Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
Sunday Mornings Q&A
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The Sunday service is at the center of our life as a congregation. This is a sacred time for us as we gather to reflect on the values that we share, to rejoice in the goodness and beauty of life, and to consider the challenges that we face as individuals and as members of the global community. The topics that are addressed in our services vary widely, but the themes of love, hope, compassion and action in the world are lifted up through words, music, and growing connections within the congregation. Following the links below takes you to the answers of the questions. Use your browser return arrow to get back to the list.
When Do You Hold Services? Currently we hold two services, one at 9:30 a.m. and a second service at 11:00 a.m. with “coffee hour” in between. Beginning the first Sunday in June, we will hold one service, starting at 10:00 a.m. 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! Where does one park? Due to construction for our building and parking expansions, much of our parking lot is taken up by construction equipment. You may need to park on one of the streets in our neighborhood. Please do not park on the right side of the driveway. You can come into the parking lot and drop off passengers close to the building if needed. 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 What is the service like? Each services runs about an hour and follows the following format:
Our minister, Rev. Christine Brownlie is in the pulpit three times a month from August to May. A guest speaker or someone from the congregation will offer a sermon when Rev. Brownlie 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 Sunday service calendar. 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. 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. To learn more about our Religious Education programs click on this link. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 find out more about our beliefs go to this site at the UU Association. To find out if you might be a Unitarian Universalist, go to this site. Sermons by two of our guest ministers provide useful background reading on what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist:
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. |