UCCP to celebrate 99th anniversary

THE United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) – Baguio marks its 99th anniversary on February 11 with the launching of a year-long calendar of activities for its approaching centennial. 

For February 2010 the following activities will be held are: February 7 - Joint Ilocano and English Worship Services at 9 a.m. and a combined Indigenous, Tagalog, and Vesper Worship Service at 3 p.m.

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On February 11 at 9 a.m. will be a Thanksgiving Service and a fellowship lunch. On February 14, Bishop Juan Marigza will preach during the Ilocano service at 8 a.m.; Bishop Efraim Tenedero of the Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches will preach during the English service at 10:15 a.m.; Doctor Andres Bugnosen will preach during the combined Indigenous, Tagalog and Vesper Worship Services at 1:30 p.m. and at 4 p.m. is “Worship Through Music” with choirs from the different congregations.

The concert will be followed by an audio-visual presentation on the historical milestones of UCCP Baguio.

The UCCP originated from the United Brethren Church, established on February 11, 1911. A chapel was built in 1920 on the same location where the church stands today. This was the first Mission Chapel of Protestant Evangelical Churches in the Mountain Province region. In the 1930s, it was the United Evangelical Church which became the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in 1948 after a formal union of five churches.

Senior Pastor Simplicio B. Dang-awan said the UCCP-Baguio has earned the recognition as a leader in the city ecumenical movement through the leadership of its pastors.

The church spearheaded many forums on values formation, counseling as well as on various issues such as gambling, drug and substance abuse and other social concerns.

He added the church has nurtured many professionals and political leaders who excel in various fields of endeavor.

Furthermore, he said the UCCP’s Kindergarten School became a reputable Christian pre-school and is now the UCCP-Baguio Educational Center, with classes in the elementary level and has an Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) Program.

Today, the UCCP has a daughter church in Sabkil, two established outreach missions, and six new mission outreaches in Sablan and Tuba, Benguet. It has five congregations and an active membership of almost 2,000.

Its current special project is the establishment of three churches in three years along Kennon Road, Sablan, and Marcos Highway, Tuba. This began in 2008 and UCCP aims to establish three worshipping congregations by 2011.

The UCCP has nurtured several generations of members with the same unity of the Spirit and Christian values upon which the original church was built upon almost 100 years ago.