How do I find you?
We are located at 433 Fern Street in a residential neighborhood just north of West Hartford Center. We are easily accessible from I-84. To help you find us, we have a map and directions.
What are worship services like?
Our worship services include inspiration from our Jewish and Christian heritages as well as other world religions. They last about an hour and typically include music, readings, and a time of prayer as well as the sermon. Our sanctuary and service format are somewhat formal, our topics are contemporary and wide-ranging.
Do you provide child care?
We provide nursery and preschool child care year-round. Please come ten to fifteen minutes before the service so you can fill out a visitor card and your child can meet the caregivers before you leave to go into the sanctuary. We also have several designated listening rooms where you can hear the service if you wish to stay with your child.
Do my school-aged children attend the service or do they attend separate children’s programming?
Children kindergarten through sixth grade join us for the first 10 or 15 minutes of the worship service. We hold intergenerational services on select holidays when children are included for the entire service. Contact the religious education department prior to your first visit for more information.
What about older children?
Our 7th and 8th grade class meets during the worship service for the full hour at the 11 AM service only. Our senior high youth group meets Sunday evenings. Registration for the senior high group closes at the beginning October.
Are you a Christian church? Why do you have a stained glass window of Jesus at the front of your church?
Unitarianism and Universalism grew out of the Protestant movement of Christianity. Our stained glass window represents that Christian heritage but does not represent our sole theological viewpoint.
What do Unitarian Universalists believe?
Unitarian Universalists (UU’s) come from many different faith traditions. It is not necessary to give up your own personal beliefs to join us. Rather than a formal creed, UU’s have adopted seven guiding principles formalized by the Unitarian Universalist Association.
The seven principles that Unitarian Universalist congregations promote and affirm:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person
- Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
How are you governed?
As stated in one of our principles above, we are a committed to the democratic process. The Unitarian Universalist Association is an international organization benefiting churches worldwide. However, all Unitarian Universalist churches are self-governing. Our minister was called to serve by our congregation and important decisions are subject to the democratic process. Day to day decisions are made according to a policy governance structure.
Policy Governance is a system of governance for non-profit organizations, successfully adopted by many UU Churches around the country and designed to empower all the various areas of the church. It is a transparent system, with clear lines of authority that encourages a lot of communication. It gives people freedom to do their jobs creatively and without micro-management.
How can I find out more about the church?
The best way to learn more about us is visit us on Sunday mornings, come to coffee hour, speak to our Member Services Coordinator, sign up to receive our newsletter for three months, or pick up our Program Guide. We offer question and answer sessions with one of the ministers after services throughout the year. Attend our New UU Class series for a more comprehensive overview of our congregation.
Do I have to be a member to participate?
No, non-members can participate in most activities.