Sunday Worship

Our Fellowship does not have elaborate rituals, but instead follows a simple order of service, usually along the following lines:

• Welcome
• Lighting of the Chalice and Opening Words
• Music
• Affirmation
• Song of Praise
• Sharing of Joys and Concerns
• Silent Meditation
• Presentation
• Offertory and Announcements
• Closing Circle

 

Seasonal Celebrations

We often have sermons or presentations recognizing common U.S. or international holidays. For example, we typically recognize Mother's Day, Father's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, Labor Day, the International Day of Peace, and others. We often celebrate days of significance for other cultures as well, including Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights; Chinese New Year; and Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead,.

Here are some of the other special occasions observed in our Fellowship, which are frequently celebrated by other Unitarian Universalist congregations as well.

Fall

WATER COMMUNION – sometimes the first Sunday after Labor Day. The kick-off of the church year for many congregations. The Water Communion involves congregants who have brought small amounts of water to the service, taken from special places they have been over the summer. Each person pours the water into a large bowl and tells the congregation where it is from and the meaning it has for them.

UNITED NATIONS DAY – On or about October 24. Unitarian Universalism’s sixth principle: “The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all” makes this a special day to observe religiously. Themes include: war and peace, international cooperation, fighting global hunger and poverty, sustainability, and global community.

Winter

WINTER SOLSTICE – usually December 21. This day has become important to both humanists and pagans, who can find common ground in celebrating this occasion, as well as Christians who recognize this is the true source of the Christmas tradition. The Winter Solstice is the turning of the year, when the days of the northern hemisphere become longer once again.

Spring

EARTH DAY—April 22. Unitarian Universalism’s seventh principle: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” makes this a day to celebrate religiously. Themes include: earth-centered spirituality; connecting to the divine through nature; caretaking of the environment; the interdependent web.

FLOWER COMMUNION – Variable spring date, often sometime in June. The following is quoted from a longer essay on the service, written by Reginald Zottoli: In this service, people were asked to bring a flower of their choice and place them in a vase. The flowers are consecrated, and after the service, as people leave the church, they each take a flower other than the one that they had brought.

The significance of the flower communion is that as no two flowers are alike, so no two people are alike, yet each has a contribution to make. Together the different flowers form a beautiful bouquet.

By exchanging flowers, we show our willingness to walk together in our search for truth, disregarding all that might divide us. Each person takes home a flower brought by someone else - thus symbolizing our shared celebration in community.

Life Transitions

We have a number of simple ceremonies to celebrate various life transitions:

• Child Naming and Dedication
• New Member Welcoming Ceremony
• Recognition of the Wise Women
• Weddings
• Memorial Services

 

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See the UUA Worship Web website or more about the Unitarian Universalist Liturgical Calendar