What to Expect at Sunday Service
Welcome! Sunday morning services are central to our gatherings. As they are your home for at least the hour–here’s what to expect.
We gather to find meaning and live more deeply. We gather to create connections within, among, and beyond us, calling us to our better selves, calling us to live with more wisdom and more compassion.
Sunday services are offered in-person and online. If you join online, they premiere each Sunday at 10:00 am on our YouTube channel. Information on how to join Sunday service can be found on our Access from Home tab. If you join us for the premiere, you’re welcome to connect with other participants through the live chat feature. Or you can tune in another time, when it is convenient.
Elements of a Sunday morning service usually include:
- Words of welcome
- Lighting a chalice, the symbol of our faith
- A Children’s Affirmation of our core values
- A multigenerational story, “A Time for All Ages”
- Music in a variety of genres that enhances the spiritual experience
- Sharing of joys, sorrows, and milestones
- Prayer and meditation
- Readings—ancient or contemporary
- A sermon, or opportunity to delve into questions of purpose and possibility
- An offering of financial support for both our church and a nonprofit that aligns with the church’s values
Special celebrations include holidays, child dedications, and coming-of-age ceremonies.
When we meet in-person, children join in the first part of every service before departing to explore, question, and learn in age-appropriate religious education classes. For more about religious education at UUCR, either during or post pandemic, you are invited to contact the Director of Religious Education.
What to wear: Wear what you please. You’ll see people in skirts and neckties but also in shorts and jeans.
Parking: If for mobility reasons you would like to park close to the church, you are welcome to a space in our parking lot. Otherwise, there are many allowed parking spots on the streets surrounding the church.
Arriving: Enter at either the Summer Ave entrance, which is wheelchair accessible, or the Woburn St entrance. You’ll be greeted by a volunteer usher and offered an order of service. You may like to fill out a nametag. Feel free to chat or slip in quietly to find a seat. If you have questions or would like to talk with our Member Services and Volunteer Coordinator, you can fill out the Connections card at your pew and place it either in the offering plate or on the Welcome Table in the Atrium. An usher can show you to the Welcome Table where you can leave your Connections card and find informational brochures about UUCR.
Accessibility: Our Summer Ave entrance is wheelchair accessible, and space is always available in the sanctuary for wheelchairs, canes, and walkers. Please let the usher know if you’d like assistance. If you call on a weekday prior to your visit (781-944-0494), we can help with your assistive listening device or provide a large-print order of service.
Where to sit: Seating is open; simply find a place that feels comfortable.
Singing: You’ll find a hymnal at your seat. The hymns chosen for the day are indicated in the order of service and also noted during the service. Feel free to sing, read, or listen along.
Post-service Social Hour: Please join us in Fellowship Hall for coffee, tea, and conversation. You may also join us on zoom for a virtual social hour.
More Information