What to Expect on Sundays

We gather in fellowship to find meaning and live more deeply. Fellowship creates connections within, among, and beyond us, calling us to our better selves, calling us to live with wisdom and compassion.

Unitarian Universalist styles vary by congregation.  Some congregations are more traditional in their liturgy, while others have a more free -flowing style in their choice of music and sermons. Our congregation is a lay-lead community, with no full-time minister. There are common elements you will typically find in virtually any Unitarian Universalist worship service:

• Words of welcome
• Lighting a flaming chalice, the symbol of our faith
• Music, both instrumental and vocal and in a variety of styles
• A time for lifting up the joys and concerns of the congregation
• A meditation or prayer
• Readings—ancient or contemporary
• A sermon given by a guest minister, a guest speaker, or a member of the congregation
• An offering, collecting financial donations for the congregation or for justice work in the community.
• Social time and discussion about the topic of the day.  

Visitors are always welcome.  They bring fresh insights and experiences that enrich and strengthen our congregation. 

FAQ

Is everyone welcome?
Absolutely. We believe in respect for everyone. Whether white. black, brown, gay or straight, Christian, agnostic, humanist … it doesn’t matter. Only those who demand that everyone should think as they do would find it difficult to fit in.

When and where are services?
Services are at 10:30 am on the first and third Sundays of the month, September through May, at the Campus Lutheran building, 742 E 9th, Kearney, NE. Enter on the east side. There is a parking in an adjacent lot for visitors. See Our Location for a map and directions.

How long do services last?
Our service generally takes about an hour. After service, we have an optional social time to discuss the day’s presentation or just to visit informally.

Does the Kearney UU Fellowship have a minister?
Not currently. We host UU Ministers from this region a couple of times a year. Our lay leaders do an excellent job presenting topics of interest, and we also invite guest speakers who are experts on issues of interest.

What is the dress code?
Casual. Most of us wear jeans or slacks and casual shirts. Some choose to dress more formally.

Can I bring my children?
Yes. Children are welcome at our services. At the present time we do not have children attending our Fellowship, but in the past we have had religious education classes for kids and would resume as needed.

What do you teach the children?
Our children are taught to respect each other, to be tolerant of differences, to care for the environment, and to think for themselves. We present them with thought-provoking topics and allow them to develop their own points of view and convictions. We provide guidance on moral and ethical issues.

What is different about Unitarian Universalists?
Our openness. We believe in freedom of religious expression and we are tolerant of religious ideas from all of the world’s great religions. We believe in freedom of conscience–that individuals should be encouraged to develop their own spirituality. We provide an open, loving, and supportive environment for the individual to develop his or her own path. We do not ask anyone to subscribe to a prescribed belief system … We are “non-creedal.”

Does your congregation have diverse beliefs?
Yes. In our denomination, we have members from the Jewish, Christian, and non-Christian traditions, as well as humanists and agnostics. We are a liberal religion that believes that spiritual life is a personal journey. We provide a safe place for you to discover and pursue your own path. But none of us is alone in this task. We help each other in many ways, including sharing our discoveries and asking questions.

How big is the Kearney UU Fellowship?
We currently have about 15 members. In our 35+ years since our founding, we have had many dozens of members, some of whom were members for decades and others who, for instance, moved away after graduation from the local colleges to pursue a career.

If I visit, will there be a hard sell?
No. We are all about free choice. The right of personal conscience is one of our basic principles.

Is the Kearney UU Fellowship part of a larger organization?
Yes. We are associated with the Unitarian Universalist Association, and the Mid-America Region of Unitarian Universalist Congregations. However, like all UU congregations, we are a self-governing democracy. Authority and responsibility are vested in the membership of the congregation.