What happens at Sunday Services?
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Unitarian Universalist church services are often similar
to those in other liberal churches.
There are greeters who meet you at the outside doors, to show
you where the services are held, and ushers who hand out the Order-of-Service,
sit people with special needs, and collect the morning offerings.
The kids usually go off to Sunday School, and their own small service.
There is often a choir, and services usually start with music,
followed by a welcome and some announcements. In some churches,
like ours, there follows a short period for people to share their
“Joys and Sorrows.”
Then there is usually one or two readings, from a wide range of
possible sources, more music and then the offering plate is passed
for the church collection which helps fund the life and work of
the congregation.
Though our sermons are not always bible-based, like the best sermons
of any tradition, we strive to keep them thought-provoking, relevant,
engaging, sensitive and inspiring.
The service usually ends with the singing and some closing words.
Our hymns are from a hymnal that carefully offers the songs from
our rich musical heritage. Some of these songs have been slightly
edited, so that our words reflect our ethic of respect for all and
openness to difference.
Occasionally there is an opportunity after the service for people
to respond to the service and the themes of the day. But generally,
following the service, congregants go over to the Community Hall
and enjoy refreshments and conversation, talking with old friends
and meeting newcomers. This is a friendly, informal opportunity
for people to spend time together. It also offers an opportunity
to learn more about our church community at one of the tables set
up there to welcome and inform inquirers about some of our church's
programs and social justice work.
All Unitarian Universalist churches have a coffee hour after services,
where people meet their friends, conduct church business, compliment
each other on their kids, clothes, or good attitude.
Last update: 03-05-02
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Variety Feeds The Spirit
The description above is one that is typical, but which does not
begin to really capture the variety of experiences in our services..
The description I gave covers maybe forty percent of the services held
in a year, and there are many other forms of service that are found.
In the UUCSS, we have a flower communion in the spring, to celebrate
re-birth, a water-service in the early fall, where we bring and mingle
together water from the places, all over the world, where we visited.
We have music services, poetry services, lay lead services. In the summer,
which we sort of take off, and sort of don't, we have some really creative
programs. One of our scientist members gave a talk on EMI and RFI.
You will never really know what to expect. So, if you are new, go to
several services at any church you are considering for a home base, and
try another church or two. You will find one that feels right to you.
Last update:04-06-00
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