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It's possible this is because I'm just on an extreme emotional low today, but I'm contemplating going to church voluntarily for the first time in...ever? I don't know -- I'm feeling out of sorts lately and I think a sense of fellowship and community might help. Being agnostic limits my options somewhat, I'll admit, but I've always been interested in checing out the Unitarian Universalist Church and there happens to be one down the road.

So my question for you guys, if you've ever been to a UU service: what's it like? I come from a Methodist and Presbyterian background for reference, if that helps. How is it like other Protestant services, and how is it different? I can't think of a more delicate way to put this...exactly how "churchy" is it? I know a little bit, mostly that it's liberal and welcoming, and that's why I'm interested, but I want to know about the actual experience.

Mood::

curious

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There are 18 comments on this entry. (Reply.)

I'm UU, and the services tend to be somewhat Protestant church-like in form, but not so much in substance. Usually there are songs, there are readings (from various spiritual/humanist/other traditions, poetry, etc.), there's a part of the service for sharing joys and sorrows (traditionally announced with a plea for people to be brief and not use this as a platform for political rants), and there's a sermon and a period of silence for private meditation. Followed by coffee.

There's really a lot of diversity between congregations, more so than in most Protestant denominations. Part of that is the ministers -- having an atheist minister vs. a Buddhist minister vs. a Christian(-ish) minister vs. a pagan minister makes a big difference, and any of the above is possible -- and part of it is the makeup of the congregation itself.

I'd definitely check it out if you're interested and see what your local UU fellowship is like, and I'd be happy to tell you more about the ones I've been to -- not that I think any of them are in your area (?), but it might give you an idea of what's out there.

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Ditto. I'm also UU (big surprise, since I'm

penknife's partner) and most churches are very welcoming, though some are sort of shy and don't glom all over you immediately. You're in MD, right? Or am I on crack there? I'm trying to think about specific congregations....

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Yep, MD, though extreme Southern MD at the moment; I think there's only one other congregation nearby. I live in the Rockville area, though, so anything you've got on the locals there would be very useful.

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Oh for heaven's sake! We're in Clarksburg! Our nearest Metro stop is Shady Grove! We're practically neighbors!

penknife and I have visited a number of different congregations in the area. My take on them:

Silver Spring -- not so much our cup of tea. It's kind of a long haul, and it seemed very Baby Boomer.

Rockville -- everyone was really nice, and it was a little more formal and well organized. It seemed like lots of older people though, and not so many young people with kids.

Germantown -- I liked it, though it's a tiny church meeting in the Masonic Lodge while their yurt is a-building! Yes, yurt. They're building a yurt to have church in. Nice, friendly, very very granola.

Frederick -- I like this one best -- medium sized, very eclectic, lots of young people and kids, has their own outdoor permanent labyrinth!

Columbia -- Ok, but really, really disorganized. Part of this is because they meet in a middle school gym. Also, it's a really, really long drive for us.

I haven't visited Paint Branch, though I hear it's really ritzy (Bethesda).

Mind you, I don't think you'd have a bad experience in either Rockville or Germantown, but I do really like Frederick best!

We have to get together!

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I didn't realize you guys were so close! I live in Gaithersburg, about five minutes from Shady Grove. It would be awesome to get together some weekend when I'm home from school :)

And thanks very much for the rundown -- Frederick's a bit of a drive, but its labyrinth wins it extra points.

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You should try Frederick! That's where I live. And go to meeting, for that matter, though recently I've made it to meeting elsewhere far more often than I've made it to meeting in Frederick.

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That's the sort of thing I wanted to know. Thank you!

Do you know about any of the churches in Montgomery Country/Rockville/Germantown, perchance?

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I attended a UU service a few months ago, and it was overall a positive experience. (I haven't gone back yet but do intend to.) There was a lot of music from various spiritual traditions, a singing meditation, and great sermon/lecture about Buddhist ideas of grace. I come from an Episcopalian background, which has a lot of ritual worship, so the UU church wasn't terribly "churchy" to me. The only symbols were a gong struck at the beginning of service, and a flame lit in a basin at the front of the hall. I loved the music and I took a lot with me from the homily, which was thought-provoking and inspiring. And the congregation was wonderfully friendly--they even have a pagan ministry.

Different churches are going to have different "feels" to them, though. I wish you good luck in your search!

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I'm really glad to hear the sermon was so interesting. Thank you! I think there's another church around here as well, so I might visit both.

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I grew up mostly in Calvary Chapel churches. I really love them because the atmosphere is pretty relaxed (jeans are totally fine, as long as they're not all shredded, flip-flops, t-shirts, whatever), and everyone seems pretty welcoming. The worship music is contemporary and cool too. Don't know what to tell you about the Unitarian thing, though. All I know is that's where my sister-in-law goes.

I would suggest looking up some churches you might be interested in and finding their websites. Most churches have a "statement of purpose" sort of thing where you can read about their beliefs, plus there are handy things like service times, maps and directions, and even pictures of the buildings.

I went to church practically every Sunday of my life growing up, but somehow I haven't gone for over a year now. I'm in school five days a week, work most Saturdays (and half the Sundays, too), so it feels like Sundays are my only days off most of the time. I just sleep way the heck in and do laundry and veg. Bleh. I feel bad about it, I want to get back into the "habit" of going to church, but it's hard to start making myself do it, you know? Once I get into the swing of it, it'd be easier, it's just started. Good for you for feeling the desire to go, though! I hope you find what you're looking for.

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Regular church isn't for me, since I haven't considered myself Christian since I was fourteen or so, but I'm really interested in the broader spirituality of UU. Thanks for the encouragement!

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Try the Quakers - I find them excellent for community without undue preaching and posturing.

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Thanks for the advice :)

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What I was going to say, given I'm one. And there's a meeting in Annapolis. And we're nice and all in general.

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Duly noted. BTW, I really want to go see a show with you one of these days -- sometime this spring, perhaps...

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Cool.

And I suppose it's rather late to shanghai you into joining us this weekend (I Hate Hamlet/Hamlet @ AU), but the next outing I'm heading up after that is for Rape of Lucrece at Clark Street and Twelfth Night at Theatre on the Run the first weekend in March . . . otherwise, just watch my journal, as I'll be doing monthly round-ups and then individual posts about outings.

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hey!! i'm pagan, but i actually attend a UU church and all my pagan groups are centered there, and i have to say that its fun. they seem to vary. some can be very, very christian. ours follows the basic service structure that you're probably familiar with, but they have no problem with totally throwing that out the window and making things up as they go along if the mood strikes them.

i find mine to be almost astonishingly sunshiny and sweet. its rather like going to a church service held by the Muppets :D sometimes i have culture shock issues. but always in a good way.

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Hee, Muppets. Thank you!

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