What to Expect

Whether you arrive joyful or grieving, confident or questioning, weary or hopeful;
you are welcome.
Come as you are. There is room for your whole story with us.

Our gatherings are often soulful, justice-rooted, creative, reflective, and multigenerational. We draw from many sources including many global wisdom traditions alongside the living stream of Unitarian Universalism. We honor the sacred in music, story, silence, testimony, art, and embodied ritual.

We gather not only to be inspired,
but to be transformed and to transform the world together.

A Typical Sunday Celebration May Include:

Welcome

• We embrace all who gather. The welcome is not just a greeting; it is a declaration of belonging. Across congregations, cultures, and geographies, we form a web of shared purpose. The Welcome acknowledges the beauty of this diversity and affirms that whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey, you are welcome here. This is a time to name our presence, honor our gathering, and set a tone of hospitality, openness, and community.

Reflection & Renewal

• This time echoes the ancient human practice of pausing to reflect on the ways we have fallen short of our values, our commitments, and our resistance to embracing the beloved community. During this time of reflection and renewal, we do not seek forgiveness from a distant authority, but turn to our community acknowledging our mistakes, harms, or silences, and recommitting ourselves to the work of healing, repair, justice, and growth. Together, we make room for beginning again in love.

Chalice & Covenant

• Chalice: A symbol of our shared faith and the light we bring to one another and the world. The lighting of the chalice becomes more than a flame, It becomes a beacon of connection. Whether kindled in a sanctuary, a living room, or in the heart, the chalice reminds us that we are united by covenant, purpose, and hope. In lighting the chalice together, we affirm that this is sacred time: time to be fully present, to listen deeply, and to open ourselves to the possibilities of community and transformation.

• Covenant: To recite our covenant is to speak aloud the promises that bind us — not by creed, but by choice.This act reminds us that we are united not by uniformity, but by shared commitments to love, truth, and justice. Whether it is the covenant of a single congregation or the familiar words spoken across generations — these promises ground us. They call us into relationship, into accountability, and into the ongoing work of building a beloved community. In this moment, we renew not only our words, but our intention to live them.

Celebrating Our Youth

• A time to honor the presence, growth, voices, and gifts of the young people in our communities. This moment reminds us that our youth are not just the future. They are the living, breathing heart of our faith today. This is not simply a “children’s message.” It is an invitation for all of us to engage with wonder, curiosity, and heart. We will celebrate our children’s creativity, courage, questions, and commitments sharing stories, recognizing the milestones they reach, the leadership they offer, and the spirit they bring to our shared journey. In this sacred time, we uplift our youth not only with pride, but with promise: that we will support them, listen to them, and travel beside them in love.

Music & Readings

• Moments of grounding and inspiration where we draw from many traditions and voices. Our music and readings reflect our commitment to a wide and inclusive search for truth rooted in the rhythms of our communities. Whether drawn from sacred scripture, poetry, contemporary reflection, or the lived experience of our communities, our music and readings offer a lens through which we consider the theme of the day and the deeper questions of our lives. They invite us to listen with open minds and open hearts and to encounter wisdom in familiar words or to be stirred by voices we may not have heard before. We honor the plurality of our faith and the ongoing unfolding of human understanding.

Message or Communal Reflection

• A time of reflection, insight, and invitation. The message is not a proclamation of fixed doctrine, but an offering and an exploration of meaning, justice, compassion, and the questions that shape our lives. Drawing from personal experience, history, current events, and the wisdom of many traditions, our minister and community leaders seek to connect the theme of the day with the realities of our shared stories. It encourages thoughtful reflection, spiritual growth, and faithful action. In this moment, we listen not only for ideas, but for the deeper call to live more fully, to love more boldly, and to build a more just and compassionate community together.

Meditation, Prayer, or Ancestral Remembrance

• An invitation into stillness; a pause in the rhythm of our gathering where we turn inward, ground ourselves, and listen. This shared time to reflect on the arc of the theme of the month and of the Celebration we are engaging where quiet becomes a powerful act of unity. In this moment, we make space for breath, for guided reflection, sacred words, and for silence. Whether in peace or in restlessness, we enter this time together, trusting that stillness can open the heart and clarify the spirit. This is time to simply ‘be;’ finding our center, connecting with what is sacred to us, and preparing ourselves to return to the world with greater presence and compassion.

Joys & Concerns

• A time when we honor the deep humanity that connects us all across congregations, time zones, and life experiences. This shared space becomes a sacred bridge itself, where we hold one another in love and compassion. Here, we speak or hold in silence the celebrations and struggles that shape our lives. Each joy is a spark of light; each sorrow, a call for care. Together, we witness one another’s truths and remind each other that we are not alone. Whether shared aloud, typed in a chat, or held quietly in our hearts, this is the living heartbeat of our gathered community.

Affirming Our Community

• We name that this faith is something we build together. A sacred moment of gratitude, testimony, and shared commitment. This time reminds us that we are sustained by relationships, generosity, and love in action. During this time a community member offers a brief testimony of love sharing how our community has influences their life, strengthened their spirit, or supported them in a time of need. Their story becomes a mirror, reflecting the many ways our covenant lives in real human experience. We then pause to offer gratitude to the community itself; to the volunteers, leaders, elders, youth, caregivers, and quiet servants whose time and devotion make this shared ministry possible. Finally, we extend an invitation to give through time, talent, and treasure. We remember that generosity is a spiritual practice and that every contribution, large or small, helps sustain us a living, breathing expression of Unitarian Universalist values.

Because we are a small congregation, worship is something we build together. You may be invited to read, share, sing, reflect, or help shape future celebrations. Your gifts matter here.

Throughout the year, we also mark holy days, cultural celebrations, rites of passage, child dedications, coming-of-age milestones, and gatherings that honor the fullness of our identities. We offer space for children and youth to grow in faith and community, with care that reflects our shared values.

For more information and access to other events, sign our Guestbook!