Sunday Worship

What to expect on a Sunday morning visit

Guests, friends, and church members find a warm welcome at Morningside Hills United Church of Christ on Sunday mornings. Following Christ’s example, we create community with people of every race, ethnicity, age, ability, socioeconomic condition, relationship status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and faith background. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Some of our neighbors and members walk to church. We encourage bikers to use the bike rack outside our entrance, and those who arrive by car will find street parking nearby. Coming through the upper glass doors or by the elevator to our main sanctuary level, you might enjoy conversation with a cup of coffee or tea before the 10am service.

We shape worship around relevant themes, connecting insights from Scripture with the present moment and inviting participants to connect with one another in compassionate, Christlike community. Most Sundays include a sermon and open prayer time where worshippers give voice to their prayer requests or celebrations. Weekly Sunday School classes start from worship after Time with Children and gather children in elementary school, while nursery care and in-sanctuary options are available during Sunday services for children 5 and under. We blend musical styles, offering brief choruses, ensemble performances, contemporary songs and occasional music videos alongside traditional hymns.

When the hourlong service finishes, children rejoin their families from Sunday school, and all ages enjoy further refreshments with informal connecting conversations. Most weeks, a youth drop-in space upstairs from the sanctuary offers a supervised but unstructured chance for children and youth to continue fostering connections. Many Sundays after worship, community presentations on various topics also offer further enrichment for those who wish to continue guided discussion. When we leave church renewed in spirit, we depart to grow in faith, act for justice, and return soon to this enriching community.

Music Ensembles

Chancel Choir

Led by Music Director Jack Johnston, our Chancel Choir is a four-part choir that performs on select Sundays. Our pieces range from traditional hymns to contemporary pieces, with various instrumental accompaniment. All skill levels are welcome. Choir rehearses weekly on Sunday mornings before worship.

Sign up to sing with us!
Morningside Bells

Led by Brian Mironer, our Morningside Bell choir performs on select Sundays and special occasions. Bells rehearse once per week on Thursday evenings at 6:45pm.

Sign up to ring with us!

Faith Formation

Nursery

Children ages 5 and under are invited to our nursery if they don’t want to be in the sanctuary during Sunday worship. Our volunteer-staffed nursery is in a large, lower-level space customized for Edina Morningside Preschool during the week, so it’s filled with fun toys and provides a wonderful environment the youngest among us.

For families who want to remain together for worship but feel constrained by pews, we also offer a child-friendly “Prayground” in the back of the sanctuary, so adults can join worship from a kid-friendly, all-ages space.

Sunday School

Kids from grades K-5 attend worship for the first 15 minutes, and after a dedicated time with children they join Faith Formation Director Kami Winter to attend multi-age Sunday school. Lessons run in tandem with the Sunday worship series, inviting families to discuss and engage on the same topics. Sunday school highlights include crafts, games, service projects, and discussion-based activities.

Youth Group

Youth Group gathers periodically on Wednesday nights and serves middle-to-high school students. This social group offers a safe, supportive environment encouraging students to apply faith to real life situations.

Youth Group hosts social activities and discussions, off-site volunteer opportunities, and assists with multigenerational church events.

Adult Opportunities

Wherever you are at in your faith journey, at Morningside Hills UCC we create opportunities to put faith into action. We achieve this through outreach to our local communities through our various partnerships with local non-profit organizations. We also invite anyone to attend Tuesday 10am Bible studies, or meditation groups on Wednesday evenings via Zoom. Monthly enrichment opportunities include our Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group, Breakfast Fellowship, and Women’s Fellowship. We also live out our faith through a variety of volunteer projects, community events hosted at the church, book groups, gardening, and multigenerational programs.