How does a Unitarian Universalist Worship?
Some say very, very thoughtfully!
Worship at a Unitarian Universalist Church may look like a “typical” church service because we have some of the same elements that you’d find in a Protestant style worship. We sing songs and hymns. We have a choir and/or a band. The minister offers a sermon. We light candles and have announcements. However, that’s where the similarity ends with other Protestant denominations.
In the early part of the 20th century, Unitarian Universalist churches understood themselves to worship in the purest definition of the word – to worship…those things of worth. What that means is that most Protestant and non-denominational churches have God, Jesus and the Bible at the center of their worship. While Unitarian Universalism acknowledges the importance of those, they are not usually found at the center of our worship. Instead,
we focus on naming, proclaiming, reflecting and acting upon those things which give our lives meaning and purpose.
This means when Unitarian Universalists get together for worship, we acknowledge that there will be a diversity of opinions, beliefs and spiritual practices among us. Some may consider themselves Jewish or Christian or Buddhist or Pagan/Earth-based Unitarian Universalists. Others claim to be atheists or agnostics or free-thinkers; humanists or life-long Unitarian Universalists. Some among you will love liturgy and ritual found in the Sunday morning service; others would prefer a more Quaker-style meeting of silence. Some members love the sound of classical music; others are more drawn to rock, jazz, blues, gospel, rap or show tunes! All of these different styles of belief and worship point to something beyond our individual preferences – that at the core of our existence as human beings is a sense of “transcending mystery and wonder.” Our worship service seeks to illuminate that transcending mystery and wonder each week, through scripture or poetry; music, the spoken word; by lighting candles and acknowledging milestones; by ancient texts and modern readings.
Beginning in 2016, the church began to take advantage of a denominationally-based program of monthly themes suitable for worship, religious exploration
Welcome to this journey of discovery! We hope that if you are used to a more “traditional” worship service, that you’ll find this Unitarian Universalist worship experience a refreshing surprise. We’ll see you in church!