Worship is central to the life of our congregation. Our worship services are fairly traditional, but we also seek to incorporate movement, ritual, and participatory elements on a regular basis. Music is a vital and important part of our services. We love to sing, and have many talented musicians in the congregation.
Our children and youth spend the first 20 minutes in the worship service most weeks, before heading off to their Faith Formation classes. Once a month, our children in preschool - 7th grade have their own Children's Chapel for the first part of the morning. Children's Chapel is led by our Director of Faith Formation, with the help of one of our Worship Associates, and often a musician from the congregation. We have several Whole Congregation Worship Services throughout the year, planned collaboratively by our Minister and our Director of Faith Formation.
This year, we have been experimenting with holding one Sunday evening service a month, in addition to our weekly Sunday morning services. Our evening service, which we call "Body & Soul," is simple, participatory service conducted in the round.
We are in our second year of theme-based ministry, and are a part of the Soul Matters Sharing Circle. Our themes are incorporated in all of our worship services and in some of our Adult Faith Formation programming.
We have a thriving Music Program, led by Jed Holland, our Music Director. Our choir sings nearly every Sunday during the regular church year, and soloists and small groups offer music on a regular basis as well.
Faith Formation
You can find detailed information about our Faith Formation programming by clicking here.
Justice and Outreach
Assembling 10,000 meals to feed the hungry
Social Justice The UUCN congregation is committed to social justice. We initiate projects that address key issues in our community, advocate for issues that speak to our values, and align with community organizations that can help strengthen the work we do.
Community Outreach We strive to have an active presence in the community and look for areas where we can lend a hand and make a difference. Our goal is not just to provide financial assistance, but also to encourage congregational participation, and raise awareness among members of the associated social and economic issues.
Our formal Pastoral Care Team is relatively new (formed about five years ago), but the caring for one another has long been an important part of UUCN's ethos. Our Pastoral Care Team meets monthly with the our Minister and Membership Coordinator. They send cards, visit with people who are homebound or need some extra support, reach out to members who are going through a difficult time, and offer occasional programs for the larger congregation on pastoral care topics.
Fellowship and Fun
UU Outdoors Group on a hike!
At UUCN, we are excited to offer a variety of programs and events for members and visitors to get connected with one another, enrich our congregation, and reach out to our community. Here is a sampling:
Check out our online calendar for more fun offerings!
Governance
Our congregation operates under policy-based governance. Our Minister also serves as Executive Director of the congregation and the head of staff. The Minister and staff are in charge of the day-to-day operations of the congregation, while our Board of Trustees focuses on policy-making, monitoring, and long-term visioning. We have a number of Teams that collaborate with our staff to do the work of the church, always keeping in mind the Mission, Values, and Ends articulated by our Board.