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Who We Are
We are a very close-knit, supportive, positive-thinking family that looks out for its members and encourages strong personal relationships.
We think for ourselves. We believe that God gave each of us a mind, and we can think for ourselves. We are free to ask questions and challenge one another. Each of us is striving for a closer relationship with God, and we believe Jesus’ teachings will help us answer the questions of who we are and why we are here.
We are a people’s church that follows a congregational form of government, which means we are a true democracy run by our members. We covenant with one another and with God to determine our direction. We work with the larger UCC denomination to form larger structures for more national and global work.
Our doors and our hearts are open to persons of every age, race, sexual orientation, and religious background. We are a faith community that values diversity and respects the freedom of thought of each individual. We believe every individual has unique gifts that add wholeness to our congregation and strengthens our unity.
Founded in 1957 from our predecessor denominations (Congregational, Christian, Evangelical, and Reformed), the United Church of Christ consists of over 2000 diverse and unique congregations across
America
. Though UCC is a young church, it carries on the rich heritage of justice and compassion found in its ancestral denominations.
This church was begun in 1923 when several citizens of Elk Grove resolved to establish a Congregational Church. Elk Grove was nearly 3/4 of a century old then and well settled into farming and raising cattle after beginning in 1850 as a stagecoach stop.
A delegation was sent to Ebenezer Congregational Church in
Lodi
,and they loaned us their pastor one Sunday a month. In 1923, our church was formally organized and given the name Hoffnungsfeld (Field of Hope) Congregational Church. Services were held in a member’s kitchen while the church was being built.
The original church building was dedicated in 1926. Between 1946 and 1949, services were gradually changed from exclusively German to predominantly English. In 1950, the name was changed to First Congregational Church of Elk Grove, and our current sanctuary was dedicated. The Fellowship Hall was built eight years later.
In 2001, we changed the name to the current Elk Grove Congregational Church.
Our Pastor
Elk Grove Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, called the Rev. James Kosko as our new pastor late in 2006 and he began his ministry with us on December 1st.
He brings to Elk Grove Congregational Church an educational background that includes a B.A. Degree in Fine Arts and Psychology, an M.A. Degree in Organization Development, and a Master of Divinity Degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Pastor James comes to Elk Grove Congregational Church from his home in the wine country of Sonoma County in Northern California. He initially started his ministerial career as an Intern working half time at a local church, while completing his Master of Divinity Degree. From this internship position he advanced in his ministerial career path through much involvement in the wider church, until accepting the call to Elk Grove Congregational Church, UCC. He was ordained during 2007.
Pastor James brings to Elk Grove Congregational Church the commitment to a fresh outlook and a new spirit for work in the church and community setting. He also brings a dedication to collaboration within the ecumenical setting in Elk Grove, working with the youth in the community, reaching out to all those who seek help in defining their spiritual path and providing a welcoming church environment on which the people of Elk Grove can depend.
Additional information and scheduling of appointments can be obtained by contacting him through the church office at (916) 685-4825, or by e-mail at egcc_pastor@yahoo.com.
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