Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When do you meet?
Sundays following Labor Day – the third week of June @ 10:30am
Sundays from the fourth week of June - the end of August @ 9:30am
Check our website or Facebook page for current service information.
Is childcare available during worship?
Yes, except during Summer Services.
Where do you meet?
9 Upper River St. on the Common, Brookfield, MA 01506 (We’re “the little stone church that rocks” on the town common.)
Click here for directions/map.
What do adults wear?
Casual dress including jeans is the norm for our members and visitors. Generally, the only person wearing a tie is our minister.
What do children wear?
Again casual and comfortable is the norm.
What do children do during the service?
We are an multi-generational community. Generally children spend the first quarter of worship in the sanctuary and participate in weekly rituals like our chalice lighting and candles of joy and concern after which they recess to the church school to be together for religious education and exploration. After the service, all, including children, are invited to share refreshments and snacks at coffee hour. We also provide childcare in our nursery for the youngest children during the service.
May our child stay with us during the service?
Of course.
Will I be pressured to join or to be saved?
No. We don’t approach our visitors as customers to win over or souls to be saved. We’ll welcome you and answer any questions you might have. We’d be happy to have you join us, but we won’t try to push ourselves onto you. We believe a “hard sell” is counter to deep, lasting religious and spiritual exploration and expression.
Does your congregation have diverse beliefs?
Many of us started out as Catholic or Protestant Christians. A few of us come from Jewish and Humanist backgrounds. Some of us still draw significantly from Christian or Jewish sources while others among us find greater resonance with Buddhist, agnostic or atheistic perspectives as well as earth-based spirituality. While the sources of our inspiration may vary, we are Unitarian Universalists and thus focus our efforts on the search for truth and a deeper meaning in life aware there are many paths one may take. Therefore, we gather not to insist on one path over another, but rather to support and encourage one another in whichever path we might take and provide an inclusive place where we can share and learn with, and from, one another along the way.
Our is a covenantal versus creedal faith. Our congregations covenant (make a solemn promise) to one another to abide by The Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association which reads,
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
Sources
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
Why would an agnostic (atheist, humanist…) go to church?
One of our religious forbears, Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote, “A person will worship something, have no doubt about that…Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.” Emerson understood that religion and spirituality are not about proving or disproving the existence of a deity or deities. Rather, they concern questions of who, why, how, and even that we are, at all. We offer people a place to ask such questions and explore what it means to be human. We seek to grow spiritually. We teach our children to respect others including those of differing faiths. We provide people with opportunities to work for social justice alongside others with whom we can share the inevitable moments of joy and frustration that accompanies any human endeavor.
Will I be welcome even if I’m gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?
Yes. Our denomination has a long history of welcoming people of different sexual orientations and gender identities. We have been among the most vocal religious supporters of same-sex marriage and equal rights for GLBTQ people of any denomination. We exclude no one from membership, church office, rites of passage or ordination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Are you related to the Unity or Universal Life churches?
No. Neither the Unity or Universal Life churches are part of the Unitarian Universalist Association nor are they related to Unitarian Universalism.
What goes on during the worship services?
We usually have hymns, readings and a sermon, much like a liberal protestant service. We have weekly rituals including a chalice lighting, a time to share joys and concerns, prayer and silent meditation, a food collection to support the local food pantry, etc.
What can I expect the first time I visit?
Expect to be welcomed and invited to participate and engage in worship and the coffee hour that follows as much or as little as you’re comfortable doing so without judgement or coercion.
How do I become a member?
Most people do not ask this on a first visit, but for those who are curious about the process we’ve outlined the usual path people take toward membership. Most people attend for about 3 – 6 months before they join. We ask you to meet with our minister or designated church leader who can answer any questions you may have and go over the rights and responsibilities of membership which include a vote in matters requiring congregational approval, regular attendance, financial support, volunteering your time and a commitment to ongoing spiritual growth. Then, if you decide to join us, you sign the membership book.
Why would I want to become a member?
We can tell you what we offer our members (see our home page), but only you can answer for you why you would want to become a member. There are as many reasons to become a member of a church as there are members. You may enjoy this article by Jane Roper, Why I finally joined a church on Salon.com (Opens new window.) which begins, “I was a religious skeptic who bristled at joining a community. But two things changed that: My kids . . .”.
Please note that Ms. Roper leaves near Boston. This was a piece published in a national magazine and not a testimonial from one of our members
When do you meet?
