Water Communion Service – Water is a symbol of spirituality and an inclusive symbol.  This ritual speaks to our connectedness to one another and to our place on this planet. Because we tend to scatter during the summer, we schedule our Water Communion service in early Autumn to mark the beginning of the fall and winter seasons and a return to the community of our Fellowship.

Halloween – Every year, on the Sunday closest to and before Halloween, the entire congregation is encouraged to attend Sunday Services in costume.  The UUF Youth Group designs a Haunted House for all to experience.  Pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating and a Halloween picnic make this event a favorite

Winterfest – On the first Saturday in December, this multi-cultural, inter-generational concept of Unitarian Universalism as an inclusive faith.  Children make holiday gifts from cultures and countries around the world, while adults and children alike savor the flavors of delicious holiday treats.

Winter Holiday Pageant – On a Sunday in mid-December we have an Intergenerational Service:  “Holiday Memories and Traditions.”   This is a special time to honor and share our pasts with our children. On Christmas Eve we celebrate another Intergenerational Service featuring holiday music and the Christmas story.

Secret Pals – Secret Pals are intergenerational pairs composed of one young person and one adult.  For six weeks at the end of Winter, children are matched with adult “Secret Pals.”  Adults send letters to theiryoung pals with clues to help the children guess their identity.  Children write about their hobbies, pets and favorite foods.  The Secret Pal Program was designed to bring people (young, old and in-between) of our congregation together to meet someone they might not otherwise meet.  The Secret Pal Program culminates with an “unveiling” Secret Pal Luncheon where the pals meet for the first time. 

Hidden Egg Hunt – On Easter Sunday we celebrate Spring with an Egg Hunt. Rabbits, real and costumed, often appear to delight the young egg hunters.

Flower Communion Service – Held in Spring, the Flower Communion service was created by Norbert Capek (1870- 1942), who founded the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. He turned to the native beauty of the countryside for elements of a communion that would be genuine. 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. This communion of sharing is essential to  a free people of a free religion.

Animal Blessing – On Earth Day, or the nearest Sunday, our Intergenerational Service is attended not only by children and parents, but also by our pets.  This Service helps us remember the web of life that connects us all.

Coming of Age – In late May, the Sunday Service is planned and conducted by our Coming of Age youths.  After a year’s journey, part passage and part pilgrimage, these adolescents are prepared to share their insights and to articulate their faith.

Symposium – In May we hold a Symposium to celebrate and thank all the many adults who volunteer their time and energy to make all our programs for children and youth successful.  The Symposium includes a training component to help our program grow.

Chalice Camp - For two weeks in June UUF becomes a Summer Camp complete with energetic daily worship, creative arts, theatre and water play.  Chalice Camp, a nationally accredited program of the UUA, is the UU answer to Vacation Bible School.  Chalice Camp deepens a child’s sense of belonging to the interdependent web of Life of which we are all a part with daily themes such as: “It’s a blessing we were born,” “It matters what we do” and “We don’t have to do it alone.”

Child Dedication – Child Dedications are a uniquely Unitarian Universalist ceremony of naming.  A Child Dedication provides parents the opportunity to present their children to the congregations.  This ceremony celebrates the ongoing mystery of human life, welcomes the child into our religious community and publicly affirms the responsibility of the parents  and the entire congregation to help the child grow in the way of love, truth, justice and peace. 

07/24/2006