Services will be in person and live streamed on Zoom for the foreseeable future
Services
What to Expect
Each service contains instrumental and vocal music, a 15- to 20-minute message, an opportunity to express joys and sorrows, an offering, a story relating to the message, and a period of meditation or prayer. The Sunday service begins at 10:30 a.m. and lasts 60 minutes, followed by a period where people may respond to the message of the day.
Each service begins with the lighting of our flaming chalice, a distinctive symbol of UU.
The design originated during WWII as a symbol on documents given to refugees who fled without their identification papers.
The Sunday service is preceded by a Forum, which begins at 9:30 a.m. The Forum provides a setting for discussions of a wide variety of topical subjects, often presented by outside experts, followed by questions and conversation.
NOTE: While in-building Sunday services are suspended, participation via Zoom is provided (links available on the Home page).
Upcoming Services
January Theme Dedication
Sunday, January 1 A service for the New Year prepared by members of the Chesapeake Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association (recorded)
January 8 Balancing the Checkbook
President Joe Biden once said, “Don't tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value.” When we align faith, values, and a sense of a life calling with our financial ways of being then the checkbook will be balanced.
January 15 "Beloved Community - On Earth as in Heaven" Rev. Drew Willard
Martin Luther King, Jr spoke of 'beloved community' as an achievable social reality. It is 'the Dream' he proclaimed at the Lincoln Memorial. It is an inclusive term for what Jesus called, 'the Kingdom of God' that Christians have been praying for all along in the Lord's Prayer to be realized 'on Earth as it is in Heaven'.
Rev. Drew Willard is a retired pastor, still active in ministry as an artist and storyteller.
January 22 We Are All in This Together Pledge Sunday
Joseph and Nathan Segal wrote the song, “From You I receive, to You I give, together we share, and from this we live.” It is only through our sharing with one another that this community of Tri-County Unitarian Universalists can exist.
January 29 Purpose of Living Rev. Snavely with John Seitz art Bring a Friend Sunday
“Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.” Henri Nouwen
February Theme: Devotion
February 5 Living with Fear
Audre Lorde said, “When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed. But when we are silent we are still afraid. So it is better to speak remembering, we were never meant to survive.” The brave are not unafraid. They act despite the fear.
February 12 “I Am Not a Robot” Janeane Reagan, Unitarian Univeresalist Congregation of Lake County
We often have to respond to this statement when approaching some websites on the internet. So far we can click the box confirming that we are, in fact, not robots. But, is our exposure to and dependency on technology making us more like robots? Are our human brains being changed by technology in such a way that we are losing some of what makes us human, and if so, what UU values are at risk?
February 19 I Pledge Allegiance To…
In my childhood Vacation Bible School began with the pledge allegiance to the American flag followed by the singing of “America,” the pledge allegiance to the Christian flag followed by the singing of “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”, and the pledge to the Bible followed by the singing of “The B-I-B-L-E.” What exactly does it mean to pledge allegiance to something or someone? To what are you willing to pledge your allegiance?
February 26 The Ethics of Sex
Maybe in a past religious affiliation you were taught a list of don’ts as the prescribed ethics of sex. That is not the Unitarian Universalist way. We too though do need an ethic of sex. I believe ours should not be a list of “thou shalt nots…” but an ethic based on our affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of all people including ourselves.
Service Inspirations
Our worship services focus on a wide variety of religious, philosophical, personal, and social issues. Although each service is different, we gather weekly to consider, individually and collectively, that which we hold of highest worth. For some, it’s the community; for others, it’s the natural world; and for still for others, it’s a sense of some sort of something beyond our imagination.
Our inspiration comes from a variety of sources: the wisdom of world religions, teachings from humanist and earth-centered traditions, words and deeds of prophetic people, and the direct experience of individuals.
Our principal service is on Sundays at 10:30 a.m., normally at the Tri-County Unitarian Universalists center. During the pandemic, our services are via Zoom. Please see the Home page for details and links.
Music & Choir
Tri-UU Choir Videos
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Music for our Sunday services is provided by the Tri-UU choir which is on hiatus for the summer, a professional music director is being sought for the fall. For the next few months we will be using recorded music including some selections recorded by the choir.
We sing traditional hymns, gospel, folk tunes and more, in multi-part harmony. The Choir rehearsals will be set by our new director. Everyone who enjoys singing is encouraged to join!
Here is a growing collection of Tri-UU choir videos:
Most are performed by our former music director, Donna Kagan, and Tri-UU Choir members with music arrangements and editing by Frank Kelly. Enjoy!
And to hear any of nearly 100 Tri-UU hymn favorites, all with on-screen lyrics . . .
click here!
Past Services
Text of select recent sermons can be found here. Just click the desired link.
"The Sacred in Violence and Destruction", Mar. 12, Rev. Snavely
"Clothes of Possibility", Mar. 5, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"The Ethics of Sex", Feb. 26, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"I Pledge Allegiance", Feb. 19, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"Living With Fear", Feb. 5, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"The Purpose of Living", Jan. 29, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"We're All in This Together", Jan 22, Rev. Snavely
"Balancing the Checkbook", Jan. 8, 2023, Rev. Snavely
"Celebrating Giving", Dec. 24, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"Blue Christmas", Dec. 25, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"Nations Free, Tyrants Disappearing", Dec. 18, Rev. Snavely
"A Winter Soltice Celebration", Dec. 4, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"Creating Family, Celebrating Diversity", Nov. 27, Rev. Snavely
"Caring for Home", Nov. 6, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"Remembering Our Dead", Oct. 30, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"A Dream Still Finding Fulfillment", Oct 16, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"Imaginative Words of Roald Dahl", Oct 9, Rev. Cynthia Snavely
"Making Amends vs. Asking Forgiveness", Oct. 2. Helene Kirschbaum