Sundays following Labor Day – the third week of June @ 10:30am
Sundays from the fourth week of June - the end of August @ 9:30am
Check our website or Facebook page for current service information.
Is childcare available during worship?
Yes, except during Summer Services.
Where do you meet?
9 Upper River St. on the Common, Brookfield, MA 01506 (We’re “the little stone church that rocks” on the town common.)
Click here for directions/map.
What do adults wear?
Casual dress including jeans is the norm for our members and visitors. Generally, the only person wearing a tie is our minister.
What do children wear?
Again casual and comfortable is the norm.
What do children do during the service?
We are an multi-generational community. Generally children spend the first quarter of worship in the sanctuary and participate in weekly rituals like our chalice lighting and candles of joy and concern after which they recess to the church school to be together for religious education and exploration. After the service, all, including children, are invited to share refreshments and snacks at coffee hour. We also provide childcare in our nursery for the youngest children during the service.
May our child stay with us during the service?
Of course.
Will I be pressured to join or to be saved?
No. We don’t approach our visitors as customers to win over or souls to be saved. We’ll welcome you and answer any questions you might have. We’d be happy to have you join us, but we won’t try to push ourselves onto you. We believe a “hard sell” is counter to deep, lasting religious and spiritual exploration and expression.
Does your congregation have diverse beliefs?
Many of us started out as Catholic or Protestant Christians. A few of us come from Jewish and Humanist backgrounds. Some of us still draw significantly from Christian or Jewish sources while others among us find greater resonance with Buddhist, agnostic or atheistic perspectives as well as earth-based spirituality. While the sources of our inspiration may vary, we are Unitarian Universalists and thus focus our efforts on the search for truth and a deeper meaning in life aware there are many paths one may take. Therefore, we gather not to insist on one path over another, but rather to support and encourage one another in whichever path we might take and provide an inclusive place where we can share and learn with, and from, one another along the way.
Our is a covenantal versus creedal faith. Our congregations covenant (make a solemn promise) to one another to abide by The Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association which reads,
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Sources
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
- Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
- Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
- Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
- Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
- Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
- Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Why would an agnostic (atheist, humanist…) go to church?
One of our religious forbears, Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote, “A person will worship something, have no doubt about that…Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.” Emerson understood that religion and spirituality are not about proving or disproving the existence of a deity or deities. Rather, they concern questions of who, why, how, and even that we are, at all. We offer people a place to ask such questions and explore what it means to be human. We seek to grow spiritually. We teach our children to respect others including those of differing faiths. We provide people with opportunities to work for social justice alongside others with whom we can share the inevitable moments of joy and frustration that accompanies any human endeavor.
Will I be welcome even if I’m gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?
Yes. Our denomination has a long history of welcoming people of different sexual orientations and gender identities. We have been among the most vocal religious supporters of same-sex marriage and equal rights for GLBTQ people of any denomination. We exclude no one from membership, church office, rites of passage or ordination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Are you related to the Unity or Universal Life churches?
No. Neither the Unity or Universal Life churches are part of the Unitarian Universalist Association nor are they related to Unitarian Universalism.
What goes on during the worship services?
We usually have hymns, readings and a sermon, much like a liberal protestant service. We have weekly rituals including a chalice lighting, a time to share joys and concerns, prayer and silent meditation, a food collection to support the local food pantry, etc.
What can I expect the first time I visit?
Expect to be welcomed and invited to participate and engage in worship and the coffee hour that follows as much or as little as you’re comfortable doing so without judgement or coercion.
How do I become a member?
Most people do not ask this on a first visit, but for those who are curious about the process we’ve outlined the usual path people take toward membership. Most people attend for about 3 – 6 months before they join. We ask you to meet with our minister or designated church leader who can answer any questions you may have and go over the rights and responsibilities of membership which include a vote in matters requiring congregational approval, regular attendance, financial support, volunteering your time and a commitment to ongoing spiritual growth. Then, if you decide to join us, you sign the membership book.
Why would I want to become a member?
We can tell you what we offer our members (see our home page), but only you can answer for you why you would want to become a member. There are as many reasons to become a member of a church as there are members. You may enjoy this article by Jane Roper, Why I finally joined a church on Salon.com (Opens new window.) which begins, “I was a religious skeptic who bristled at joining a community. But two things changed that: My kids . . .”.
Please note that Ms. Roper leaves near Boston. This was a piece published in a national magazine and not a testimonial from one of our members
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