Typical Service
Worship services at Unitarian Universalist Congregation are built around themes. Each service is unique. Some of those themes relate to our UU heritage, some to our principles and values, some to important social justice issues. Our services are led by our minister three Sundays a month with guest speakers and our own members filling the remaining Sundays. For most of our services, a lay Worship Associate shares the pulpit with the minister or guest speaker.
The current church year (2011–2012) is one of change for us. This is our “interim year,” during which we move beyond the ways we worshipped with our Minister Emerita, Rev. Christine Brownlie, and explore who we are and who we might become, with the help of our Interim Minister, Rev. Alex Richardson. This is an exciting time for us, and there is great energy in our Sunday morning services. We are trying new ways of creating our beloved community together, and we are more deeply exploring issues of ultimacy — the large questions all humans struggle with about how we live our lives. Learn more about the search for a settled minister.
Services begin each Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. and end at about 11:15 a.m. Children join their parents in the sanctuary for the first portion of the service before leaving for their Religious Education classes.
Early in the service we light our chalice, the symbol of our faith. Our love of music is expressed through the singing of hymns, the beautiful voices of our choir, musical interludes by both our members and guest musicians, and the selections played by our talented pianist. The focus of the service is the sermon, but we also include time for silent meditation and reflection, sharing of our joys and sorrows, readings, and the lighting of candles to reflect what is in our hearts. An important part of the service for many is the talkback period following the sermon in which members have the opportunity to offer reflections on the sermon.
Following the closing benediction, we gather in our social area, Elarth Hall, for coffee and conversation. On the second Sunday of each month, we share food and fellowship at our Second-Sunday Potluck.