About Us
How do I get to the Oxford UCC?
We are located in the center of Oxford off of Route 67, on Academy Road. We are directly across the street from The Oxford House Restaurant. For directions, click here.
What time do services begin and end?
Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:00 AM and lasts about an hour. There is Sunday School on Sunday mornings during the fall, winter, and spring. The children attend the first part of the service, our pastor then presents a short Children’s Message, and then they go to Sunday School.
What are the services like during worship?
Here’s what to expect during a typical service with all the service elements explained:
- Welcome - Our pastor Bonnie welcomes the congregation to worship.
- Announcements – The congregation is invited to announce any events to remember.
- Centering Moment - A short time for the congregation to center our thoughts on God.
- Prelude - A piece played by our organist to get ready for the service.
- Call To Worship - A formal leader/response to begin the service.
- Invocation – A simple prayer for centering on aid, protection, or inspiration.
- Confession of Sin – A read-along confession to God.
- Silent Confession - A short time for the congregation to silently confess our sins to God.
- Assurance of Pardon - A prayer from the pastor for God to pardon our sins.
- Gloria Patri - a short hymn of praise to God (“Glory be to the Father . . .”).
- Passing of the Peace - The congregation is welcomed to shake hands with one another.
- Scripture Reading – Various readings from the Bible by the Lay Leader.
- Sermon – An inspirational message from the pastor.
- Offertory - A simple offering from the congregation to the church.
- Prayer – Naming who to pray to, silent prayer, and the Lord’s Prayer
- Commission & Benediction – Our pastor sends us on our way with a short message.
What’s the music like during worship?
With our brand new organ – we can play anything! We sing from a basic hymnal (all the favorites that you grew up with) and many new additions with our fantastic choir. We add variety all the time — a solo flute, a drum, maracas — anything to keep our service engaging and exciting.
What do I wear?
Come as you are — we don’t mind. If you feel like wearing jeans, go for it. If you want to wear a suit, by all means.
What does your church offer for my kids?
We have four areas:
- The nursery is available and staffed for your newborn or kids up to 5 years old. There are lots of toys and games to play – we also have a changing table and playpens.
- Sunday School (for ages 5 to 12) is available every Sunday. Our congregation all pitches in to teach a planned curriculum for the children. We use art materials, movies, singing, and other activities to make every class fun and engaging.
- JPF – Junior Pilgrim Fellowship & SPF – Senior Pilgrim Fellowship – These groups meet at different times throughout the year for social events and missions activities.
Do I need to bring my Bible?
Feel free! We also have a number of bibles in the pews for your reference.
How do I become a member?
You just have to ask Pastor Bonnie. She holds regular member orientation meetings for those who are interested in joining our church.
How Do You Celebrate Communion?
Great question. We celebrate a bit differently by serving YOU the communion in your seat rather that forming a line up front. We use freshly baked breads for the host and a choice of wine or grape juice. We, as the entire congregation, all consume the host and wine all at the same time!
Faiths & Practices
Oxford United Church of Christ, Congregational, traces its faith heritage from the Puritan movement of the English Reformation. We believe in one God who created all things, who has redeemed the world from its sins and errors in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and who guides and strengthens us through the Holy Spirit. The church’s covenant reads:
“We covenant one with another to seek and respond to the Word and the Will of God. We resolve to walk together in the ways of the Lord, made known and to be made known to us. We hold it to be the mission of the Church to witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world, while worshipping God, and striving for truth, justice and peace. As did those before us, we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us. We pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God, and we look with faith toward the triumph of righteousness and eternal life.”
Another expression of the church’s faith is found in the United Church of Christ Statement of Faith. This statement is read at baptisms, confirmation, and when new members join the church.
The church worships in a simple, quiet style, singing hymns by the guidance of an organ and a small but strong choir. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, and Baptisms are celebrated as requested.
Our Long History
Congregational churches in Connecticut were established by action of the colonial legislature. Because church attendance was a legal obligation, churches tended to be founded as the edge of European settlement crept up the smaller river valleys from the earlier settlements in Hartford, New Haven, and Saybrook.
Three residents of what was then known as northern Derby petitioned the General Assembly to form the Ecclesiastical Society of Oxford in 1741, and held the first meeting that June.
At this early stage ministers could only be hired for one year. The Society began work on a building, but met in Mr. Sam Twitchell’s house on the Sabbath until the Meeting House was usable in June of 1743. On January 9, 1746, the Society received permission from the General Assembly to “embody a Church Estate and settle a Minister.” The Rev. Jonathan Lyman accepted the call to be the first settled pastor and served from 1746 to 1763.
The church’s work and membership has changed many times in many ways over the 255 intervening years. At some periods it has been served briefly by divinity students, and at others by settled pastors over long terms. It is now reviewing its mission statement and visualizing the possibilities for faith and ministry in the 21st century.
In 1957, the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical Reformed Church merged into the United Church of Christ, thus bringing together these churches into one rich tapestry of history, witness, and faith.
Our Relationships
This church is a full member of the United Church of Christ, and participates in its life, work, and mission. It is a member of the Naugatuck Valley Association of the UCC, in which it shares in the authorization and supervision of ministers, and supports the ministry of each member church.
It is also a member of the Connecticut Conference, UCC, which assists local churches in their work and carries on mission work across the state. The church also works with its neighbors through Area Congregations Together (ACT) in Derby, Connecticut, and the Seymour/Oxford Clergy Association.
Leadership
- Pastor: Reverend Dr. Bonnie Bardot, Pastor
- Organist: Louise Burr
- Choir Director: Martha Lubowiecki
- Moderator: Robert Farnum
- Clerk: Jean Brown
- Historian: Anne Schmelzle
- Treasurer: Louise Knies
- Financial Secretary: Norean Woodin
- Sunday School Co-Coordinators: Lisa Lauder and Don Miner
- Chair of Diaconate: Rich Gee & Jane Harrison
- Chair of Trustees: Bob Wilcock
- Chair of Christian Education: Don Miner
- Chair of Missions: Ingrid Schwenger
- Chair of Stewardship: Dee Cupole & Bunny Mechler
- Church Secretary: Mariann Fenton
Office Hours
The church office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Pastor Bonnie’s office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to noon.
Other times are by appointment.
