What should I wear?
You are welcome to wear whatever makes you comfortable - just come as you are. Most of our members dress in casual attire. Many men wear either jeans or Dockers and a shirt (ties are rarely seen). Women wear either dresses/skirts or pants. Children should wear comfortable clothes, such as jeans and sneakers.
What happens during the worship service?
Each week our service is different, but a typical Sunday service consists of announcements; readings, including our covenant (see sidebar); hymns and other music; a brief silent meditation; sharing of personal joys and concerns; and a sermon or talk (usually under a half-hour), as described in the next question.
All elements of each service are chosen to complement the theme of the sermon. (Read about our upcoming services.) After the service, people socialize over coffee and other refreshments, while continuing the discussions generated by the sermon.
What are the sermons like?
Our "sermons" may be unlike what you grew up with, since we don't try to tell anyone exactly what to think or do. In fact, we usually don't call them sermons but rather "talks." These talks strive to offer personal and thought-provoking ideas on a topic so that you can examine that topic more deeply and determine your own beliefs about it. (Read the topics of past sermons to get a feel for the variety of our service topics.) After the talk, the speaker sometimes invites comments and questions from the congregation to facilitate a dialog. Our talks are variously offered by our minister, church members, or a knowledgeable visiting professional - and sometimes the "talk" time for the service is used in other ways, such as with music, poetry, or ritual.
What holidays and ceremonies are celebrated?
Although our services vary each year, we try to celebrate many of the great religious holidays in some way that speaks to the UU faith, including Easter, Passover, Summer and Winter Solstices, Day of the Dead, Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanza. Religious ceremonies include marriages, memorial services, child dedication and naming ceremonies, and coming of age ceremonies. In addition, we have guest speakers and members of our own congregation who make special presentations at times to explain religious holidays and festivals specific to Native American and other pre-Christian or tribal religions from elsewhere in the world.
What would my children do during the service?
We have plenty of things for children to do during the service. Unlike many other church services which separate the children from the adults and take them off to learn elsewhere we know that children learn complex tasks like language passively even while doing other things. Children stay for the service and are guided and assisted at arts and crafts at one or two tables in the rear while being able to hear the service. This provides them a religious education teaching them how to make informed and ethical choices while they work creatively.
Will I be welcome?
Yes, we welcome everyone. One of our core beliefs is accepting and celebrating the wide diversity of humanity. Over the years, we have had members who were rich and poor, black and white, young and old, walking and wheeling, heterosexual and homosexual. Our members come from many different occupations, cultural heritages, and religious backgrounds.
Is your church accessible to people in wheelchairs?
Yes, our building and bathrooms are handicapped accessible. All elements of the Sunday service can be enjoyed while remaining seated.
What if I'm part of an interfaith family?
Many Brooksville Universalist Unitarian Church in the Pines families embrace more than one religion and specifically choose our church because we honor and celebrate many religious traditions. This means each spouse or other family member can continue to practice some elements of his/her faith, while sharing in a common faith with other family members.
Will I be welcome if I'm gay or lesbian?
Yes, some of our members are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered (GLBT). We are a welcoming congregation to people of all sexual orientations.
How about if I'm agnostic or atheist?
Yes, some of our members are agnostics, atheists, humanists, transhumanists, scientists, and others who don't fully embrace the notion of "God." So why do they come to our church? We give people a safe place to explore and grow spiritually, wherever they start from and wherever they journey. We provide a larger forum for making a difference in the world through social action. And we provide a vibrant social community - everyone likes interesting conversations and potlucks!
Will I be pressured to join or convert?
We do try to be friendly, by greeting visitors as they enter the church and chatting with them during the meal and coffee hour. However, we don't ask you to join our church right away, since you may wish to visit for a few months to see whether we are a good fit. And we don't pressure you to convert since we respect everyone's personal spiritual beliefs and accept all religious traditions and there is nothing to convert to or away from. Eventually, we'd be happy if you decide to become a member of our church, but we won't push you to do so, and some people continue coming for years without ever officially joining our church.
Are you related to the Unity or Unification churches?
No, there is no connection (other than our names start with "Uni," which sometimes causes confusion). We are liberal, too, but not all of us are Christian. The Unification Church is a fundamentalist Christian church run by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon.
