First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa

A note about language: our congregations are often very careful about the language they choose, and different groups may use different words for the same structure. Worship services are also known as assemblies or meetings or church services. However, "assembly" may also mean a different kind of congregational gathering, such as one for Religious Exploration.

The first thing most people think of when they think "church" is worship: the gathering of the congregation to be in community and share wisdom. Because our theologies vary so widely, worship rarely is directed at a specific diety or other entity, although such language might appear intermittently during a service. Instead, services are a space to open people up to their own wisdom, that they might connect more deeply with themselves and with each other.

To this end, services are generally constructed with a variety of elements, including music, readings, and opportunities for sharing. They can take a number of different forms; some forms have names like “Soulful Sundown” or “circle worship”, others are spontaneous one-off creations of the worship leader. Most services held on Sundays follow a modified form of a traditional liberal Protestant worship service…but not all do.

activity: if there are alternative services at your congregation, attend one. Go with an open mind.

activity: find a congregation of another faith tradition which has nontraditional services or services which are substantially different from those to which you are accustomed. Go. Three times. Yes, with an open mind. Write about your impressions each time when you get home.

activity: find out what Soulful Sundown services are. Attend one if possible.

activity: find a youth conference (sometimes known as a rally), find out when they will be having worship (usually in the evening) and attend.

activity: for three services in a row, attend with a small notepad. Take notes on what moves you; look at the order of service if there is one and see if you can find an overarching structure.

activity: meet with a minister and discuss worship planning—find out what purpose the components serve and why they are there, and what process leads to a typical Sunday service at your congregation.

making change: discuss what you learned about other worship styles with others in your congregation.

opportunity: join the worship committee if you have one and help in service planning

opportunity: start or help plan an alternative style service for your congregation. bonus: think about how different worship styles might affect attendance and the composition of the congregation.

activity: attend a service held by a cultural group different from your own.

activity: sit with three other congregants. Start from scratch. Design a worship service in the usual liturgy. Meet again and reconsider, then design one in a different liturgy.

opportunity: find out how to get the opportunity to lead worship, and lead a service of your design.

activity: go through the hymnbook. Read the readings, hum the hymns. Get help if you can’t read music.

opportunity: organise a hymn sing at your congregation

activity: consider different musical styles and how music influences worship.

activity: walk around your congregation’s worship space. Consider how the aesthetics of the space affect the worship experience.

making change: what might you design differently in your worship hall?

links: worshipweb at the UUA

lead me onward lead me backward take me home

Confused by the alphabet soup? Try the glossary

A Quirky Intro to Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism by Leela Sinha
Guided Tour: worship	If you like things in order . . . Introduction to the guided tour: . . . . .. lead me onward If your mind loves a search . . . Menu by Subject general information about Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism history polity general theology personal theology Religious Exploration political/social action involvement at First Unitarian, Ottawa, Ontario CANADA
A note about language: our congregations are often very careful about the language they choose, and different groups may use different words for the same structure. Worship services are also known as assemblies or meetings or church services. However, "assembly" may also mean a different kind of congregational gathering, such as one for Religious Exploration. The first thing most people think of when they think "church" is worship: the gathering of the congregation to be in community and share wisdom. Because our theologies vary so widely, worship rarely is directed at a specific diety or other entity, although such language might appear intermittently during a service. Instead, services are a space to open people up to their own wisdom, that they might connect more deeply with themselves and with each other. To this end, services are generally constructed with a variety of elements, including music, readings, and opportunities for sharing. They can take a number of different forms; some forms have names like “Soulful Sundown” or “circle worship”, others are spontaneous one-off creations of the worship leader. Most services held on Sundays follow a modified form of a traditional liberal Protestant worship service…but not all do. activity: if there are alternative services at your congregation, attend one. Go with an open mind. activity: find a congregation of another faith tradition which has nontraditional services or services which are substantially different from those to which you are accustomed. Go. Three times. Yes, with an open mind. Write about your impressions each time when you get home. activity: find out what Soulful Sundown services are. Attend one if possible. activity: find a youth conference (sometimes known as a rally), find out when they will be having worship (usually in the evening) and attend. activity: for three services in a row, attend with a small notepad. Take notes on what moves you; look at the order of service if there is one and see if you can find an overarching structure. activity: meet with a minister and discuss worship planning—find out what purpose the components serve and why they are there, and what process leads to a typical Sunday service at your congregation. making change: discuss what you learned about other worship styles with others in your congregation. opportunity: join the worship committee if you have one and help in service planning opportunity: start or help plan an alternative style service for your congregation. bonus: think about how different worship styles might affect attendance and the composition of the congregation. activity: attend a service held by a cultural group different from your own. activity: sit with three other congregants. Start from scratch. Design a worship service in the usual liturgy. Meet again and reconsider, then design one in a different liturgy. opportunity: find out how to get the opportunity to lead worship, and lead a service of your design. activity: go through the hymnbook. Read the readings, hum the hymns. Get help if you can’t read music. opportunity: organise a hymn sing at your congregation activity: consider different musical styles and how music influences worship. activity: walk around your congregation’s worship space. Consider how the aesthetics of the space affect the worship experience. making change: what might you design differently in your worship hall? links: worshipweb at the UUA lead me onward lead me backward take me home Confused by the alphabet soup? Try the glossary
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