Worship and Music
The Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek offers worship services each Sunday morning at 10:30. Throughout the year there are additional special services to honor the Equinoxes and Solstices, as well as Christmas Eve. Visitors are warmly welcomed to join in worship.
Upon entering the sanctuary, a greeter will hand you an Order of Service, show you where to find a hymnal, and help you find a seat. At Mill Creek, as in most other Unitarian Universalist congregations, worship services begin with the lighting of the flaming chalice (our symbol of faith) and opening words, followed by hymns, a prayer or meditation, readings, and a sermon. Instrumental and vocal music offered by our choir or visiting musicians is a regular part of our worship. Services may also include announcements and a time for worshippers to share their joys and concerns, and an offering of money is usually received.
Since religious exploration classes for children take place on Sunday mornings at the time of the service, children’s worship takes place in one of the classrooms. The services, designed to allow children to participate and interact, begin with a chalice lighting and sharing of joys and sorrows. Stories and songs are also included. From time to time, intergenerational services take place in the sanctuary.
What members and visitors wear for Sunday services is entirely a matter of choice and tends to be casual. While most wear “business casual” clothes, jeans and shorts are not uncommon.
Following the service, we gather for coffee, tea, snacks, and conversation. All are welcome, and this is a wonderful opportunity to find out more about Unitarian Universalism and the Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek.
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Music is a vibrant and important element of the worship experience at UUSMC. Hymns from Singing the Living Tradition, the hymnal used in most UU congregations, and Singing the Journey, a supplement to the hymnal, are most commonly sung, although songs from a variety of sources are often included. Visitors may recognize some familiar tunes and words, but our music is a reflection of our diversity and our respect for many traditions.
The music director, choir, and accompanist are all members of UUSMC, and members of the congregation, some professional musicians, frequently offer their musical talents. Guest instrumentalists, vocalists, and choirs—from klezmer bands to gospel singers to classically trained soloists —are often invited to enhance our worship together.