Every year, several member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations are designated as “Breakthrough Congregations” and recognized at the General Assembly. Each congregation is invited to give a presentation during Plenary, the business sessions, and a separate workshop to talk about their programs and effective growth. This year, the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oak Park, Illinois is among them.

This sermon by the Rev. Alan Taylor, delivered November 28, 2004, demonstrates one of the great strengths of the congregation — the worship life. It is very long, so the second half can be read here.

Why Worship, part 1

by Rev. Alan Taylor

When I was growing up, my family attended the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bakersfield, California. The congregation called itself a fellowship and were quick to point out that they were not a church. They seemed non-religious, even anti-religious. God and prayer were spoken of only in contempt and jest. And I remember distinctly noting that they called their meeting, ‘Sunday Services’ not ‘Worship Services.’ And so when I re-discovered Unitarian Universalism in a church that emphasized the centrality of worship, it was a new and wonderful experience. In time, worship became essential to my own life.

In answer to the question “Why worship?” I offer you my answer in a nutshell: Worship brings us together; worship offers hope; worship invites transformation.

Worship brings us together—in community. As a congregation, what ultimately defines us is not our building, nor the minister, nor even our beliefs or principles. The central aspect of our congregation is the people who come together week after week. You, who consistently come together, are the core of this congregation, and this is a dynamic entity that changes little by little with every new person who comes. When one among this core departs, a change also occurs. The tapestry we call community, the interweaving of the many relationships is what serves as the foundation.

Why worship? In the words of people here: (the responses come from both services)

* To be inspired, encouraged and challenged
* To be reminded what it means to be human
* This religious community feels like family – It is family
* Worship is a catalyst for healing and reconciliation
* We sing together, we pray together, we laugh together
* To find God with others
* To be with the people I love the most…..and to be challenged, to be affirmed , to learn and to be transformed
* To get help in living a life in tune with my values
* To experience a connection to God and others
* Spiritual renewal to get through the coming week. Worshiping helps me cope
* The fellowship and community for my heart. The seeking and sermons for my mind.
* To experience the theater of life.
* Community
* I come here because it keeps me in proportion. I am large here; and I am insignificant. I come to do the work of my creator.
* Peace. Community. Love
* To unite pairs of opposites. To untie opposing pairs.
* I worship for community
* Self-improvement
* To feel connected. To be part of a family – community
* To recharge the soul. To refocus one’s purpose. To remember we are channels of peace and love.
* To be: challenged, calmed, with family, able to see your building without spending $7.00
* Connect with a deeper meaning
* I attend and participate to grow spiritually, to serve worthy causes, and to enjoy Congregational life.
* To reflect and escape the hectic pace of life’s everyday
* Feed my soul
* Gain a sense of community larger than just my family. Begin the week from a place of contemplation, meditation and peace.
* To stop to be grateful in community with others
* To remember who I am and why we all are here. To be grateful and say thank-you for all the bounty and blessings
* To focus on my spirituality
* Calmness and gratitude
* I am 85 years old, a retired social worker and moved here from Champaign area. I am looking for a new church home for study, inspiration, fellowship and action in local and global affairs and needs.
* Because me and my dad like to sing and to go to OWL
* To reflect on life, love, courage and justice in community with others
* Mystery: there is more to the universe than can be explained by science. My only Bargaining position in this life..is to withhold my worship from God when he is unworthy of it. The converse is, of course also true.
* I started going here, only from time to time, when a friend invited me, who also wanted to visit, to join him. I also go to a Catholic church, but I’m not sure about Catholicism.

So what kind of community are we? We don’t come together week after week just to talk to one another. This congregation isn’t a social club, even though we have many social events and opportunities. This isn’t an educational institution, even though we have many opportunities for learning. This isn’t a political organization, even though we seek to change the world for the better. We are “an open-minded, open-hearted spiritual community.” and we are a religious organization whose mission is, and I quote, “Our mission is to be a welcoming spiritual community that nurtures each individual’s search for meaning. As we create fellowship within our community, we reach out to demonstrate our shared values of compassion, peace, justice, and respect for the earth.” And what makes us a religious organization is that our central, defining event is our weekly gathering together for worship.

