Message from the Worship Team, January 2012:

The Worship Team is pleased to announce that some slight, but meaningful, changes are coming to our Sunday service starting in February 2012.  With much input from members and others over the past few months, we arrived at some ways to make the service flow more smoothly, be a more meaningful experience and add some polish to boot. 

 After reviewing other UU church services – around the U.S. and the world - and with much discussion, the order of service will generally go like this:

Gathering Song - "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" (3x)

Opening Words

Chalice Lighting

Prelude

Welcome and Introductions

Hymn

Our Unitarian Universalist Heritage

Joys and Concerns

Offering

Meditation (optional)

Hymn

Sermon

Hymn

Closing Words

Extinguishing the Candle

Circle Song

Beyond some additions and rearrangements in the order above, you will notice that "announcements" have been omitted.  Since there are now weekly announcements sent via e-mail, and more printed on the Order of Service on

Sundays, it became apparent that this was one item that was not only redundant, but more importantly an "interruption" to the spiritual experience most people are seeking. 

Instead, please e-mail announcements to Claire for inclusion in the weekly notices.  You may also phone, mail or bring them in, as well!  We came to the conclusion that, other than a natural disaster, there probably isn't anything so emergent that it must be told to the congregation during the service.  We hope you will agree.

Sally and the Worship Team