We welcome you to our web site and look forward to welcoming you in person. We think of ourselves as a warm and caring congregation where there are no strangers, just friends, some of whom may be meeting each other for the first time.
We celebrate the presence of the Spirit of Christ in our spiritual growth, our advocacy for peace and justice, and our service to those most in need.
You are invited to join us in worship Sunday mornings at 10:00 o’clock.
We are a congregational church, a part of the United Church of Christ, which is a community of faith that seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. We are one church of many in the Rocky Mountain Conference, UCC. To discover more about the UCC visit our National Church’s Site.
Vista Grande's Affirming (ONA) Statement – adopted October 25, 2009
Whereas, we understand that God created humanity in a variety of forms and that God called this diversity “good,”
Whereas, we observe that Jesus showed no partiality, ministering to all people including the marginalized and outcast,
Whereas, as disciples of Jesus, we are called to restore justice wherever God's creation is broken or divided,
Whereas, we acknowledge that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons have long been excluded, rejected, and dishonored by the church,
Whereas, we believe that God's love is for all the people,
Therefore, we, the congregation of Vista Grande United Church of Christ in Colorado Springs, CO declare ourselves to be Open and Affirming. We strive to be a congregation that includes all persons, embracing differences of sexual orientation, gender and its expression, marital status, family make-up, age, mental and physical health and ability, racial and cultural identity or background, and educational and socioeconomic status. We welcome all to share in the life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, blessings, and joys of our congregation's life in Christ. “No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.”
Vista Grande's Just Peace Church Statement – adopted August 5, 2018
“We, the Covenantal Partners of Vista Grande Community Church United Church of Christ, declare ourselves a Just Peace Church. As a congregation and as individuals, we prayerfully strive to live out Jesus' non-violent words and actions in treating all people and the environment with dignity and respect. With humility, we seek to establish relationships with others through what may be uncomfortable conversations. While calling attention to imbalances of power and privilege, we will promote peacemaking and work to resist and dismantle religious, political, economic and social systems of oppression. We acknowledge that peace and justice work is a dynamic process, and we will need to grow continually in our empathy in order to have a positive impact in our homes, neighborhoods, communities, nation and world.”
“Vista Grande” refers to more than the grand view of Pikes Peak that we enjoy from our present location. From our beginning as an institutional expression of the United Church of Christ, we have embraced a grand view of the part of the world in which we minister. The same pioneer spirit that led to our charter continues to call us to faithful witness to a loving God, and to compassionate service to all God’s people.
Frank Cannell, a layperson, was named Chair of the site committee in 1973 and property for the location of the Church at Montebello and North Union was chosen. The first members signed the charter on Christmas Eve 1976, just six months after The Reverend Lanning Johnson became our gathering pastor.
In the intervening years, we have been blessed with the energy and vision of pastors who have offered us spiritual direction. Our roll call of those pastors (some of whom have served as Interim Pastors) includes Lanning Johnson, Carla Gilbert, Bruce Swanson, Steve Baxter, Sue Gardner, Darlene Avery, Maurine and Max Hale, Kim Schwartz, Clare Twomey, Mallory Everhart, and Amanda Udis-Kessler. We are grateful to each one for her/his unique talents and abilities which have contributed to the growth of the Church.
We have also been blessed by the faithful service of the founding lay members (some of whom are still in the Church today) and the commitment of our current members who faithfully engage in ministry.
In the beginning, we met in the basement of our gathering pastor’s home. Later, a neighboring church offered us space and from there we moved to an elementary school while we waited for a modest building to be constructed on our site. Our next move was to a larger contemporary building (designed by Elizabeth Wright Ingraham, granddaughter of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright), constructed on the same property. That building was dedicated in 1987 and we have worshipped here since.
Although we have worshipped in several locations, we remain clear that the Church is more about people than it is about building. We have been enriched greatly by the lives of those who have gone before us. We continue to build on the legacy they have left us as we listen to the calling of the Spirit to lead us into the future.
Vista Grande's Vision Statement – adopted April 13, 2020
“We covenant together to imagine and live into a world where God’s Kindom vision of human and planetary flourishing comes to pass through the work of love, justice, peace, equality, and extravagant hospitality. We envision nothing less than a world restored to wholeness, wellness, joy, and gratitude for all of God’s Creation.”