Questions and Answers About First UU

Before attending a Sunday morning worship service, what would you suggest I do to find out more about First UU?

Continue to check out this website; it is updated regularly. Our pages here include information about our worship services, our community, and Unitarian Universalism’s Seven Principles. You may also sign up for our weekly email newsletter, which is sent out every Friday. It includes information about our upcoming Sunday service, as well as other church programs and events. (To sign up, please visit our Contact page and fill out the Email Form found there.)

Another great way to “get to know us” is to check out our official Facebook page. We also encourage you to explore the Unitarian Universalist Association website (this link is also located in the sidebar to the right, so it’s always easy to find). The UUA offers a wealth of information about UU history, worship, inspiration, and social justice initiatives.

How can I get acquainted with First UU?

Once you’ve read a little about us, you may be ready to come and check out a Sunday service! You can also call our church office at 724.349.2776. Church office hours are Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 11 AM to 2:30 PM; and Sunday, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

Here’s another good idea: you could also attend a “non-worship” event. First UU offers all sorts of events that are open to the public. Come to one of these and meet some people outside of a Sunday morning worship experience. This is a great way to get a sense of what our congregation is like. We especially recommend the 11:30 AM “Social Hour” held each Sunday morning after worship. It’s a time for members, friends, and visitors to chat, share a cup of coffee or tea, and get to know one another in a relaxed setting.

When you’re ready to check out our 10:30 AM Sunday service in the church sanctuary, why not bring a friend or family member with you? We understand that it can feel a little strange to visit a new church alone. Grab someone you know and share the experience!

We come together each week for a time of community worship – a time separate from the busy-ness of our lives; a time to raise high that which gives worth and meaning to our lives. Our Sunday morning worship service is about community: a time to make connections, share compassionately with each other, and be reminded what we need to do to be our best selves.

Everything I have learned about Unitarian Universalism speaks to it as a non-creedal faith. Why do you call your Sunday morning service a worship service? ?

The UU faith values personal spiritual experiences, the quest for truth and justice both personally and in the wider world, and a strong sense of community and inclusion.

What if I don’t believe in God? What if I do believe, but am not sure what to “do” with that belief? Or, what if I’m just not sure what I believe?

Unitarian Universalism has its roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Some of our members and friends come from faith backgrounds, and these folks bring their faiths and beliefs to UU with them, sharing community with us as they walk those creedal spiritual paths. Others identify as “spiritual but not religious.” Still others refer to themselves as agnostic, atheist, or “just don’t know.” At First UU, all of these points of view are welcomed and valued. Our Seven Principles include “encouragement to spiritual growth” and “a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” We hope those ideals reassure you that you are welcome here.

What can I expect at a Sunday service?

Each service is unique, but the worship outline remains consistent so we are all able to stay within a comfort zone of expectations. Please visit our Sunday Services page for details.

A note: you do not need to “dress up” to attend First UU! The general dress of our members is “family casual.”

Do children attend the same 10:30 AM Sunday service as adults?

Young children are able to be with you in our sanctuary if you wish, or they are welcome to spend time in our nursery. Free nursery care is provided to infants, toddlers and preschoolers aged three months to 4 years of age.

Children of all ages attend the beginning of each service with their parents. Together we light our flaming chalice, sing a hymn or two, and listen to a story or message for all ages, often presented by our Director of Religious Exploration, Penny Vick. The children are then dismissed to their RE classrooms.

Do you offer Sunday school for children?

Absolutely! In fact, it was because our classrooms were “bursting at the seams” with smiling young faces that we expanded our building! In our structured Religious Exploration (RE) curriculum, children identify intangible gifts central to Unitarian Universalism, such as friendship, hospitality, and fairness. Children also learn to reflect on the qualities of our faith, such as compassion, love, integrity, and courage. We encourage children to discover ways to use our UU Principles in living their lives. All of our classes revolve around an annual theme that includes: Unitarian Universalist History and Identity, World Religions, our Judeo-Christian roots, and Social Justice.

As mentioned above, our entire community is together for the first 15 minutes or so of our Sunday morning worship service. The adults then join in singing our “Children’s Blessing” as the children, youth, and volunteer teachers leave for their age-appropriate Religious Exploration classes. (Please visit our Children and Youth Pages under the Religious Exploration tab on our Home page for more information about this year’s RE program.)

How do I learn more about membership?

The first time you visit us, we invite you to sign a blue visitors card. This card allows us to add you to our email list if we haven’t already done so. Members and friends receive an email update each week, usually on Fridays.

Our newsletter will announce our New UU classes, sponsored by the Membership Committee along with our pastor, Elizabeth Mount. This program is offered several times throughout the year and will provide information about Unitarian Universalist history, the history of First UU, an overview of our organization (i.e., how things work here), and information about our annual pledge drive and the opportunities of membership.

Signing our Membership Book (a tradition since our congregation’s beginning) is the official act of joining First UU Church. A New Member Welcome Ceremony is part of our worship service several times a year.

Is it true that Unitarian Universalism is one of America’s top “other” religions?

Yes it is! In the United States, Christian tops the chart of religious preference. In the category of other religions, the most prevalent (in order) are Jewish, Muslim/Islam, Buddhist, and then Unitarian Universalist!  (This is based on self-described religious identification of adult population in US Census Data – 2008.)