Worship

We gather in spiritual community for reminders on becoming the best human beings we can be: the best individual, the best parent or family member, the best spouse or partner, the best community member, the best carrier of goodwill. Our services inspire us with music, poetry, images, and words that both comfort and challenge and awaken us to our capacities to make a difference in our own lives and in the world. We meet in person every Sunday at 10 a.m. and livestream our service on our YouTube channel, which archives the services for access at any time. If you plan to visit, please read on.

What to Expect in Worship

With its beautiful Tiffany windows and ornate historic wood carvings, our beautiful sanctuary provides an ideal spot for contemplation and worship. The flaming chalice, the symbol of our faith, sits front and center. It stands for many ideas central to our faith, including the light of reason, the warmth of community, and the flame of hope.

A Typical Service
Services typically begin and end with the lighting and extinguishing of the flaming chalice, the symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith. A typical Sunday morning service includes an informal greeting of neighbors, a Story for all Ages, a Centering Silence, a sermon, and music throughout.

Sermons
Dr. Alexander Riegel , our Developmental Minister, draws upon his study of world religious traditions and his commitment to spiritual practice in encouraging the congregation to be our best selves through the path of the heart. A seasoned minister of more than 30 years, he asks us to look at texts and ideas in new ways, inspires us with poetry, challenges us with philosophy, and occasionally plays his hammered dulcimer.

Once a month we hear from other speakers, including our Assistant Minister for Pastoral Care, Rev. Mary Tarbell-Green, church members, or guest speakers. The wide variety of these services provides additional inspiration.

Music
Services include an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary choral, acoustic, amplified, and recorded music. In addition to enjoying Director of Music Jera Cox's performances on our grand piano and our 15-rank pipe organ, we encourage participation in our volunteer vocal choir, our bell choir, and our rock/pop format House Band, as well as suggestions for pre- and post-service music played by our volunteer audio team. Congregational singing is always a part of our services.

Children’s Worship
Children are always welcome to stay in the service with their parents, but we encourage families to take advantage of our children’s programs. Twice a month, children ages 3–12 start the morning downstairs in Children’s Chapel, a special worship experience designed just for them, before heading to Sunday School at 10:15 a.m..

Every other Sunday, children may join us for the first part of the worship service in the Very Important Persons (VIP) Lounge near the front of the sanctuary. We value the presence of our children and consider it important to include them in the first 15 minutes of worship before they head to Sunday School, as well as in occasional intergenerational services.

During the program year (September through May), there is an infant/toddler class during the church service that is staffed by a professional child care provider and church volunteers. Parents with infants and toddlers always have the option of staying in the service or retiring to the lobby just outside the sanctuary, where they can hear the service over the loudspeaker and children can play with toys provided in the seating area.

Youth in junior high and high school stay in the service. Several times throughout the year we have intergenerational services, when children of all ages participate in the main service.

Fellowship
After the Sunday service, our community continues to bond during Coffee Hour in our fellowship hall. We also hold an after-church potluck on the first Sunday of most months. All are welcome to join us at these and other First Unitarian Church events.