About Our Sermons

Sunday Service at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville is the high point of our life together and is the best way to discover what being a "UU" is all about. As we are non-creedal, our worship services are influenced by centuries of Unitarian and Universalist religious tradition, the religions of the world, our spiritual journeys, social justice issues, and science. Though our topics are diverse, our rituals like the Chalice Lighting, Singing, Joys and Concerns, and the Story for All Ages give us continuity, as does our belief that "we need not think alike to love alike" (Francis David, Transylvanian Unitarian minister 16th Century). We seek to achieve a "relaxed reverence" where people feel welcome, just as they are, to join us in exploring the mysteries of life.

Children are a welcome part of our worship service as we gather, sing, and tell stories. As time for the sermon approaches, the children and their teachers usually go to their Religious Education classes. A window room is provided at the back of the sanctuary for families with infants and toddlers where the children can play or nap, and their parents can view and hear the service.

It is traditional in Unitarian Universalist congregations that the minister leads worship services for three weeks each month, and has several weeks off during the summer for study, preparation and renewal for the coming year. On the Sundays when the minister is not in the pulpit, a committee of congregants, the Sunday Worship Service Committee, guided by the minister, prepares the worship services. Sometimes these services are intergenerational and interactive, calling on the congregation to participate in some way. Sometimes we invite a guest minister from another UU congregation, a guest minister from another faith, or an expert on a topic of interest to deliver the sermon. We recognize that inspiration can come to us from many different sources and that our minister is much more than a "preacher."

Besides fun, hospitality, good food, and a great message, there is another thing that consistently stands out about worship at UUFG: our music program. Our excellent Minister of Music and music director of 30 years, Ruth Lewis, leads choirs of enthusiastic singers spanning all ages. Many people cite the music as their main attractant to UUFG.

Please join us so that as we grow in diversity, we will grow the beloved community.

Children join their families in the Sanctuary for the first 15 minutes or so of our Sunday Services. If you would feel more comfortable, there is a Window Room in the back where children who are having a hard time keeping their volume down can relax, and parents can hear the service piped in. Feel free to ask an Usher for more information. As part of the Sunday Service, we hold a "Story for All Ages" at the front of the Sanctuary and have the youngest in our congregation come forward. The minister, worship leaders, members, youth, and friends have all taken part in the past on leading or participating in the Story for All Ages. This has taken many forms, including a dialogue, discussion, play, song, and more. After it is finished being shared, the children are "sung out" by the congregation on their way to their Religious Education classes.

We honor the joys and sorrows of our congregation each week during the Sunday service.

Upon entering the sanctuary, look to the right window. There is usually a tall table with a book on top — this is where you may write in your joy or your sorrow, and light a candle. The book entries are read each week during the service and frequently, a moment of silence is held for what is expressed.