First Unitarian Church of Worcester

Children and Youth attend the beginning of the regular 10:30 am worship with their families. The Family Time is a time for us to worship together as an entire community. Songs and readings for the beginning of the service will be specifically chosen with a multigenerational congregation in mind.

Before each service begins, all people will have an opportunity to light a small candle from a chalice burning in the front of the sanctuary.  The candle lighting is a private act, done without comment, during the Time for Community, the Announcements, and the Prelude. This is a space for people, especially families, to have a ritual moment together – to light a candle for a sick relative, a pet, to honor a birthday, etc.

Approximately once a month we will have Community Worship Services. On these days, we will have no children’s classes, but we will offer Nursery and “Extended Care” for children 2^nd grade and younger in Room 1 downstairs.  In “Extended Care,” our childcare providers will lead activities related to the service theme. 

Community Worship 2011-2012

• 9/25 – A Celebration of Fall
• 10/30 – A Child’s All Souls Service
• 11/27 – A Family Thanksgiving Service with Bread Communion
• 12/11 – The Christmas Pageant
• 1/1 – A Celebration of Winter
• 1/15 – A Martin Luther King, Jr. Pageant
• 3/25 – A Celebration of Spring
• 6/10 – A Celebration of Summer

Additionally, we will also have five “Youth Oriented” services where students 4^th-12^th grade will have no classes but will attend the service:
10/9 – Director of Faith Development preaching
2/5 – Coming of Age service 4/8 – Easter Sunday
4/29 – Senior High Sunday
6/3 – Director of Faith Development preaching

YRU2 are encouraged to sit together during the service in their designated section.  There may be other occasions when the YRU2 group decides to attend worship together throughout the year.