Frequently Asked Questions

When Do You Hold Services?

We have a single service, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 11:15 a.m. Following the service, we have coffee and conversation.

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Where is the UUC located?

The UUC Meeting House is at 1301 Gladewood Drive in Blacksburg, near the University Mall on Prices Fork Road.  View a map.

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What do people wear?

Most of our friends and members dress in casual clothes although it’s not uncommon to see sports jackets and dresses. Summertime brings out the shorts and sandals. Our children also wear a range of styles from dresses to jeans. Don’t feel that you or your children must “dress up” to fit in. Most of us prefer comfort to style!

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Where does one park?

We have ample parking with a number of designated handicapped spaces in the area close to the building. Our parking lot is accessed from a driveway off of Gladewood. Please note the sign warning of a drainage dip in the driveway, and drive slowly!

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Is there someone to help us find where we need to go?

As you approach our building you will be greeted by someone from the congregation who will offer you a nametag and help you with any questions. Once you’re in the building another greeter will welcome you and ask you to sign the guest book. This is simply for our own information and while we encourage you to share a little information (name, address, etc.), it’s not required. The greeter will give you a small packet that contains information about our congregation, our staff, and Unitarian Universalism. You will also find a copy of our latest newsletter which includes a calendar of events and activities.

If you bring children with you, a family greeter who is familiar with our programs for children and youth will help you find the right rooms and provide you with a visitor’s form.

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What is the service like?

Each services runs about an hour and follows the following format:

  • Welcoming song
  • Welcome and Call to Gather
  • Prelude
  • Kindling the Flame of Community
  • Affirmation and an Affirmation Hymn
  • A story for all ages (followed by the children's recessional)
  • Meditation
  • Sermon
  • Offering and Candle lighting of Memory and Hope
  • Sermon Reflection Community Connections: introduction of guests, joys and concerns, announcements
  • Closing Words and Song
  • Postlude

Our minister, Rev. Alex Richardson, is in the pulpit three times a month. A guest speaker or someone from the congregation will offer a sermon when Rev. Richardson is not speaking. On occasion, we have an intergenerational service when the children participate with the adults. You can find out what is happening on any given Sunday by looking at the list of upcoming Sunday services.

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What kind of music is used in the service?

We enjoy a wide variety of music in the course of our services. On any given Sunday you will hear our talented pianist play a piece from a classical composer, a jazz tune, something from a musical or a movie theme, or a waltz that he composed. We have a growing choir directed by Goldie Terrell. Again, diversity is the rule and the choir sings music from a range of traditions and composers. Many of the hymns that are used in the service will sound familiar to you, but the words represent our Unitarian Universalist values and beliefs.

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What will my children do?

Children and parents sit together for the first 15 minutes of the service. We provide free optional childcare for infants and young toddlers while parents attend the service. After the Story for All Ages, the children are “sung out” and go with their teachers to their classrooms. Parents may accompany their children to the classroom and then return to the meeting hall for the remainder of the service. Learn more about our Religious Education program.

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May my child stay with me during the service?

Yes, although we ask parents to be thoughtful of those sitting around them, particularly our elders who may have difficulty hearing. If your baby or young child is fussy, you are welcome to use our “cuddle room” which has a window and a speaker so that you can see and hear the service.

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What is the meaning of the flame of community and the chalice?

The ritual of kindling a flame in a chalice at the beginning of the service is common to many Unitarian Universalist congregations. The flame in our chalice symbolizes the light of truth, the equality between the congregation and the minister in matters of faith, and our concern for all people everywhere. Learn more about the history of The Flaming Chalice.

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How can I light the chalice?

Individuals, couples or families may sign up online to light the chalice, or contact our Administrator.

 

What are the candles of remembrance and healing?

This is a ritual that we incorporated into our service after the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech in April 2007. Many of our members find that it is meaningful and comforting to light a candle in remembrance of a loved one, as an expression of hope in a time of difficulty, or an expression of gratitude in a time of joy.

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What is the sermon reflection time?

Unitarian Universalists value the “freedom of the pulpit” which allows our minister and other speakers to offer their own ideals and opinions. We also uphold the “freedom of the pew”. This means that the people sitting in the congregation have the right to their own ideas and opinions as well. The time of reflection offers an opportunity for sharing thoughts and feelings about the sermon topic and to invite a response from the speaker and other members of the congregation. We see this as a time for open-minded and open-hearted sharing — not a time for debate.

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Is the UUC Meeting House accessible to people with physical challenges?

Yes. Anyone who has difficulty with stairs should use the entrance facing the garden at the back of the building. The building is equipped with a system for those who require hearing devices. Large-print hymnals and large-print orders of service are also available.

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Is your minister available to do weddings for non-members or same-sex couples?

Our minister is happy to meet with any couple who are considering a wedding or ceremony of union. UU ministers have been active in the movement for equal marriage rights for all couples and have officiated at a number of same-sex ceremonies. Email Rev. Richardson.

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Does the minister preach from the bible?

Unitarian Universalists draw from many sources for their religious expression, and the Bible is one of those sources. We understand the Bible as a compilation of books written over thousands of years by people from a variety of cultures, perspectives, and understandings of life. While we respect this sacred text, we disagree with those who claim that it is the inerrant word of God.

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What do Unitarian Universalists believe?

