Who We Are:

 A place to belong . . .

Middleton Community Church United Church of Christ has been a true community church, "a church home for those who have no home," since its beginnings 70 years ago.  Our members come from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs and are at different points in their spiritual journeys, yet all share a common desire to deepen their faith and find meaning and purpose in our lives.
 
Making a difference . . .

Through our participation in Middleton Outreach Ministry, Interfaith Hospitality Network, The Crossing Campus Ministry, prison ministry, the CROP Walk, and many other programs and organizations, we seek to offer help and hope in material and spiritual ways.
 
Meaningful connections . . .

In all we do-worship, fellowship, learning, and outreach-we are a church community that seeks to relate the faith we proclaim with the lives we live.  We seek to "Connect Faith and Life."
 

A Brief History:

In 1935, a community Sunday School was organized to meet the needs of Christians in Middleton who were not Catholic or Lutheran.  It met in the Village Hall.  It hired Rev. George Beery and began holding worship services at the Little White Church on the Hillside.  Community Church was officially organized in 1936.  Thirty-four people signed the covenant.

In 1956, the church constructed a new building on Elmwood Avenue in downtown Middleton.   That same year, Camp Balsams, a resort property consisting of five buildings on Bass Lake near Eagle River, WI was donated to the congregation by the Chase family.  Members and friends continue to enjoy relaxing vacations and spiritual retreats at this beautiful northwoods paradise.  In 1962, stained glass windows were added in the sanctuary.  These windows now decorate the education and office wing of our new building - a wonderful way to transition one sacred space to another! 
 
In 1968, Middleton Community Church voted to end its non-denominational status and join the United Church of Christ.  This decision was primarily driven by the desire of the congregation to extend its reach in mission and minstry both locally and globally.  To learn more about the United Church of Christ, visit www.ucc.org. 
 
The UCC culture was well-matched to our historically inclusive and pioneering spirit, and in the early 1970's, women began serving communion and the inclusion of gifted lay leadership in worship services became standard practice.  Visit www.ucc.org/god-is-still-speaking/firsts/ucc-firsts.html to discover the richness of our religious heritage.
 
The 1990's saw a renewal of the congregation's vision to reach out in mission and ministry to the surrounding community.  A Growth Committee was formed in 1990 to look at issues of growth and ministry.  This committee gave way to several others, leading eventually to the recommendation that MCC build a new building at our current site on Old Sauk and Schewe Rds.  This time also included the use of the parsonage by Transitional Housing, Inc. and the birth of a mission ministry with several schools in Jamaica.  Gail O'Neal, a member of MCC was ordained in 1998 and called to serve the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ
 
The church building on Elmwood Ave was sold in 2003 and the congregation took up temporary residence at Middleton Alternative High School for regular Sunday worship.  The groundbreaking ceremony for our current building was held on May 16, 2004, and our first worship service in the new structure was on May 15, 2005.  The building was officially dedicated on September 11, 2005 with Ron Buford, Coordinator of National UCC "God Is Still Speaking" Initiative, offering the message.
 
In the fall of 2005, the church Council formed an advisory team to consider the question of becoming an Open and Affirming (ONA) Congregation.  Several events were planned over the next 2 years as part of a comprehensive congregational dialogue on the inclusion of all people, particularly gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons, in the life and ministry of the church.  On January 27, 2008, members of the church voted unanimously to declare Middleton Community Church an "Open and Affirming" congregation.
 
Middleton Community Church continues to be a "church home for those who have no home" attracting people from multiple Christian denominations and those with no prior church experience.  We are growing our ministries and reaching out to our community with music concerts, Tuesday Night Fellowship, bicycling and walking groups, adult  and youth educational programming and mission opportunities.  If you are looking for a faith community that will support and strengthen your own spiritual journey, look to Middleton Community Church, UCC!