Be Our Guest This Week !
The First Unitarian Church has been honored to host many guests each week for worship.
Some are curious about liberal religion and Unitarian Universalism. Can there really be a church that is open to the wisdom of all the world’s religions?
Some are looking for a religious education program for their children that will help them develop spiritually to become morally strong and open-minded.
Some are looking for a religious community and companions for life’s journey.
Some are sad or troubled and are helped by an hour of beautiful music in a beautiful setting, and an inspiring message of hope.
Some come once and never come again. (We do not pressure or proselytize.)
Some come every once in a while.
Some come once and stay a lifetime.
We trust that you will find a religious path somewhere that brings you closer to what is true and real and sustaining. We are just happy to be able to offer you this opportunity to join us, as our covenant says, “in the love of truth, and the Spirit of Jesus, for the worship of God.”
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A
Guide
For
First
Time
Visitors | Entering the Building:
For the first time, it is best to come in through the front door. After all, you are our honored guests! You may be greeted by one of the ministers on the front porch, and you will be certainly greeted by one of the ushers in the lobby of the church. You will receive an Order of Service at that time. Feel free to sit anywhere in the sanctuary. (The pews have doors and numbers, but these are relics of a by-gone era.) You can also choose to sit in the balcony, along the sides. The choir sits in the center.
Restrooms are down the stairs on either side of the lobby. The men’s is on your right; the women’s to your left.
When to Come:
Between 10:00 and 10:30 AM.
At 10:05, the congregation meets before the Worship Service for “A Time for Community”. This period includes announcements of upcoming events, reports on church activities and other information. There is always a musical offering during the Time for Community, featuring some of the musical talent of the congregation. This is a fun and lively period.
At 10:25, The bell-ringer moves through the sanctuary, ringing a Buddhist Temple Bell. This signals the end of the Time for Community and the beginning of the Worship Service. The Worship Prelude Music begins as the sanctuary falls silent.
At 10:30 Worship begins. It will end somewhere around 11:30.
If you are coming for the first time with children, it is best to come before 10:15 so that we can help you and your children feel comfortable in our building. When you enter the church, tell the usher that you are coming with children for the first time. The usher will introduce you to the Director of Religious Education or to a member of the Religious Education Committee, who will orient you to the program
Most Sundays, children sit with their parents for the beginning of worship. They will be released to go with their teachers to their classes at a point marked in the order of service. Parents are welcome to accompany their children to their classes, and stay with them until they are comfortable, and to return to the sanctuary at any time.
On one Sunday per month, the children meet for Children’s Worship instead of starting in the sanctuary with their parents. Ask an usher to direct you to the Chapel. Parents are welcome to attend the children’s worship service, and then come to the sanctuary when the children go to their classes.
Child care is available from 9:00 a.m. through the end of the service. Between 9 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., child care for children in 6th grade and younger is available in room 4 in the lower level. At 10:00, the Nursery opens to provide child care for children under the age of three. Our nursery is in room 6, located on the lower level. Ask an usher to direct you.
Some parents prefer to keep their infants and toddlers with them throughout the service. The rearmost pews on either side have extra room. The service is broadcast throughout the lobby; parents can take distressed, restless or very vocal children into the lobby where they can move around.
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Accessibility | The First Unitarian Church is almost entirely accessible for those with limited mobility.
For those with Limited Mobility: Park in the parking lot between the Church and the County Court House. If you come in the open door there, you can reach the sanctuary without any steps. There is space for wheelchairs in front of the pews along both sides, and in the last pews on both sides.
For those with Limited Hearing: There are personal amplification devices available which broadcast the service throughout the sanctuary and the building. They are located at the rear of the sanctuary on the courthouse side. Ask one of the ushers for assistance.
For those with Limited Vision: Large Print versions of the Gray hymnal are available, Ask the ushers.
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