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.
