Tips for UU Worship—A Succinct Message

This is one in a series of postings about how to lead an effective Unitarian Universalist worship service. I’m working on a handbook for UU’s, and would like to get feedback on these tips.

Every worship service should have a central message that is clear and worthwhile. A good message can be stated in one or two sentences. For example: “Global Warming is a serious problem facing our environment today. As Unitarian Universalists, we must work together to stop global warming.” Another example: “Our first principle, the affirmation and promotion of the inherent worth and dignity of every person, calls us to protect children.”

For people who think in more abstract terms, a central image or metaphor could be helpful. One particularly moving worship that I attended, on the winter solstice, used images of light and dark. The worship space itself was darkened and then re-lit with candles over the course of the evening.  

Once the worship leader has chosen a central message, it is easier for him or her to decide which readings, songs and other worship elements complement this message. By contrast, when the worship leader cannot define his or her central message, then the service can feel vague and disjointed.

Tips for UU Worship - Balancing Food and Facts

Don’t overload people with the facts. The temptation to turn the service into an educational lecture is particularly strong when the worship focuses on a social justice issue. For every issue worth leading a service on, there are pages of relevant facts that are not known to the general public. However, only a few key facts need to be shared in a worship service. You may convince some people with the first few facts, but after a while, the use of facts is less and less effective—and many people tune out.             

People come to worship for spiritual sustenance. Their souls want to be nourished. (At my congregation, the young adult weekly meeting is aptly titled “Sustenance for the Soul." ) Show congregants how the message you are offering can make their spiritual life better. Here’s an example. Message: “We will be more effective in our fight for social justice if we learn to listen to what other people are saying.” Food: “As we develop our listening skills, we will be come closer to our friends, political allies, and fellow congregants.”

Welcome to Our Blog

Inspired by the talent and energy of the UU blogosphere, Promise the Children has decided to make our own contribution: a blog for Unitarian Universalists who are committed to advocating for and with children and youth. We see this as an opportunity to share information about how Unitarian Universalists can effectively mobilize their congregations around relevant policies and programs. I and other Promise the Children staffers will post regularly with legislative alerts, stories about what is happening in UU congregations, and updates on our programs. We welcome feedback by e-mail (meryl[at]promisethechildrenuu.org) or comments on our postings.