Tabernacle United Church is a progressive Christian faith community of approximately 70 members. The church is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and Presbyterian (USA) denominations and is located in the heart of University City, adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania. We are seeking an Interim Office Manager to provide administrative services and support […]
Read more Tab is hiring: Interim Office ManagerOur Mission and Values
Worship
We hope you can join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Childcare and children’s Sunday School are provided. All are welcome and celebrated.
TabUnited Stories

Lucinda Megill Legendre
"When we were moving to Philadelphia so my husband could study at the University of Pennsylvania, we knew we wanted to find a church that was gay-friendly, or “more light” as the Presbyterians call it. Even though he and I both identify as straight, being in a community that is open and affirming of all matches our beliefs and values...

Christopher William Purdom
I was baptized here as an infant in 1964, attended nursery school in the space that is now the sanctuary, joined in 1977, was ordained as an elder here, married here, and had both my kids baptized here. Tab is my second home, where I have always felt like part of a community...

Vic Compher
My wife and I were young adults when we moved to Philadelphia many years ago for graduate education and work. We knew no one in the city at that time and were seeking a warm, open community of people who value diversity and international experience and perspectives. We had both lived abroad, and so we volunteered...
Interested in joining our community?
Latest Blog Posts
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Dec, 5
Advent 2018: Waiting in Silence, Waiting in Hope
Join Tab Sundays in December for our Advent series!
Read more Advent 2018: Waiting in Silence, Waiting in Hope - Aug, 23
Celebrating “The Bible is Queer and Genderful” – A Note From Pastor Katie
As August draws to a close, we are wrapping up our summer sermon series, “The Bible is Queer and Genderful.” It has been a powerful series, with amazing guest preachers, and many folks have shared how meaningful and important this series has been for them and for our church. One of the things that has […]
Read more Celebrating “The Bible is Queer and Genderful” – A Note From Pastor KatieAug, 1August Newsletter
On Pastor Katie’s Mind… I think of August as a “sleepy month” in the best sense; a month when people can hopefully take a break, get some rest, go on vacation. Of course, vacation is a luxury that many people don’t have. So it’s important to remember this and support one another to take breaks […]
Read more August Newsletter - Jul, 10
TabConnections Newsletter, July 2018
View this email in your browser On Pastor Katie’s Mind… When Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, used Romans 13 to defend the Trump administration’s policy of separating parents from their children at the border and then went on to talk about how Nehemiah was told by God to “build a wall” to “keep bad people […]
Read more TabConnections Newsletter, July 2018Jun, 26Summer Sermon Series: “The Bible is Queer & Genderful”
In July and August, we will be exploring how the Bible bears witness to love in a rich variety of expressions. We will work to re-discover and celebrate lesser-known texts that witness to diverse gender expressions and sexual orientations, and we will also wrestle with some of the more difficult passages that have been weaponized […]
Read more Summer Sermon Series: “The Bible is Queer & Genderful” - Jun, 6
“For Love of the Trinity”
Excerpt from Pastor Katie’s sermon on Trinity Sunday, May 27th, 2018 “For Love of the Trinity” …God is revealing truth to us in regard to the Trinity through the experiences and testimony of queer folks. Queer people are experiencing God through the Trinity and seeing themselves in the image of God, and are actually […]
Read more “For Love of the Trinity”Oct, 30Fall Outreach Gratitude
Thank you to everyone who spent time and helped to reach out to our neighbors this fall. On September 16th at the UHURU Flea MarketSpirit-led conversations continued Saturday, October 7th at the Philadelphia Family Pride Conference. Like last year we had a table at the conference, but this year we led a conference session. Pastor […]
Read more Fall Outreach Gratitude - Sep, 11
Joy & Justice Block Party Weekend! September 23-24
In the face of times of trial that cause us to despair having hope and being joyful are part of following a living God! So, Tabernacle’s gonna party in the street! Come and join us! Bring a friend, invite a neighbor! And, on Sunday, September 24, Philadelphia-based Musician Joy Ike will be performing […]
Read more Joy & Justice Block Party Weekend! September 23-24Aug, 29“From Here To Timbuktu”: A Sermon on the 8th Commandment and Fighting White Supremacy
Sermon: “From here to Timbuktu” By Rev. Katie Aikins, preached on August 27, 2017 Texts: Romans 12:1-2 and Luke 19:1-10 (and Deut. 5:19) Key texts: So, my siblings, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. […]
Read more “From Here To Timbuktu”: A Sermon on the 8th Commandment and Fighting White Supremacy