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History of Neighborhood Congregational Church

Founded in 1943 in rooms above the Sandpiper on Pacific Coast Highway, Neighborhood Congregational Church (NCC) grew from modest roots to the lovely church facility it is today. Our first official church was located in today’s Bridge Hall, used now primarily for NCC fellowship and for community events and meetings. A mechanized carillon installed in the 1970’s chimes on the hour and half hour with songs that change with the seasons. Downstairs from the sanctuary you’ll find our St. Francis Meditation Garden, reminiscent of a Zen monastery. And, on special occasions, our pipe organ fills the air with sacred sounds. Neighborhood Church is a Congregational Church and a United Church of Christ. This means that as a Congregational Church, every member within our church body has an equal and independent voice. As a United Church of Christ (UCC), we are in covenant with the UCC denomination. At Neighborhood Church you will find an open and affirming congregation that celebrates the uniqueness of each person. Ours is a contemporary service of worship and music that appeals to people from all walks of life. In addition to our commitment to the Christian faith, we are open to learning and drawing from the richness of other faith traditions. The combination of our spiritual practices provides a complete worship experience not commonly found in most churches.

Our Vision

Neighborhood Congregational Church provides a sanctuary for individual and communal spiritual growth, guided by the teachings of Jesus, with openness to all spiritual paths and all people who seek to know God, in the hope of transforming ourselves and the world.

Our Passion for Outreach and Social Justice

We at Neighborhood Congregational Church seek to be caring, informed and cooperative in studying and acting upon the challenges to justice in our community and our world. We have a moral obligation to seek the truth behind current issues with forums, films, speakers. We educate our youth, involving them, and make informative programs available to the community.

Our Open and Affirming Policy

We, the Congregation of Neighborhood Congregational Church, declare ourselves to be Open and Affirming. With God’s grace, we seek to be a congregation that includes all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, mental and physical ability, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. We welcome all to share in the life and leadership, ministry and fellowship, worship and sacraments, and responsibilities and blessings of full participation in our congregation. Learn more about Open and Affirming (link to ucccoalition.org)

The Children’s Experience

We celebrate the lives of our children by providing a service that follows a Christian-based curriculum focusing on both personal and spiritual growth. Each Sunday our children are invited to share in an interactive service that incorporates storytelling, art and music into the lessons. Our Christian Education Coordinator and other volunteers teach the lessons using an affirming and uplifting atmosphere to nurture self-esteem, personal conviction, and spiritual awareness. Our youth participate in our church’s mission projects and worship.

Happenings at NCC

• Sacred Services
• Book Club
• Children’s Program
• Adult Study Group
• Bargain Festival
• Labyrinth Meditation
• Music Events
• Family Dances
• Justice, Outreach and You Ministry
• Healing Touch Spiritual Ministry
• Blessing of the Animals
• Pilgrim Pines Family Camp

Our Affiliations

We are affiliated with the Orange County Chapter of Progressive Christians Uniting (PCU-OC) www.progressivechristiansuniting.org/pcu/orange-county
and with The Center for Progressive Christianity (TCPC) www.tcpc.org