Welcome! We are glad you’re exploring Unitarian Universalism and our congregation. Please see answers to commonly asked questions below. Blair, our Office Manager, can also help; email her at [email protected].

When do we worship?

Worship services are on Sunday morning from 10:00 to about 11:00. You’re invited to stay after service for coffee and conversation. After our monthly All Ages service, you’re welcome to stay for a potluck brunch.

What should I expect as a first time visitor?

You’ll have a special visitor’s parking space close to the doors. Our Welcome Team will greet you at the door and offer you a name tag (optional!). They’ll ask if you’d like to fill out a visitor card (optional!) so we can follow up with you. No spam, we promise! The Greeters will point out important areas of the building, such as the Sanctuary, the Fell Room where coffee hour happens, and restrooms.

We hope you will stay after service for a beverage and conversation either in the Fell Room, where the congregation will gather for coffee hour, or in our Welcome Room. The Welcome Room is a quieter place to talk with the greeters and congregation members and pick up information about our church and Unitarian Universalism.

What do children do during service?

The Childcare/Preschool Room is open every Sunday morning from 9:45-11:30. Children younger than five years old may stay with their parents/caregivers in the Sanctuary or in the Childcare/Preschool Room with our staff. Caregivers are welcome to remain in the Childcare?Preschool Room.

Children older than five may stay in the Sanctuary with their adults for service or leave for Religious Exploration after the Time for All Ages part of the service (about 10:15).

During the monthly All Ages Service, the Childcare/Preschool Room is open but there is no separate Religious Exploration class. Everyone participates in service together in the Sanctuary.

On your way into the Sanctuary, grab a clipboard with coloring sheets, a bag of crayons or markers, or a sewing pack. Soul Works to keep the hands busy are for people of all ages.

What should I wear?

Please wear whatever makes you comfortable. Some people follow the ‘Sunday Best’ tradition and are more dressed up, while most others are more casual. You’ll fit in no matter what you wear!

What should my children/youth wear?

Whatever makes them comfortable! Some of our children love to dress up in ‘Sunday Best’ or costumes! Most wear what they wear to school. They may sit on the carpet for story time or use glue, paint, and markers to create art. If the weather is nice, they may go outdoors or plant seeds.

What happens during a service?

Sunday Services may include readings, hymns, special music, and a sermon. At our monthly All Ages services, there are opportunities for more interaction and movement. Some Sundays we observe a special tradition such as these:

• Ingathering/Water Communion at the end of summer, when we celebrate the beginning of the Church year.
• Coming Out Day, in October, when we celebrate and support anyone “coming out of the closet”
• All Souls Day Service in late October/early November, when we remember those who have died in the past year.
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, when we celebrate the middle of winter and our religious heritage.
• Easter Sunday Service, when we celebrate the renewal of life and children enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt.
• Earth Day in April, when we raise our environmental awareness.
• Flower Communion, when we celebrate spring and honor the memory of Norbert and Maja Capek’s struggle for religious freedom in early 20th century Europe.

Sunday services are led by our Minister and the Worship Team. All Ages Sunday services are led by our Minister, Director of Religious Exploration, and members of our youth group. Occasionally we have a Guest Minister.

How can I participate?

Small Groups and Religious Exploration for adults are available throughout the year. These groups and programs, along with information about social events, are posted in the Parish News and on the Church Calendar. We encourage your attendance, participation, ideas, and contributions. You can see back issues of the Parish News at the “News & Events” tab of the website, and/or sign up to receive it weekly in your email inbox.

Music is a special part of our services. The Adult Choir rehearses on Sunday mornings from 8:45 to 9:45am from September through June.

How can my children participate?

Children & Youth Religious Exploration: Children and Youth meet on Sunday mornings to learn about our faith and world religions, how to be in ethical relationships, grow spiritually and personally, and provide service to the community. Learn more about Religious Exploration for Children and Youth here.

Children & Youth Choirs: Emerson Street Singers is our choir for elementary aged children. Youth in Junior High and High School are part of the Fairly Frequent Singers. These choirs rehearse on Wednesday evenings from September through May and sing for All Ages services.

What is your history and traditions?

Our Church was first organized as the “Free Congregational Society” in 1859, became the “Unitarian Church” in 1885, and the “Unitarian Universalist Church” in 2002. Our pride in our history can be seen in the stained glass windows taken from our original building when we moved to our present location in 1960, and in rooms named for members important in the history of our congregation.

Free thinking (forming opinions on the basis of reason, independent of authority or tradition) has always been a part of our tradition, as has Unitarianism (one God) and Universalism (salvation for all). We are non-creedal and include Unitarians Universalists who draw inspiration from Christianity, Humanism, Buddhism, Atheism, Paganism, Theism.

Our Chalice comes from a religious symbol crafted by the Unitarian Service Committee while engaged in refugee work in Europe during the Second World War. The Flaming Chalice is UU’s unofficial symbol, and chalices are lit in UU Churches across the continent.

When do people become members?

We take church membership seriously, as something that merits a thoughtful consideration of its obligations and responsibilities. Membership is open to individuals 14 years of age and older, whatever their ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical challenge, or past religious affiliation. 

Friends and visitors are always welcome and may participate in nearly all aspects of congregational life, including Sunday services, small groups, classes, special events, ministry teams, and financial support of the church. Becoming a member of the congregation, though, is an important step for many people. Learn more about Membership here.