At UUUC our worship services are weekly reflections that weave together our thoughts and experiences with music, beauty, poetry, and words that both comfort and challenge. Our programs for all ages inspire us, and awaken us to our capacities to make a difference in our own lives and in the world. As a Unitarian Universalist congregation, our message is eclectic and inclusive, offered in a spirit of compassion and love.

We draw from speakers who bring us messages of the inclusivity of spirituality. We are inspired not just by religious sources but by the people with whom we journey: the diverse and spirited Unitarian Universalists.

Worship Service

We gather in worship to find meaning and live more deeply. Our services reflect beliefs that are diverse and inclusive, based on our seven principles. Though Unitarianism and Universalism were both Christian traditions, our evolvement over generations has led us to embrace diverse teachings and philosophies from around the world. Worship in our congregation includes familiar elements of traditional Jewish and Christian worship. However, the content of our service draws from many sources including human experience. The writings and stories of prophetic men and women, World religious traditions, humanism, and Earth-centered traditions.

Choir and Music

Welcome to the Sound of Music

CHOIR

Come sing at choir! We would love to hear you sing! Our church is always looking for new choir members. During rehearsals we work through songs and choose music for upcoming services. Choir meets every Friday from 11 AM to 12 Noon. No experience necessary. We are grateful for every person willing to participate.

UUUC Children's Religious Education

Let’s Strengthen our Children Through Love and Acceptance.

UUUC’s Religious Education strives to have age appropriate programing for children and youth year-round, offering a variety of activities. Families gather together for short programing on Sundays and then the children leave with their teachers. Our program goals include:

• To help our children develop their spiritual curiosity;

• To nurture spiritual growth;

• To provide age related content to introduce personal values based on the 7 UU Principles.

• To create activities where children feel welcome, included, safe, loved, and an integral part of our community.

Kids’ Principles are a way of articulating our 7 UU Principles in simpler language. Here’s the way the Tapestry of Faith children’s programs describe them:

We believe that each and every person is important.

We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly.

We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together.

We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.

We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them.

We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.

We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.

UUU Flaming Chalice

A flame within a chalice is the primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. Many of our congregations kindle a flaming chalice during their in-gatherings, worship services and feature the Chalice symbol prominently. We begin our services with the lighting of our unique Chalice.

The Chalice and the flame were first brought together as a Unitarian symbol by Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist. He worked with the Unitarian service committee in World War II. To Hans, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love.

Our very own UUU Chalice was created from copper in the 1960’s by Ted Gordon (1930-2002). Ted was a metal sculptor out of Glide area. He was a member of the original UUU fellowship and he shared this creative concept with the other members.

Ted’s intent was to make a bowl that reflects light symbolizing the things we know. Yet leaving holes, and openings to symbolize there are things we have yet to learn. His point was, we don’t know all the truths.

Jacie Pratt states, “If we believe the same thing today that we believed 40 years ago, we’re not thinking or paying attention. Ours is a dynamic system of belief that allows/requires evolution”.

We thank Ted Gordon for his artistry and insight, Jacie Pratt and Phyllis Zegers for sharing this UUU History.

• Words Of Welcome

• Lighting A Flaming Chalice, The Symbol Of Our Faith

• A Multigenerational Segment, Such As A “Story For All Ages” Or Singing

• An Offering, Where Each Week We Collect Food For The Fish Food Pantry And We Also Collect An Offering For The Ongoing Work Of The Congregation.

• Music, Both Instrumental And Vocal And In A Variety Of Styles

• A Time For Lifting Up The Joys And Sorrows Of The Congregation

• A Meditation Or Prayer

• Readings—Ancient And Contemporary

• A Sermon Given By Our Minister, A Guest Speaker, Or A Member Of The Congregation

• From Time To Time, Worships Incorporate Holiday Celebrations, Multigenerational Plays And Pageants, Longer Musical Performances, Birthday Declarations, Child Dedications, And Coming-Of-Age Ceremonies.

• We Offer Childcare And Religious Education For Children During The Sunday Service.

Covenant and Affinity Groups

Live with Purpose

(Also Known As ‘Chalice Circles’), Is A Vital Part Of Many Unitarian Universalist(UU) Congregations. Groups Of 10-12 People Meet Regularly, Usually Monthly, To Reflect On And Discuss Significant Life Topics.

