Marine United Church of Christ

Who We Are

Marine UCC welcomes ALL people with love and belonging, accepting differences in race, orientation, lifestyle, and beliefs. While reflecting the spirit of the national United Church of Christ, we are self-governed and prioritize worship in a space free from political discourse. Here, you can explore faith, find community, and know you are valued as part of our church family and as a beloved child of God.

Welcome

Welcome to the home page of Marine United Church of Christ.

The church has often been described as a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. In other words, it is not necessarily meant to be a place for those who have their act all together (who does?), but for those looking to put the pieces of their lives together in company with others. That would seem to be an apt description of Marine United Church of Christ.

We come from different backgrounds, different careers, different family settings, different socio-economic statusus, and different levels of education to find in this family of faith a place which puts its emphasis on following in the path of Jesus, the one who points us to God. It is by following in that path that we find a God who is, above all things, a God of love.

It is that love that allows us to move beyond our sinfulness and brokenness to help bring about the Kingdom of God in this world. It is that love which allows us to see beyond our differences and recognize our commonalities.

Members and non-members alike have found barriers broken down both in sharing joys and in commiserating with those suffering deep pain. We like to think of it as living out the New Testament at its best. We could also think of it as living out the Old Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures) at its best. Few have put this walk we are on together as beautifully as the prophet Micah: “…and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

If you are looking for a church family, we invite you to visit us and see if you feel the urge to come again. If you don’t feel that urge, we part in peace as children of God.

For some new to the Christian tradition, this congregation may be like Robert Frost’s “road less traveled,” the one which turned out to make all the difference. For others it may be a well traveled road, but perhaps seen from a new perspective.

From the perspective of an anonymous priest, “We are simply asked to make gentle our bruised world, to tame its savageness, and to be compassionate of all, including oneself…”

May peace be with you and all those you love.

Whoever you are and wherever you are, you are welcome here.

Homemade Ice Cream Social

Ice Cream Ice Cream

Come enjoy an evening of fellowship, delicious homemade ice cream, and a variety of desserts. There is usually plenty of ice cream and desserts for everyone, but if you would like to share your favorite homemade ice cream or dessert, you are welcome to bring.

Special Congregational Meeting Decision

Our congregation approved the purposal of whether Marine UCC should enter into a yoke (shared pastor arrangement) relationship with the Grantfork UCC.

Special Congregational Meeting – July 26, 2026

Dear Members of Marine United Church of Christ,

A Special Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2026, immediately following the church service, for the purpose of voting on whether Marine UCC should enter into a yoke (shared pastor arrangement) with Grantfork UCC.

At our Annual Congregational Meeting on February 1, 2026, I shared that our church can no longer financially support a full-time pastor with benefits. As a result, our options have been:

For the past two years, Grantfork UCC has also been searching for a pastor. Like many churches today, they have found the process challenging due to the limited number of available pastoral candidates. Currently, six churches in our area are searching for full-time pastors, while two others are seeking part-time pastors.

Because of these realities, the councils of Marine UCC and Grantfork UCC have met several times to discuss the possibility of sharing a pastor. This arrangement, commonly known as yoking, would allow both churches to maintain their own identities while sharing pastoral leadership.

It is important to understand that this is not a merger. Each congregation would continue to operate independently, maintaining responsibility for its own finances, records, facilities, ministries, governance, and mission. The only shared responsibility would be the pastor, who would spend approximately 20 hours per week serving each congregation.

We recognize that a change of this nature raises questions. Below are some of the topics the two councils have discussed.

Pastor's Compensation

Church Finances

Meetings and Ministries

Confirmation

Worship Schedule

Our Search Committee continues to meet twice each month and remains committed to finding the right pastoral candidate. However, after a couple of months of searching and learning more about the current pastoral landscape, it has become clear that finding a candidate who meets our needs and already has benefits is highly unlikely.

The councils of both churches believe that a shared ministry offers the most realistic and sustainable path forward. In addition, both congregations have similar cultures, values, and ministry philosophies, making this partnership a promising opportunity for both churches.

At this meeting, you will be voting to authorize the Search Committee and Church Council to pursue a joint search with Grantfork UCC and to call a shared pastor if a suitable candidate is identified. If approved, each church's Search Committee will update its Church Profile to reflect that both congregations are seeking one pastor to serve Marine UCC and Grantfork UCC in a shared ministry.

If you have questions or would like additional clarification before the meeting, please speak with a member of the Church Council.

This is an important decision that belongs to the congregation. We encourage every member to attend the Special Congregational Meeting on July 26 and participate in the vote.

In the meantime, please keep both congregations, our Search Committee, and this discernment process in your prayers as we seek God's guidance for the future of our church.

Blessings,

Dave Grotefendt

President Church Council

If members can not attend this special meeting you can leave your vote and comments at the church office. Or email to marineucc@outlook.com.

To download this letter click the following link.

July 26th Meeting

Supply Schedule

Organzations

  • Quilters
  • Women's Guild
  • Widening the Circle
  • Book Lovers
  • Meals for our members in need.

"if they pray to me and repent and turn away from the evil they have been doing, then I will hear them in heaven, forgive their sins, and make their land prosperous again."

2 Chronicles 7:14

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Marine United Church of Christ ☀  111 N. Center  ☀  P.O. Box 396  ☀  Marine, Il  ☀  62061  ☀  618.887.4465

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