Worship
Orders of service from 2010 are available, as are Orders of Service for 2013. Click here for an archive of 2014 Sermons
The Church Year
The “regular church year” begins on the first Sunday after Labor Day with a traditional Water Communion service, and ends in mid-June with a Flower Communion service. The choir sings during the regular church year, and is off in the summer. The minister generally preaches three Sundays a month, and the Lifespan Faith Development Director twice a year, during the regular church year, and other services are preached by guest minsters, including retired ministers who are part of the church community. There are two Music Sundays a year for which the minister has been asked to provide a homily.
During the 2013-14 church year, All-Community multigenerational worship was offered one Sunday each month, as a special collaboration among the Minister, Music Director/Choir and the Director of Lifespan Faith Development. Other special Sunday services include Volunteer Appreciation, Youth Group Sunday, RE Sunday and Youth Bridging. Rituals such as child dedications, teacher dedication, and commissioning of special leadership teams are included in worship services as appropriate.
Summer
Summer services, between mid-June and Labor Day, are preached by congregants and guest ministers, with the Minister of the church getting first selection of dates she or he wishes to preach during the summer months. A Summer Worship Workshop has been offered by the Minister each June in recent years to provide guidance and support to those who wish to preach, and the Worship Team has been preparing to coordinate and host those services. Music for Summer worship has been almost entirely provided by volunteer musicians from the congregation, but it is expected that in coming years the Music Director and Organist/Accompanist will provide support and assistance during the summer, as well as the regular church year.
The Church Year
The “regular church year” begins on the first Sunday after Labor Day with a traditional Water Communion service, and ends in mid-June with a Flower Communion service. The choir sings during the regular church year, and is off in the summer. The minister generally preaches three Sundays a month, and the Lifespan Faith Development Director twice a year, during the regular church year, and other services are preached by guest minsters, including retired ministers who are part of the church community. There are two Music Sundays a year for which the minister has been asked to provide a homily.
During the 2013-14 church year, All-Community multigenerational worship was offered one Sunday each month, as a special collaboration among the Minister, Music Director/Choir and the Director of Lifespan Faith Development. Other special Sunday services include Volunteer Appreciation, Youth Group Sunday, RE Sunday and Youth Bridging. Rituals such as child dedications, teacher dedication, and commissioning of special leadership teams are included in worship services as appropriate.
Summer
Summer services, between mid-June and Labor Day, are preached by congregants and guest ministers, with the Minister of the church getting first selection of dates she or he wishes to preach during the summer months. A Summer Worship Workshop has been offered by the Minister each June in recent years to provide guidance and support to those who wish to preach, and the Worship Team has been preparing to coordinate and host those services. Music for Summer worship has been almost entirely provided by volunteer musicians from the congregation, but it is expected that in coming years the Music Director and Organist/Accompanist will provide support and assistance during the summer, as well as the regular church year.
Worship team
During the 2013-14 church year, a
Worship Team was established to enable shared ministry with the Minister and
any other relevant staff or visiting ministers who will lead worship at UUCB. The
Worship Team provides support and coordination for Sunday services during the
regular church year, as well as supporting worship services during the summer
months. Worship Associates understand the arc of worship and currently
contribute to the creation of a sacred space by lighting and extinguishing the
chalice, welcoming the congregation to service, making announcements and
preparing for the Offertory, and offering the Pastoral Prayer. The Worship
Team, with the assistance of the Minister, coordinates the services when the
Minister is absent and congregation members or guest ministers are leading
worship, which may occur in the summer months and at other times of the year. The following represents the process used in 2013-2014; we expect a settled minister to establish their own practices for developing a Worship Team.
Participation
Potential Worship Associates are invited to apply when a call for participation is made by the minister. They may also be invited by the Minister or members of the Worship Team to be considered for Worship Team membership. Worship Associates are expected to participate in training workshops, to undertake continuing development, to mentor and provide constructive feedback for each other, and to use UUA and other resources for finding or writing prayers and other relevant worship words. The goal is to maintain a Worship Team of approximately six members, so that there is sufficient participation to cover every Sunday, but enough worship opportunity for in-depth skill development.
Training
Worship Team Development has been held approximately every other month since the program’s inception in the spring of 2013. Development takes the form of half day workshops facilitated by the interim minister (Rev. Margret O’Neall) and by a retired minister who is a member of the congregation (Rev. Frances Manly). These workshops are attended by both experienced Worship Associates and those just beginning their participation. Associates share their understanding of what makes services truly worshipful and spiritually satisfying, as well as learn that excellent worship is possible through coordination of worship elements delivered with care and confidence. Participants read relevant prepared materials, adapt standard materials for their own use, and practice technical aspects of delivery. A spring workshop is also provided for the Worship Team and individuals who wish to offer a worship service during the summer, in order to deepen the understanding of the worship process and strengthen worship skills.
Future Initiatives
The program is quite new and still in a process of development. The Team is working toward a regular rotation through the church year, as well as a more regular training cycle for development and bringing on new Associates. The mentoring of less experienced Worship Associates by more experienced ones has just begun, and we are in a stage of learning how that will work in practice. Eventually, we hope for more participation in the actual planning of the worship calendar and individual worship services.
Participation
Potential Worship Associates are invited to apply when a call for participation is made by the minister. They may also be invited by the Minister or members of the Worship Team to be considered for Worship Team membership. Worship Associates are expected to participate in training workshops, to undertake continuing development, to mentor and provide constructive feedback for each other, and to use UUA and other resources for finding or writing prayers and other relevant worship words. The goal is to maintain a Worship Team of approximately six members, so that there is sufficient participation to cover every Sunday, but enough worship opportunity for in-depth skill development.
Training
Worship Team Development has been held approximately every other month since the program’s inception in the spring of 2013. Development takes the form of half day workshops facilitated by the interim minister (Rev. Margret O’Neall) and by a retired minister who is a member of the congregation (Rev. Frances Manly). These workshops are attended by both experienced Worship Associates and those just beginning their participation. Associates share their understanding of what makes services truly worshipful and spiritually satisfying, as well as learn that excellent worship is possible through coordination of worship elements delivered with care and confidence. Participants read relevant prepared materials, adapt standard materials for their own use, and practice technical aspects of delivery. A spring workshop is also provided for the Worship Team and individuals who wish to offer a worship service during the summer, in order to deepen the understanding of the worship process and strengthen worship skills.
Future Initiatives
The program is quite new and still in a process of development. The Team is working toward a regular rotation through the church year, as well as a more regular training cycle for development and bringing on new Associates. The mentoring of less experienced Worship Associates by more experienced ones has just begun, and we are in a stage of learning how that will work in practice. Eventually, we hope for more participation in the actual planning of the worship calendar and individual worship services.