One person recently asked me, “What, then, do we worship?” Great question! Many people understand worship as a transitive verb that requires an object or something that that is worshipped. However, worship for most of us here does not have a definitive object. For me, to worship has several layers of meaning, including “to turn our attention to what is truly important in a contemplative or prayerful environment,” or “to bring ourselves together with the aim of moving toward the source of truth, love, and beauty” or “to open ourselves to the holy by becoming radically honest with ourselves and with others” or “to seek to let go of what we cannot control and open our hearts to possibility.”

In the words of people here:

* To grow spiritually and intellectually. To teach our children by example.
* At least for one hour, what is truly important is not lost in the din of the daily grind.
* Balance
* To open my heart. To keep my faith. To have a sense of community and oneness with all.
* To gain inspiration and reflection and connect with others who share common beliefs
* For spiritual inspiration. To give God a couple of hours of my time and a chance to tell me something. For community and fellowship.
* It makes me happy. It’s not boring.
* Re-centering
* To refill my bucket, recharge my batteries, feed my soul. To send positive energy into the Universe. To fellowship. To grieve. To praise. To grow more fully human.
* To connect with a Higher Being – God – and a higher place within myself, in community.
* To connect with other seekers.
* Once in answer to my query “what am I doing here?” a sarcastic voice (not my own) responded. “Even a barnacle needs a rock to which to cling.” I have yet to better that.
* I can hear my inner voice here. (sometimes, it’s the only time I do all week)
* It is a moment of peace before a work week.
* Spiritual growth
* To keep in touch with my consciousness and conscience.
* U.U. To retreat from the dogma of Christianity (Evangelic right)
* To better understand human nature, where all of our mental abilities come from. Why do Unitarians have such a bad relationship with Science?
* This is normal behavior for most Americans, especially Christians. They let me in here. I try to act normal whenever possible. At least close to normal.
* To be inspired. To connect with something bigger than myself. To be in community with others who share my values.
* Stronger connection to reality
* I wish all humans were more humble. Especially our president Bush
* I get in touch with my spiritual nature, as well as for intellectual stimulation.
* To feed my soul. To challenge and engage both my mind and my heart
* Gain a greater perspective
* Connect with God. Fellowship
* To break from the weekly routine. To contemplate spiritual things with a like minded community.
* To have a time of quiet, of reflection, of contemplation

Another question you may have—what makes this hour worship? My answer is the liturgy. I know, “liturgy” may sound like a traditional religious word that doesn’t belong in a liberal religious setting. But listen to its original meaning. It comes from the Greek, leitos which means “work” and ergon which means “people.” So the word liturgy refers to “the work of the people.” And the most important work that we can do is to come to know ourselves and our relationship to the world and how to live as fully human with dignity and zest. It is my hope you are involved intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually—allowing yourselves to touch and be touched rather than chewing on whatever doesn’t sit well with you. The hymns, readings, sharing of joys and sorrows, prayer, sermon, and silent meditation are all important parts of the service. The order of service remains relatively constant so as to create a sense of safety and trust, to offer rhythm and familiarity so that we can be open to new images, challenging ideas and disturbing inspiration. It changes only with considerable reflection, so as to make the “work of the people” more effective.

In your words:

* Spiritual deepening, Inspiration for living a meaningful life, Community
* Punctuate the week ahead, have a quiet – music – new ideas
* Stop joys and sorrows – People tend to whine and cry too long. Enjoy your preaching style. more Sat. evening house parties 6:30-8pm, Good small group activities or church parties.
* Worship fosters my relationship with myself, with others, with God.
* To give thanks for all there is
* I come here to seek clarity and direction in a world of ever-increasing complexity. The term worship disturbs me! (Worship what?!)
* Worship in community helps to nourish personal spiritual growth, and increased opportunity for live in action.
* To join other in considering things of worth
* To re-member
* 1) Fellowship 2) Intellectual nourishment 3) spiritual challenge 4) sense of belonging/usefulness
* Community support, Insights
* For mutual camaraderie with like minded souls
* Completeness, peacefulness
* To, once a week, put aside this world – work, groceries, chores, kids, etc. - and focus on something immaterial and vague, but spiritually and intellectually enriching.
* To find community as an atheist
* Community of hope
* Introduce my daughter to U. U.
* I need more in my life
* Connections, inspiration, direction, love
* To be brought back to values – for community
* I come to feel connected to the people here and also to the wider world. To find a place of quiet and reflection.
* Reflection
* A sense of community with peaceful reflection
* Community and to pause to recall the things that are important

(to be cont.)

Source: “Why Worship” by Rev. Alan Taylor, preached at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation, November 28, 2004.

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