Sunday Topics
Our Sunday worship is a hybrid format: both in person in the sanctuary and via Zoom* meeting software. (See below for more details about how to attend on line and in person services).
Upcoming Speakers and Topics
November 2: Awakening to the World. Modern culture idolizes brevity—15-second videos, emojis, tweets—but we UUs also value long form non-fiction and novels. What books helped you understand another viewpoint, a challenging issue, or a different culture? Children in the sanctuary for the first part of the service.
November 9: Robin Reichert. An Honoring of Indigenous Peoples shares 13 Things Robin learned from years of interactions with her Native American friends that changed her life —and may change yours.
November 16: J. D. Stillwater. The Power & Promise of Awe. New research reveals that awe makes us feel small but deeply connected, and how this in turn makes us better people. Science can help us experience awe, plugging us into a grander vision of our larger selves within our communities, world, and universe. Potluck Lunch. UUCH Book Table.
November 23: Rev. Dr. Paul Britner Primal Religions. Special celebrations of thanksgiving are fairly universal in both historic religions and primal religions. How does our UU faith—and most others—borrow and adapt from native and pagan traditions for many of the holidays celebrated today.
November 30: Rev. Erica Baron. Receiving Generously. We usually think about giving generously, but less often about receiving generously. Since we all crave having our own gifts seen, acknowledged, and confirmed, generosity also means responding well to gifts from others. How do we express this?
December 7: Rev. Dr. Paul Britner. The Dickens You Say. Charles Dickens was no theologian. He did not advance UU thought, but he reached more people than any theologian could— and changed our faith movement forever. Children in the sanctuary for the first part of the service.
December 14: J.D. Stillwater. Awe, Science and Meaning ful Well-Being. Waterfalls cascade us deeper into the science of awe and the relationships between awe, wonder, spirituality and ambiguity.
December 21: Rev. Dr. Susan Rak. Through the Darkness. Honoring the spirit of earth-centered traditions, we celebrate the turning of the year at the Winter Solstice. Potluck Lunch. UUCH Book Table.
Wednesday, December 24: Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. Intergenerational service for all ages. The UUCH Players present A Christmas Miracle, the story of a bitter man redeemed through love and acceptance. If you can, bring some cookies to share after the service.
December 28: Rev. Darrick Jackson. Spiritual Imagination. Our imagination is a powerful tool which can drive our creativity, fuel our hope, and deepen our faith. What if we engaged in imagination as a spiritual practice?
How to Attend Our Worship
Please log in to Zoom or be in the sanctuary between 10:30 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. The pre-serviced music begins at 10:40 a.m.
Our services end around noon and are followed by refreshments and time to chat.
To attend a service via Zoom, you need the new log in link and password, which are emailed each week on Friday.
If you aren’t receiving the link, email worship@uuhagerstownmd.org by Thursday to be added to the worship log in list.
*If you have never used Zoom, check out the Zoom Basics Page.
Covid Safety Precautions: We continue to focus on being together in person again but Covid precautions change. Be alert for on-going adjustments.
- People are asked to mask while singing hymns.
- Except while singing, asks are now optional for fully-vaccinated and boosted people. Some fully-vaccinated people continue to mask for additional safety; others do not.
- If you are NOT fully-vaccinated and boosted, we ask you to mask to protect yourself and others.
- If a family member or you are feeling ill (cold, flu, etc.) or have been exposed to Covid, please stay home and attend via Zoom.
- Please be thoughtful with your greetings. Many people are not ready yet for hugging and other close contacts so always ask.
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Improved Air Quality The new HVAC system installed in 2020 in both the Martin House and sanctuary should keep us safer as well as warmer and cooler. The new system includes an air purification system in the HVAC ductwork. According to the EPA, the combined use of filtration and germicidal UVC light is an effective means of preventing the distribution of airborne viruses in occupied spaces. Our system has a high intensity dual-light system: one light controls bacteria, viruses, and mold spores; the other oxidizes and removes noxious odors. The air goes through the purification system eight times an hour.