UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST WORSHIP
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi
BACKGROUND
Unitarian Universalist worship seeks to strike a balance between four sources of religious authority: tradition, scripture, reason, and direct experience. In sixteenth century Europe, Protestants challenged the Catholic emphasis on sacramental traditions by making scripture the primary source of authority in worship. In succeeding centuries, reason became more prominent with the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment. Finally, the Romantic movement elevated direct, personal experience to its rightful place in a hierarchy of religious authority. The earliest American Unitarians combined the Protestant emphasis on scripture with the Enlightenment emphasis on reason into a focus on the critical interpretation of scripture. Transcendentalism added direct personal experience to the mix. Early Universalism, by contrast, was more evangelical in style, combining a focus on scripture with direct, personal experience, and less emphasis on reason.
When the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America merged in 1961, these various strands came together. Today, the varieties of Unitarian Universalist worship and attendant theological perspectives, reflect different ways of combining and emphasizing these four sources of religious authority.
The “celebration of life” is an oft-quoted definition of worship in Unitarian Universalist congregations. The phrase suggests that an act of worship expresses feeling more than it adores a deity (although, for many, it may do both).
Worship is approached as a human activity which ascribes worth to some value, idea, object, person, experience, or attitude and helps us find the power to reaffirm, in word and deed, what is worthy of our ultimate commitment. It provides a vehicle for focusing the religious emotions of members of the religious community, for clarifying their ideas, and for reinforcing their religious sentiments. In worship, the meaning of life, death, and the universe crystallizes out through prayer, meditation, and other devotional activities. The result is that people may go forth strengthened and uplifted, better able to grapple with their personal problems, more capable of contributing to the establishment of peace and justice in the world.
When Unitarian Universalists worship, we are shaping, formulating, organizing, and ordering our faith. We are actively, individually and collectively, also allowing our lives to be shaped by our faith. In this sense we are engaged in a celebration of life.
ORDER OF SERVICE
Most Unitarian Universalist orders of service reflect our Protestant roots, with familiar elements as identified below. But the content of each element may differ widely, depending on the dominant sources of authority for the worship leaders. As a religious movement, our struggles over worship are largely a function of how we balance the four sources of religious authority. And one danger we face is that each source will not be given its due.
Opening Words / Call to Worship
These are words that invite us to come together as a worshiping community and be attentive. The purpose of gathering is declared. The theme of the service may be set forth.
Chalice Lighting
Light is a symbol of illumination, truth, knowledge. Our flaming chalice is a widely used symbol in Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist services, bringing together the symbolism of the light with the symbolism of the chalicesharing a common cup. The lighting of the chalice also defines us as part of a larger movement. The flaming chalice represents freedom, sacrifice, and community.
Hymns / Congregational Singing
Congregational singing allows the gathered community to participate in the expression of a mood, theme, part of a shared heritage, or statement of faith.
Other Music
Music communicates in a way words cannot. Whether live, recorded, vocal, or instrumental, music can create, enhance, or sustain a theme. It can provide transition or an atmosphere for reflection.
Readings
Readings are drawn from religious classics, including scriptures, or from other significant literary sources. Often they are reminders of our liberal religious heritage or the theme of the service. Many readings are put into responsive form with two or more people sharing them.
Meditation and Prayer
Effective worship requires that we consider ourselves and how we focus. A prayer or a guided meditation helps us let go of the burdens and troubles of our lives and be at home with ourselves.
Silence
One cannot conceive of worship without silence. Group silence dramatizes the paradox of being alone and being part of a community. Silence may be a preparation for, or response to, a spoken meditation, a reading, or a sermon.
Sermon
Regardless of the form or theme, central to almost every UU service is the sermon. We are a people of the word. This centrality of preaching is a reflection of our Puritan heritage.
The best sermons grow out of the ongoing conversation between the preacher and the congregation. They grow out of the struggles and celebrations of the religious community. Sometimes they focus on social ills, calling for social justice, or seeking transformation of society. Sometimes they focus on personal growth, sometimes on challenging theological issues, sometimes on denominational concerns or UU historical figures.
Benediction
Benedictions offer blessing or dedication of what has gone before. It is a form of closure and signifies the hope that the community that has gathered will go forth and live out its faith in the world.
SAMPLE ORDER OF SERVICE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2007, 10:30 a.m.
Slow down and enjoy life. It is not only the serenity you miss by going too fast. You also miss the sense of where you are going and why. - Eddie Cantor
Prelude Lyric Piece Op.71, No. 3 - Grieg
Call To Worship from Burton Carly, adapted
*Lighting the Chalice from Jean Wahlstrom, adapted
Special Music Lyric Piece Op.57, No. 6 - Grieg
Offertory Humoreske Op.6, No. 3 - Grieg
Participation in the life of our congregation is an activity of mutual giving and receiving. Your offering will be used to sustain the ongoing life and work of our religious community.
+ We thank Linda Jones, piano, for our lovely music today.
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