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“Let us worship with our eyes and ears and fingertips. Let us love the world through heart and mind and body. Let us worship, and let us learn to love.”                –Kenneth L. Patton

WORSHIP at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing

    Worship is the ritual response to life; a way of centering and empowering ourselves in community in order to sustain and transform the world. The sermon is often, but not always, the central act of worship in Unitarian Universalist churches. At the UU Church of Greater Lansing, we also value greatly our high quality music. Worship is generally predictable and lasts an hour. This predictability provides solace and comfort in a hurting world, so that we can better hear and respond to the call for social justice.

    Worship is the responsibility of our minister, the Rev. Kathryn A. Bert, with the aid of a worship committee, called “Celebrations.” Our minister is in the pulpit 30-34 times a year. The remaining Sundays are led by lay leaders, guest ministers, or other invited speakers. The Celebrations Committee and the Minister collaborate very closely with each other, the Director of Music, and the Director of Religious Education.

PROGRAM STAFF

MINISTER 
Rev. Kathryn A. Bert 351-4081 ext. 5

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC 
Rachel Alexander 351-4081 ext. 4

DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 
Teresa Putnam, DRE 351-4081 ext. 3

PIANIST Stuart D. Foster

CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE 2006
Brad Rutledge, chair
Other members include:
Ann Andrews
Jerry Moran
Laurel Ponist
Peter Ruark
Gwen Wyatt

This is designed to explain the most common elements of worship and the standard order of service. On any given Sunday you may come to church and discover worship to be entirely different than what is laid out in this pamphlet! We are a tradition that embraces change. Most Sundays, however, you will encounter some of the following elements of worship:

Preparation: A chime is rung to signify the beginning of the service. The congregation settles into their seats, becomes quiet to enjoy the prelude music. People who arrive late are asked to wait in the vestibule until the opening hymn, when there is an opportunity for them to find a seat without interrupting the service.

Prelude: Music.

Call to Worship: These short opening words set the theme for the worship service. Often the words are poetic or sacred in nature.

Opening Hymn: The congregation is asked to rise as willing and able to sing an opening hymn, usually the same hymn for a month. Latecomers may be seated during the opening hymn and the welcome and announcements.

Welcome: A member of the Board of Trustees usually welcomes everybody to church, invites them for coffee after the service, and tells visitors how to get more information.

Greetings and Singing: We turn to those around us to greet them and then sing together a musical round. The words are printed in the order of service, and service leaders direct the congregation.

Chalice: The flaming chalice is a symbol of Unitarian Universalism and most U.U. congregations around the world light the chalice to symbolize the beginning of a worship service.

In Memoriam: At the beginning of each month, we recognize those who are in mourning with a moment of silence.

Story for All Ages: The children worship with the adults before going to their religious education classes. Twice a month we tell a story, and on other Sundays we try to make the rituals acessible the younger among us. We invite families to sit together for worship, and when the children leave for their classes, usually fifteen minutes into the service, we sing one of two songs, words printed in the order of service.

Announcements: The Board Member who did the Welcome will make any last minute church announcements. Most announcements are printed in the order of service.

Introit: The choir sings most Sundays from September through June, alternating between the early and the late service.  In the services in which they sing, there is an introit, a short choral piece, and an anthem, a longer choral piece, later in the service.

Statement of Faith: This statement is written and read by a member of the church and is about her or his theological journey or theological conclusions. This is an invited and planned part of the service, and it generally occurs the first Sunday of the month.

Living our Covenant: This statement is about the way in which a member of the church lives his or her faith in the world. This is an invited and planned part of the service, and it generally occurs the third Sunday of the month.

Joys and Sorrows: We light candles for those who have celebrated or suffered a significant milestone in their personal lives the second and fourth Sundays. We ask that you line up during the music, so that you may be ready to tell us your name, and your joy or sorrow. You may light a candle in silence if you prefer. We sing a hymn (seated) following the lighting of candles of joys and sorrow.

Prayer or meditation: A single poem, reading, or prayer is often shared for common reflection. This time of reflection is followed by special music or a hymn.

Reading: An excerpt from a book, a poem, or a responsive reading is often shared at this point in the service. This usually relates directly with the topic of the sermon.

Sermon: Sermons in our tradition are usually personal; with the hope that we can find and express the universal in the particular. The sermon is followed by a hymn. (Sermons significantly shorter than twenty minutes are called “homilies.”)

Offertory: The congregation is supported by the gifts of members and friends. We pass the basket and ask for contributions to the church, called the offering. Offertory is the special music performed during the plate offering.

Postlude: Closing music. You are invited to remain seated to enjoy the music and quiet reflection time before leaving.

Affirmation: At the end of each service, you are invited to stand, hold hands, and recite these words together:

May faith in love and hope for community keep us every growing and changing together. Peace.