By Beryl Aschenberg, Director of Religious Education
Communal worship is the central spiritual practice of Unitarian Universalism and is an integral part of our spiritual growth as human beings. Sunday mornings provide us with a unique opportunity to come together as a community, to help our young people learn what it means to grow as a spiritual human being and to develop an identity as a Unitarian Universalist. For adults, multigenerational worship is an opportunity to learn what it means to grow along with our young and to model spiritual growth themselves.
Beginning with this year’s Ingathering Sunday; young people are invited to join us in the sanctuary for a Time for All Ages. There will be music, welcoming, a few announcements, a story or ritual, and maybe some special surprises on occasion. After the first fifteen minutes or so, the children and youth will be “sung out” with a recessional hymn and will move to their Religious Education classes. For parents of the youngest among us, we will continue to offer the Nursery or Early Childhood class concurrently with the services. Parents always have the option of having their little ones stay with them if they choose, or to hang out together in the Parlor where the service can be heard and the youngsters can be more mobile.
Throughout the year, we hold several special multigenerational services where our young people are welcomed to be with us throughout the full worship experience. These services are noted with the service information found in our weekly electronic announcements, in the Chanticleer, and on the signs posted on the entrance to the Sanctuary. The first of these will be in November, before Thanksgiving.