UUFG Sunday Services at 11 AM (August Topics)
Sunday Service at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville is the high point of our life together and is the best way to discover what being a "UU" is all about. As we are non-creedal, our worship services are influenced by centuries of Unitarian and Universalist religious tradition, the religions of the world, our spiritual journeys, social justice issues, and science. Though our topics are diverse, our rituals like the Chalice Lighting, Singing, Joys and Concerns, and the Story for All Ages give us continuity, as does our belief that "we need not think alike to love alike" (Francis David, Transylvanian Unitarian minister 16th Century). We seek to achieve a "relaxed reverence" where people feel welcome, just as they are, to join us in exploring the mysteries of life.
Children are a welcome part of our worship service as we gather, sing, and tell stories. As time for the sermon approaches, the children and their teachers usually go to their Religious Education classes. A window room is provided at the back of the sanctuary for families with infants and toddlers where the children can play or nap, and their parents can view and hear the service.
It is traditional in Unitarian Universalist congregations that the minister leads worship services for three weeks each month, and has several weeks off during the summer for study, preparation and renewal for the coming year. On the Sundays when the minister is not in the pulpit, a committee of congregants, the Sunday Worship Service Committee, guided by the minister, prepares the worship services. Sometimes these services are intergenerational and interactive, calling on the congregation to participate in some way. Sometimes we invite a guest minister from another UU congregation, a guest minister from another faith, or an expert on a topic of interest to deliver the sermon. We recognize that inspiration can come to us from many different sources and that our minister is much more than a "preacher."
Besides fun, hospitality, good food, and a great message, there is another thing that consistently stands out about worship at UUFG: our music program. Our excellent Minister of Music and music director of 30 years, Ruth Lewis, leads choirs of enthusiastic singers spanning all ages. Many people cite the music as their main attractant to UUFG.
Please join us so that as we grow in diversity, we will grow the beloved community.
7th Sunday of Summer: August 3. A Quest for Questions.
Rev. LoraKim Joyner.
This service will highlight the very Unitarian Universalist practice of forming ever better questions, and being open to the replies given by others. As the service begins you will have the chance to submit a question to Rev. Joyner, who will answer as many questions as she can get to later in the service. Come prepared to ask questions about faith, Unitarian Universalism, social justice, ministry, this congregation, science and religion, activism, spiritual practice, etc. What have you always wanted to know that would bring meaning, joy, and support to your life?
8th Sunday of Summer: August 10. Chapel in the Woods.
Rev. Meredith Garmon.
John Murray came to America in 1770. He brought Universalism with him.
9th Sunday of Summer: August 17. Princess Isabella of Poland.
Rev. Meredith Garmon.
As the mother of history's only Unitarian king (John Sigismund, king of Transylvania), Isabella deserves a lot of the credit for originating the Unitarian church.
10th Sunday of Summer: August 24. Journey with the Stranger.
Rev. LoraKim Joyner.
During this service we will celebrate the beginning of our year-long project of learning how to love our neighbors as ourselves by journeying with them. In particular the youth from 6th – 12th grade will have a curricula of this name. They will be asking the questions: how can we care for those we do not know? How can we get to know those who are strangers so that we see them as neighbors? Part of this project will involve traveling to Guatemala in June 2009 with the youth of this congregation. If you are interested, contact our Director of Religious Education, Jane Edwards.
11th Sunday of Summer: August 31. Harmony and Civility.
Religious Education for Children
Children join their families in the Sanctuary for Sunday Services. At about 11:15 AM, after the Story for All Ages, the congregation "sings the children out" to attend their Religious Education classes.
Adult Discussion Groups
Our adult discussion groups usually meet at 9:30 AM on Sunday mornings. Some classes and adult discussions may take place during the week. Check the listing of Activities.
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