Whatever The Topic The Conversation Is Respectful And Caring And Leads To Greater Understanding. In Each Session, Facilitated By A Member Of The Congregation, All Participants Have The Opportunity To Share Their Perspectives, Tell Their Stories, And Listen Deeply. The Time Together Is Structured: Groups Begin And End With Centering Readings And Often Include Times For Quiet Reflection As Well As Sharing.

Small Groups Are Great Places To Get To Know Other People And To Get To Know Yourself. Over Time, Participants Build Deep Connections With One Another, With The Congregation, And With The Sacred. Some Groups Stay Together For Years Supporting Each Other In Many Ways.

UU Occasions

Advent through the UU

The music team supports the theme and message of the service by selecting hymns and other service music. Music is drawn from many sources: hymns to musicals, secular to sacred. Our Choir of UUUC congregants leads us through each Sunday Service.

With the arrival of winter’s low dark sky, communities around the world look to the miracle of light as a sign of rebirth and a source of hope. We celebrate the promise of new life and recommit ourselves to the protection of everyone’s right to his or her own radiant humanity. Christmas is our celebration of hope.

During the 1st 4 Sundays of December, we at UUUC will celebrate the symbols of Advent: hope, joy, love and peace. Advent is a time of anticipation, of expectant waiting,…waiting for the birth of a child that the Christian traditions know as a savior.

Unitarian Universalists long ago moved beyond the literal meanings of the Christmas holiday. Our tradition came, eventually, to speak of the “spark of divinity” within each of us and we love the rituals of the season: The Giving Tree where we gather packages from our congregants for the Child Development Center; the poinsettias that will decorate the sanctuary. The Advent Wreath weekly candle lighting and readings.

The candle of Hope as we search for hope.

The candle of Joy speaks to the anticipation of good news to come.

The candle of Love speaks to the universality of love as in Jesus’s teachings and in all the world’s faith traditions.

The candle of Peace speaks to the anticipated outcome as we reach out to the world community of hope, love, and joy and peace.

Flower Communion Expanded

The Unitarian Universalist Flower Communion started in 1923 by Dr. Norbert Capek founder of the modern Unitarian movement in Czechoslovakia. On the last Sunday before the summer recess of the Unitarian church in Prague, all the children and adults participated in this colorful ritual, which gives concrete expression to the humanity-affirming principles of our liberal faith. His wife wrote “The flowers are used as symbols of the gifts which each person can make to the church and through the church to other persons. Because of the large variety each person is able to express his or her individuality. The exchange of flowers means that I shall walk, without reservation, with anyone -- regardless of his social status, or his former religious affiliation, as long as he is ready and willing to go along in search of truth and service to man."

The Ceremony begins with these “Opening Words”.

“Opening for Flower Communion” By Thomas Rhodes,

We come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes.
Some of us grow in bunches.
Some of us grow alone.
Some of us are cupped inward.
And some of us spread ourselves out wide.
Some of us are old and dried and tougher than we appear.
Some of us are still in bud.
Some of us grow low to the ground.
And some of us stretch toward the sun.
Some of us feel like weeds, sometimes.
Some of us carry seeds, sometimes.
Some of us are prickly, sometimes.
Some of us smell.
And all of us are beautiful.
What a bouquet of people we are!

Holidays and Celebrations

All Faiths Honored

The holiday celebrations in Unitarian Universalist congregations reflect the Six Sources of our faith.

At UUUC, we celebrate Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter, Jewish holidays like Passover and Yom Kippur, and those of other traditions, like Pagan Winter Solstice, among others. Our holiday services use stories and traditions creatively, calling us to our deeper humanity and our commitment to the good.

Welcoming Autumn

At UUUC our Autumn Service might begin with these words of A Perfect Fall Day by Kerry Mueller.

“Spirit of life, we are joined today in a for a last blaze of sunshine in a sapphire sky, before the rain and snow -- for gold and crimson leaves, before we are mired in piles of slush -- for the moment of peace and contemplation in which to appreciate this rare beauty.”

For us, the autumn equinox has ushered in the cooler temperatures, shorter days, school buses, changes in routines, and warmer clothes. So, we pause to welcome this change of season and to uncover the memories of our experiences and our feelings about this transition season time.

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