“Worship is a human activity. Though it is often defined as an activity to placate and get in touch with divine powers, it need not have any supernatural implications. The origin of the word ‘worship’ is in the Old English weorthscipe, meaning to ascribe worth to something, or even to shape things of worth. We worship, then, whenever we ascribe worth to some value, idea, object, person, experience, attitude, or activity, or whenever we give form or shape to that which is of worth.”

— 1982 UUA Commission on Common Worship

Our 11:00 AM Sunday worship services are informed by tradition and fueled by an energy of inclusion and joyful innovation.

Because our Unitarian Universalist faith has Christian roots, you may notice several formal elements of our Sunday service that you would also find in a Christian church, including hymns, a time for prayer or meditation, and a sermon. The content, however, is markedly different. As Unitarian Universalists, we believe that truth is not sealed; this means that we find inspiration not only in Jewish and Christian scriptures but in the sacred texts of other world religions, as well as in poetry, secular literature, film, popular culture, current events and daily life.

Our services begin with lighting of a chalice, which is a primary symbol of Unitarian Universalism and represents the beginning of our sacred time together.

We offer a time for prayer, but those who do not have prayer as a part of their spiritual practice are invited to meditate or make space for silent introspection. While, as a rule, Unitarian Universalists do not practice the Christian sacrament of eucharist/communion, we recognize the importance of ritual in spiritual life. Most services will involve some ritual element, ranging from candle-lighting to meaningful UU traditions like the water ceremony or flower communion.

If you see a service described as “intergenerational,” this means that it has been designed to engage people of ALL ages; children and youth are welcome and encouraged to remain throughout the service. Most Sundays, children will stay in the sanctuary for the first ten minutes or so and then, after a Story for All Ages, they will leave the sanctuary to play or participate in different, fun learning opportunities. Nursery care is always available for infants and toddlers. We also have a “family room” just off the sanctuary where parents and care-givers can sit in a comfortable space and watch the service while babies or toddlers nurse, rest or play.

Most services will include a sermon, delivered by the minister or by a guest speaker, as well as a personal reflection, offered by a member of the congregation. Our ministers enjoy freedom of the pulpit, which means that no one dictates what they preach. Our members and friends enjoy freedom of the pew, which means that they need not agree with what is preached, but are expected to discern for themselves how they believe and live. You can find a list of upcoming sermon topics here.

Each Sunday, we collect an offering, giving cash donations and designated checks to an organization in our community doing work we value in the world, through our Change-for-Change program. You can find more information about our Change for Change partners here.

One of the most joyous aspects of worship is music. Our services incorporate hymns that are sung by the entire congregation as well as music performed by our choir, musicians from within our congregation, or guest musicians. Musical genres range from classical/traditional to spirituals and contemporary music, from many different cultures.

Throughout the year, we have a coffee hour after worship where people can mingle informally and just get to know one another.