Welcome to Unity Church!

Coming to visit a new church can be a little nerve-wracking.  We hope the information on this page will ease your mind a bit, and help you to simply enjoy our service.  We’re so glad that you’re planning to visit with us. 

When you come into the Church you'll be met at the door by a Greeter who'll hand you a copy of the Sunday bulletin.  In the bulletin you’ll find an “order of service”, a weekly calendar of events, and a few announcements.  Feel free to browse through them. 

The order of service is fairly simple on most Sundays.  The service begins with a Welcome, the unison reading of an affirmation, and “Hands of Friendship” which is a time to say hello to folks who are sitting near you.  The service continues with a “Chalice Lighting”.  The Flaming Chalice is the symbol of Unitarian Universalism, and if you’d like to learn more about it you can either speak with a member of the church or pick up a pamphlet about it at the Welcome Table in the Chaffin Room. 

After the Chalice Lighting, we’ll usually sing a hymn.   The hymns are in numerical order in the gray book in each pew.  That book (the hymnal) also contains a variety of readings which are also occasionally used during a Sunday Service.  The readings are also numbered, and can be found at the back of the hymnal.

After singing the hymn, the congregation shares “Joys and Sorrows” with each other.  People are invited to come forward, and when its their turn, to introduce themselves, share a joy or a sorrow, and light a candle.  Though it occasionally happens, this isn’t meant to be a time for announcements, but for sharing important moments in our lives.

After sharing Joys and Sorrows there will be a prayer, a time of silence, and a musical selection, usually sung by our choir.  That’s followed by a story told by our Director of Religious Education.  Before the story, children are invited to come forward, and after the story is over they leave for Sunday School classes while the congregation sings a short song.  The words for the song are printed in the order of service.  If you would prefer for your son or daughter to stay with you for the rest of the service, that is perfectly fine.  Or, if you’d like to go with them to their Sunday School class, that’s fine too. 

After the Story, we’ll invite people to contribute to an Offering, but, please, as you’re our guest, just let the plate pass you by.  This is a time for people who are committed to our church to help support it.

After the Offering there’s usually a reading.  Sometimes it’s from traditional scripture, but it might be poetry, or an excerpt from a book, newspaper or magazine.  It’s intended to help introduce the topic of the sermon.  But, before we get to the sermon there’s another musical selection, usually a Solo.

Following the sermon, the congregation joins in singing another hymn, and then everyone is invited to participate in forming a circle - hand-in-hand - around our sanctuary.  Once the circle is formed, the service leader will share a Benediction, Extinguish the Chalice, and the congregation will sing a short closing song.  The closing song is printed in the order of service as well.

After the closing song, please come into the Chaffin Room where there is a Welcome Table set up.  You’ll find friendly people there who will look forward to meeting you, and who can help to answer any questions that you have.  After visiting the Welcome Table, please join everyone downstairs for Coffee and Conversation. 

Once again, thank you planning to visit Unity Church!  You can be sure you'll find a warm welcome at Unity Church, and an enjoyable and meaningful Sunday Service.  Peace to you.