About Us
We are a Just Peace, Open and Affirming, Caring for Creation, Immigrant Welcoming, Sanctuary Supporting, congregation.
Visitor Information
We often say to visitors at Union that, “We are better because you are here.” We aim to make visiting easy and comfortable.
You are welcome regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey. Children are welcome in the worship services and we have intergenerational activities that enable everyone to grow their faith during worship. All activities at Union are open to visitors and friends of the church.
We look forward to meeting you. Worship services are on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. A video of each week’s service is available on the home page. All are welcome to join in fellowship after the service for coffee, juice, and treats.
Parking is available on the streets around the church and in the lot that is accessed from Oxford Street.
History
Union Congregational traces its history to 1870, the oldest church in St. Louis Park. In 1870 Sunday services were held at Pratt School near the intersection of Excelsior and Wooddale. In 1878, Clarke Chapel, a branch of Minneapolis’ Plymouth Church in the City of Minneapolis, was built near that location and became the first church in Minneapolis Township (now part of St. Louis Park).
In 1883 the congregation was renamed Union Congregational Church of Minneapolis, and the name of the building itself was changed from Clarke Chapel to Union Church. There were 17 charter members. In 1893 Joseph Hamilton donated land at the corner of Oxford and Alabama, and at his urging the church building was moved to the new site.
In May 1941, the congregation broke ground on the current church sanctuary, which was dedicated in September of that year. The education building was built in 1952. A narthex now then joined the two buildings.
In the Fall of 2023, we broke ground on the Union Park Flats. Union Park Flats is an affordable housing apartment complex that celebrated its Grand Opening on April 8, 2025.
Union Congregational is a congregation in the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ. You can learn more about the United Church of Christ on their websites using the links below.
Our Staff
Reverend Deb Braun
Deb Braun is a fourth generation clergyperson! Ordained just nine years ago, Deb previously worked for nearly two decades for Church World Service, the CROPWALK people. She served in shared ministry with Jan at the Congregational Church of Faribault for four years. Deb is quiet, introverted, justice-bent, musical, and an all around good egg. She is thrilled to be joining the staff at Union!
Reverend Jan Bodin
Jan Bodin is a first generation clergyperson. She will be celebrating her forty-eighth ordination anniversary this year. She’s served in a variety of ministry settings (Union being one of them) and has flunked retirement three times! Jan is more extroverted than Deb, has a delightful sense of humor, is also justice-bent and musical. It could be said she is also a good egg and is super excited to be re-joining the staff at Union.
Katrina Holthus
Katrina Holthus serves as Financial Secretary and handles all aspects of the Church’s finances from paying bills, recording income and creating financial reports. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Minnesota. She worked in the telecommunications industry for over 30 years in various roles and is now enjoying semi-retirement and loves serving her church as Financial Secretary, singing in the choir and playing hand bells. In her spare time she loves to travel, read books and play video games.
Luke Foster
Luke is our organist, pianist, and accompianist. Luke grew up playing organ at his hometown Methodist church in Traer, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Arts in piano and organ. During dental school in Iowa, he studied collaborative music and performed recitals with students and faculty at the University. Luke has extensive experience playing for churches, performing solo recitals, and accompanying for a variety of soloists and students. He especially enjoys bringing energy to worship through sacred and classical works and accompanying his wife’s violin, students, and his own children.
Sarah Foster
Sarah is our Choir Director. Sarah grew up in Robbinsdale, MN. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. She currently is a Strings Teacher at Blake School in Hopkins, a Contractor of Orchestral Musicians with the Valley Chamber Chorale in Stillwater, and a Violinist with the Cavatina String Quartet in Minneapolis. She previously was the Music Director and Choir Director at Vista Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park. She is thrilled to be called to lead people in musical worship.
Union Park Flats
Background and History
In September 2018 Union Congregational UCC embarked on a journey to put affordable housing on two thirds of our property. At that time we were considering whether to sell, what to sell, or if we should merge with Robbinsdale and Parkway churches. After many meetings and a lot of discernment about our history and mission in the community, we partnered with Project for Pride in Living (PPL) to have affordable housing built on the northern two thirds of our property. After two public meetings with residents were held, the size and design of the proposed building was reduced and was modified to a flat roof design. On June 3, 2020 a public hearing was a held with the planning board in Saint Louis Park. Plans were approved for a 3 story housing project consisting of 60 units to be built on the northern portion property presently occupied by a parking lot and the education wing of the church. Union Congregational UCC would retain the Sanctuary and Narthex portion of our building and would retain the property in southern section.
Building affordable housing was dependent on PPL obtaining funding from many sources. COVID-19 posed many problems with public and private business.offices, and departments closed down temporarily, were under staffed, or had sent resources to deal with the pandemic. During this time supplies and labor became scarce. This resulted in ever increasing construction costs requiring additional funding and delays for the construction to begin.
Despite all of these issues, sufficient funding was obtained and the sale of the church property where the housing development will stand was closed on October 18, 2022. Construction of Union Park Flats is now complete.
Union Church has also finished rebuilding the area in the Narthex that was demolished to make way for construction of the housing project.
Project for Pride in Living Contact Information
email: ppl@ppl-inc.org
website: ppl-inc.org
phone number: 612-455-5100
address: 1035 East Franklin Ave., Minneapolis. MN 55404
