About Us

Learn more about our church, history and team.

What We Believe: Our Mission

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.
Amen.

Our Mission is to glorify God by sharing God’s love and promise of Salvation through: Caring, Hearing, Rejoicing, Inviting, Serving, Teaching. Which spells C.H.R.I.S.T!

Welcome Message

You are welcome here.

When I accepted the call to this church in November of 2023, I was returning to an area that had stolen my heart as a child. Northern Michigan was where my family summered at my grandparent’s home in Benzonia. Because of this, I immediately felt at home in my new parish. The Onekama UCC is warm and welcoming congregation full of delightful music and creative worship. Please join us on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Meet Our Team

History

On the 18th day of May in the year 1882 a number of believers met in the schoolhouse following a prayer meeting to begin the process of founding a Congregational Church in the Portage Lake community. There were twenty-one members who had met the criteria for church membership and approved the Constitution, Confession and Covenant for the church on May 30, 1882. The church building was dedicated on July 3, 1887. Throughout the church’s history there have been moments when it seemed that the church would fold, including a vote in May of 1897 to disband and sell the building, and an unsuccessful effort in 1909 to sell the building to the Brethren Church. In addition, many times the treasury was down to its last pennies. However, through the enduring faith of its members, and providential and creative use of leadership available, such as sharing a pastor with other local congregations and guest preaching by regular summer residents, the church has survived and thrived. Currently the church enjoys the faithful participation of 65 members and is in the second year of a revitalization process with leadership from a full-time settled pastor.