions to ways of handling peer pressure, and the group sometimes plans surprises for worship. Food is central to the fellowship, as are air hockey and basketball hoops. Friends are welcome to join. High school students in the youth group also take a mission trip every two years, carrying their commitment to community beyond the church.
Adult Christian Education also begins in mid-August and continues through mid-May. Classes meet every two to six weeks, with teachers from within and outside UPC offering different subjects and inviting conversation. This continuing education for adults reflects UPC's conviction that faith does not stop growing when people become adults.
Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. is devoted to lectio divina, a form of "divine reading" used to read the scriptures assigned to the coming Sunday through the Revised Common Lectionary, a three-year cycle. The group invites the Holy Spirit to guide its thinking and open participants' hearts to the Way of Jesus. Texts are also examined through historical, theological and literary criticism. Everyone is welcome, and no previous experience is necessary.
Presbyterian Women adds another circle of fellowship. Its local groups meet monthly for mutual support, Bible study and conversation. The national ministry supports the mission of the church worldwide, works for justice and peace, and builds an inclusive, caring community of women within the PC(USA).
A Pastor, a Music Director and an Organist
Rev. Kerra English has been an ordained Presbyterian pastor for 30 years and a spiritual director for more than a decade. Her enduring curiosity about "Why?" leads her toward nature, sacred stories and the inner journey of life. She has served churches in and near Richmond, Virginia, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Altoona, Pennsylvania. She is also the author of True Awakening: The Highs, Lows, and Mess of Spiritual Transformation.
Ted Gibson, Director of Music and Christian Education, has a long relationship with UPC. He first attended while studying music at Arizona State University and later worked with Montlure Presbyterian Camp. After earning a master's degree in choral directing at Northern Arizona University, he taught choral music in Mesa and served as Director of Music and Youth Ministry at Palo Cristi Presbyterian Church in Phoenix before returning to UPC.
Jon Sywassink is the organist and accompanist. Raised in Michigan and living in Arizona since the age of eight, he studied music at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. He taught elementary music in Arizona for 32 years while directing handbell, adult and children's choirs and serving as an organist at churches across the state. His professional memberships include the American Guild of Organists, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and The Hymn Society. He has a particular passion for congregational singing.
Presbyterian Roots and Shared Discernment
UPC describes itself as a congregation of followers in the Way of Jesus, understood through Christian and Hebrew scriptures. It regards the scriptures as expressions of people's experiences of God's presence through the ages and as inspired by God's Holy Spirit. At the same time, it sees itself as one small part of the global witness of Christians.
The word "Presbyterian" refers to elders. Teaching Elders are ministers of Word and Sacrament, while Ruling Elders are congregation members ordained to help lead the church. Locally, elected elders serve on the session; sessions elect elders for the presbytery, presbyteries elect elders for the synod, and the General Assembly is the national council. No one person holds all the power. Moderators guide discussions, protect fairness and make sure minority positions are heard and protected even when the majority's decision stands. UPC's governing principle is that decisions are better made together and that God can speak through the tension held within diverse groups.
The congregation traces its Presbyterian roots to the Scottish Reformation under John Knox, a student of John Calvin in Geneva. Presbyterianism reached the Americas as early as 1640. The Rev. John Witherspoon, president of Princeton University, was the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence and served as moderator of the first Presbyterian general assembly on the continent. UPC recognizes how much Presbyterianism has changed as it has responded to successive generations.
From Tempe to the Border: Service in Motion
UPC describes service as an outgrowth of following Jesus into the world and partnering in the transformation of the world. Its work extends through long-term relationships with several organizations.
I-HELP is a Tempe-wide effort that provides a stepping stone for people living on the streets toward stable housing and a stable life. It is a program of Tempe Community Action Agency and a ministry of several Tempe faith communities. UPC participates in this ecumenical effort.
Paz de Cristo provides a meal every night of the year for people who are hungry, along with food boxes, hygiene items and help with job searches. On the fourth Tuesday of every month, UPC members join other volunteers to prepare and serve dinner for more than 200 people. Twelve to fifteen volunteers prepare the meal from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., and another 12 to 15 serve the meal and clean up from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.
Humane Borders, also known as Fronteras Compasivas, offers humanitarian assistance through more than 70 emergency water stations on and near the border. UPC members drive to southern Arizona several weeks each year to fill stations placed for migrants crossing the desert. The work is ecumenical, involving churches in the Valley and Tucson, and also raises awareness of border and migrant issues.
Family Promise partners with faith communities throughout the East Valley to provide homeless families with shelter, case management and nourishing meals. Guests spend the night in the church school wing and receive cots, bedding and towels. The program also offers homework help and recreation for children. UPC hosts Family Promise guests quarterly, providing a place to stay as well as food, care and practical support.
The church's deacons extend that care through locally coordinated work involving a card ministry, backpack drives, Friendship Village and the Deacons Closet. Other deacon-led efforts include White Rose, Redbud and Cradle Cross, along with flower and memorial-related service.
An Ever-Changing Journey
UPC calls itself a church on an ever-changing journey, different today than from its beginnings in the 1950s and moving onward into the future. It seeks partners to accompany that journey. That description fits a life that joins Scripture and silence, hymns and children's songs, theological inquiry and shared meals, pastoral welcome and work for stable housing, water and safety. In Tempe, University Presbyterian Church continues to embody Christ's love through worship, learning, fellowship and service.