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Sunday Service at UUCB:
Some Answers for Newcomers
Haven't attended a church in years? Not sure what to expect from a UU
worship service? Here are some common questions newcomers sometimes ask before
attending a Sunday service at our church:
What should I wear?
You are welcome to wear whatever makes you comfortable — just come as
you are. Most of our members dress in casual attire. Many men wear either jeans
or Dockers and a shirt (ties are rarely seen). Women wear either dresses/skirts
or pants. Children should wear comfortable clothes, such as jeans and sneakers.
After their religious education class, which sometimes involves "messy" crafts
projects, children usually enjoy romping on our playground (which is fully
fenced).
What happens during the worship service?
Each week our service is different, but a typical Sunday service consists of
announcements; readings, including our covenant (see sidebar); hymns and
other music; a brief silent meditation; sharing of personal needs and
blessings; and two traditional elements of each service:
-
"For All Ages," a
brief story or conversation that children can learn from, after which they
leave for their classes.
-
A sermon or talk (usually under a half-hour), as described in the next question.
All elements of each service are chosen to complement the theme of
the sermon. (Read about our upcoming
services.)
After the service, people socialize over coffee and other refreshments, while
continuing the discussions generated by the sermon.
What are the sermons like?
Our "sermons" may be unlike what you grew up with, since we don't
try to tell anyone exactly what to think or do. In fact, we
usually don't call them sermons but rather "talks." These talks strive
to offer personal and thought-provoking ideas on a topic so that you can
examine that topic more deeply and determine your own beliefs about it.
(Read the topics
of past sermons to get a feel for the variety of our service topics.) After
the talk, the speaker sometimes invites comments and questions from the congregation
to facilitate a dialog. Our talks are variously offered by our
minister, church members, or a knowledgeable visiting professional — and
sometimes the "talk" time
for the service is used in other ways, such as with music, poetry, or
ritual.
What holidays and ceremonies are celebrated?
Although our services vary each year, we try to celebrate many of the great
religious holidays in some way that speaks to the UU faith, including Easter,
Passover, Summer and Winter Solstices, Day of the Dead, Chanukah, Christmas,
and Kwaanza. Religious ceremonies include marriages, memorial services, child
dedication and naming ceremonies, and coming of age ceremonies. In addition,
we have our own annual traditions, such as an intergenerational Mystery Friends
event around Valentine's Day, a Flower
Communion Sunday in early June,
and a Homecoming/Ingathering service in early September.
What would my children do during the service?
We have a nursery to provide child care for babies
and preschoolers. Older children stay for the first part of the service,
and then go to a religious education class for their age group: preschool
and grade school, middle school,
or high school. If you prefer,
your child is welcome to stay with you during the entire service (we do have
an adjacent room where the service is piped in so you can listen comfortably
should your child become fussy).
Will I be welcome?
Yes, we welcome everyone. One of our core beliefs is accepting and celebrating
the wide diversity of humanity. Over the years, we have had members who were
rich and poor, black and white, young and old, walking and wheeling, heterosexual
and homosexual. Our members come from many different occupations, cultural
heritages, and religious backgrounds.
Is your church accessible to people in
wheelchairs?
Yes, our building and bathrooms are handicapped accessible. All elements
of the Sunday service can be enjoyed while remaining seated.
What if I'm part of an interfaith
family?
Many UUCB families embrace more than one religion and specifically
choose our church because we honor and celebrate many religious traditions.
This means each spouse or other family member can continue to practice some elements
of his/her faith, while sharing in a common faith with other family members.
Will I be welcome if I'm gay or lesbian?
Yes, some of our members are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered (GLBT).
In 1999, we officially became a Welcoming
Congregation to
people of all sexual orientations.
How about if I'm agnostic or atheist?
Yes, some of our members are agnostics, atheists, humanists, scientists,
and others who don't fully embrace the notion of "God." So why
do they come to our church? We give people a safe place to explore and grow
spiritually, wherever they start from and wherever they journey. We provide
religious education for their children, teaching them how to make informed
and ethical choices. We provide a larger forum for making a difference in
the world through social action. And we provide a vibrant social community — everyone
likes interesting conversations and potlucks!
Will I be pressured to join or convert?
We do try to be friendly, by greeting visitors as they enter the church and
chatting with them during coffee hour. However, we would never
ask you to join our church right away, since we recommend you visit for a
few months to see whether we are a good fit. And we would never pressure
you to convert, since we respect everyone's personal spiritual beliefs and accept
all religious traditions. On the fourth Sunday of the month, after the service, we have "UU and
You," an informal get-together where visitors can ask a church member
their questions and we can get to know each other. Eventually, we'd be happy
if you decide to become a member of our church, but we won't push ourselves
on you.
Are you related to the Unity or Unification
churches?
No, there is no connection (other than our names start with "Uni," which
sometimes causes confusion). Unity is a liberal Christian church (and there
is a Unity Church in Boulder). We are liberal, too, but not all of us are
Christian. The Unification Church is run
by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon of Korea.
For more information, read frequently
asked questions about UU services in general.
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Our covenant:
We gather in fellowship to
speak truth to each other,
to reach out and touch one another,
to care with each other,
and to seek the truth divine. So be it.
Each service is a self-contained
unit. Some services will be more theistic. Some
will be more spiritual. Some will be more heartfelt, some
more intellectual. It depends on the subject and what will
do it justice. Now, when someone complains about the
service, saying it didn't meet their needs, I say, "That means that someone in
our congregation with a theology different from yours had their
needs met this morning. What a thing to be grateful for."
by Rev. Krista Taves, Emerson Unitarian Universalist Chapel
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