UPPC Minister of Worship

UPPC began in 1927 as a small Sunday school on nearby Day Island and has grown with the University Place community to currently reach about 850 people on average each Sunday through both in person worship and online services.

A member of the PC(USA) denomination, UPPC’s membership has grown 29% over the past three years. We celebrated 33 baptisms in 2025, and are especially excited about recent multi-cultural growth, including an increasing population of African immigrants who bless this community with their gifts and customs.

UPPC offers two services each Sunday – a traditional service with a flourishing choir that averages about 35 members and a contemporary service with a praise team including a rotation of talented players and vocalists. Other enriching elements of the music program include a children’s choir and bell choir. Combined services throughout the year as well as Christmas and Easter services also feature full orchestra in addition to choirs and praise team.

UPPC facilitates and supports a wide variety of programs and services from its 2.5-acre campus, including: 

• Sunset Christian Preschool (the largest private preschool in Pierce County)
• Families Unlimited Network Food Bank
• Music and Arts Institute
• Youth and Children's (family) programming and events
• Cherish Ministry Kenyan student support
• Refugee ministries
• Numerous educational and affinity groups
• Community Groups?

The church operates with a $2,892,000 annual budget with a full and part-time staff of 25.

UPPC [HG1] is committed to sharing the love of Jesus to the 80,000 people within a 5-mile radius who don’t yet have a church home or know the love of Jesus.
 [HG1]Largest church in UP. Largest PCUSA in the South Sound

University Place (known as “U.P.” to the locals) feels like a small town inside a big city. Located along the scenic shores of Puget Sound, the City of University Place is home to 35,000 people. The city’s neighborhoods feel quiet and green, even though the city shares borders with Tacoma (pop. 228,000) and Lakewood (pop. 62,000).

Highlights include a thriving central business area, several large parks, and the incredible 3-mile Soundview Trail that loops around and even through Chambers Bay Golf Course.
The 5,000-student University Place School District is one of the best in the state, and the city’s lone high school – Curtis Senior High – is a focal point of pride for the whole community. (You’ll see “Go Viks” stickers on many cars.)