Archives: Services

Welcoming the Stranger: the “oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions”

Wave after wave of immigrants have come to America. Opening our country’s doors and welcoming people from other parts of the world who are seeking freedom and dreaming of a better life is part of America’s identity. Supporting a positive experience for immigrants who come to the United States is part of Winchester Unitarian Society’s … Continue reading Welcoming the Stranger: the “oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions”

“For Our Failures of Justice”: History, Atonement and Yom Kippur

The High Holy Days, the Days of Awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at the threshold of the Jewish New Year, invite us into reflection about the ways we have fallen short in our promises to one another. While this time of atonement often centers on experiences between individuals, it is also a time … Continue reading “For Our Failures of Justice”: History, Atonement and Yom Kippur

Great Expectations: The Challenge of the Liberal Religious Path

Unitarian Universalism affirms that everyone will be received in love after death. This faith does not ask anyone to profess a doctrine, creed or theology to belong in community. So practicing a Unitarian Universalist faith is easy, right? This service will explore how, despite our commitment to spiritual pluralism and inclusion, Unitarian Universalism expects much … Continue reading Great Expectations: The Challenge of the Liberal Religious Path

“There is a Love Holding Us”: Celebrating Pastoral Ministry

Many join and commit to a congregation “for community.” Whether we think about it at the time, we often seek community so that we do not live through our joys, transitions, sorrows and fears alone. This service will reflect on how we companion one another through the peaks and valleys of life. It will also … Continue reading “There is a Love Holding Us”: Celebrating Pastoral Ministry

“Grace Does Not Agree to Your Terms and Conditions:” Spirituality

There is a well-known saying: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” But what makes us “spiritual beings?” What does “spirituality” mean to you? This service will explore how some having a human experience understand spirituality. In this season of summers end and back to … Continue reading “Grace Does Not Agree to Your Terms and Conditions:” Spirituality

Water Communion

“From Rain to River to Sea: The Power of Us” As the story goes, attendees of a UU women’s conference were asked to bring a little water from home so they could create a sense of home as they built community together. This is how we often begin our new year so please bring some water … Continue reading Water Communion

Politics and Morality

September 1, 2019 Martin Newhouse The relation between morality and politics is I think on many people’s minds these days, given the concerns about our divided national government and the almost daily reports of statements and decisions that seem routinely to provoke moral outrage (often stoked to a fever pitch by our 24/7 news reporting).   … Continue reading Politics and Morality

Blessing of the Animals

“Where the Crawdads Sing,” our annual Animal Blessing worship service.  Please join us for this service for all ages, and all species, in which we honor our kinship with the other animals who share their world with us. We recognize and remember animals we have known and loved, and we offer a blessing of health and … Continue reading Blessing of the Animals

Living Our Faith

Do you integrate the seven UU principles into your everyday life? It’s easier than you think! Living Our Faith August 18, 2019 Patty Cameron Once upon a time, doesn’t every good story start that way? But seriously, once upon a time, in my lifetime, there were Unitarians and Universalists. Two separate faiths. I grew up … Continue reading Living Our Faith