Our Unitarian Universalist traditions are rooted in the Protestant Reformation, but we are the heretical root of that very large tree. The early Unitarians denied the doctrine of the Trinity as being unbiblical. The early Universalists believed that God’s love was so encompassing that in the end of time all of creation would be reconciled to God. Today we emphasize the unity of life and the connections between the great religions of the world and the wisdom they offer us.

To learn more about Unitarian Universalist beliefs, visit these sources:

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What do UUs believe about Jesus?

Most Unitarian Universalists understand Jesus as a prophet and teacher in keeping with the rabbinical tradition of his time. We honor him for the example of his life, and his demand that we base our lives in love for all people and a passion for justice. Like most Americans, we celebrate Christmas and Easter, but our own understanding of these holy days is different from what is taught in more traditional Christian churches.

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What is the Child Dedication ceremony?

Rather than holding Christian-style baptism ceremonies, most Unitarian Universalist congregations have child dedication services for infants, young adopted children, or young children whose families have recently joined the congregation.

The parents bring the child to the front of the sanctuary at a designated time in a regular Sunday worship service, and the minister presides over the ceremony. The dedication ceremony is generally a celebration of the blessing of new life, an expression of the parents' hopes for their child, and a call to the parents and the congregation's members to lead and nurture the child's spiritual life as it grows.

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What is the Coming of Age Ceremony?

Such ceremonies, marking the transition from childhood to young adult, are as old as history. They have included ritual abductions, vision quests, and bar and bat mitzvahs, all to help youth learn about themselves and prepare for adulthood.

Many Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations mark this transition with year-long Coming of Age programs, which generally include four parts: pairing youth with adult mentors; discussions and retreats that emphasize self-awareness and confidence-building; service to the church and community; and a culminating affirmation ceremony. Learn more about Coming of Age.

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What holidays during the year do UUs celebrate?

Unitarian Universalism includes aspects of many of the world's religions. Traditional and secular holidays from various religions are celebrated together in UU congregations. Most congregations celebrate the Christian holidays, Christmas and Easter; the Jewish holidays Passover and Yom Kippur; and the Pagan Winter Solstice, among other holidays.

In addition to these traditional religious holidays, many UU congregations also honor secular holidays including Earth Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, Mother's Day and Father's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. While these are not traditionally spiritual holidays, Unitarian Universalism finds spiritual meaning and affinity with our Principles in the ideas behind these and other secular holidays.

There are two holidays that many Unitarian Universalist congregations celebrate that are unique to our faith: the Flower Communion and the Water Communion. Both holidays are ceremonies that celebrate our Unitarian Universalist community and the importance of each individual's unique contributions to that community. Learn more about the Flower Communion and Water Communion.

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Is the UUC on Facebook?

Yes. You can follow the UUC on both Facebook and Twitter.

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Does the UUC have one or more listservs?

The UUC maintains two listservs: one for communications on topics specific to the UUC, and one on broader social-concern topics.

1. Announcement listserv: The Congregation maintains an e-mail listserv for communicating between newsletters. It is a helpful and speedy way of broadcasting late-breaking news, announcements, and requests from and for our members and friends. Anyone with access to e-mail may subscribe to this list. If you wish to send a message to be posted to the list, send the message to announce@uucnrv.org. Messages do not go directly to the list: there is a list moderator. We are very aware that many people feel inundated by e-mail, so messages are forwarded to the listserv only if they are directly relevant to the Congregation. (No attachments are sent through this listserv.)

2. Social-Concerns Listserv (UUC-SC): This is an un-moderated listserv with the purpose of facilitating discussion among members and friends of the UUC on current social issues. Views expressed are those of the posters as individuals and should not be interpreted as representing the views of the UUC. Those persons with differing views or loyalties to the ones expressed in this e-mail message are invited — and encouraged — to participate in the discussion. In keeping with the IRS regulations for tax-exempt organizations, postings to this listserv should not include statements of support for any political candidate. This is a closed listserv, in that only those who have subscribed to it can post, and one can only post a message using the same e-mail address given at the time of subscribing. Email uuc-sc@uucnrv.org when posting messages. To subscribe to UUC-SC, send a message to imailsrv@uucnrv.org, with the single line: subscribe UUC-SC XXXX (where you replace XXXX with your name) in the body of the message. To unsubscribe from UUC-SC, send a message to the same address. The body of the message should have the single line: unsubscribe UUC-SC.

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How can members and friends contribute financially to the UUC?

The UUC has an annual pledge drive in the Spring to raise money to support our mission (staff salaries, building mortgage payments, dues to our national organization, operating expenses like heating, cleaning, publications, etc). Our parent organization, the Unitarian Universalist Association, has prepared a “fair share” guide. People who are new to the UUC since the most recent pledge drive but would like to contribute to us should contact our administrator, who will direct your message to the correct person.

Every Sunday we pass the basket for offerings. Many use that as a means to pay some or part of their annual pledge. We do not feel it appropriate to ask first-time visitors to contribute to the offering.

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Please explain how members and friends can help the UUC by using prepaid grocery gift cards.

  • Buy a card from the Grocery Gift Card table (in Elarth Hall) during coffee after Sunday services. Cards are available for both Kroger and Food Lion.
  • For each dollar you put on the card, you get 100% back in groceries. But the store donates a percentage to the UUC from their profits. With Kroger it's 5%, and with Food Lion it is 4%. Food, gasoline and prescriptions purchased at the store all qualify for the donation.
  • Recharge your empty Gift Cards at Kroger at the cashier's desk before you start to shop, or at the register before you purchase your food. Buy new Food Lion cards at Elarth Hall on Sunday.