All Are Welcome!
What you can expect on Sunday Mornings
WHERE TO FIND UUSB:
We are located at 120 Park St., Bangor, ME. We are located on a one way street with on-street parking. Additional parking, is available nearby.
You can find our map, directions, and parking map here.
WHAT TO WEAR:
- Come however you are comfortable, whether that is casual or dressy. Temperatures can vary, as in many historic buildings, so layers can be helpful to cool down or warm up!
- Children should dress comfortably to participate fully in our youth programming, which sometimes involves crafts or going outside.
- Please refrain from wearing scented products for the comfort and health of all present.
- Masks are not required, but are welcome for your comfort. If you have recently been exposed to COVID-19 or tested positive within the last 10 days, please wear a mask inside the building. Masks are available for your convenience.
ACCESSIBILITY:
- UUSB is located on a hillside, one way street, so parking is limited. On-street parking directly in front of the building is reserved for people with mobility issues. If you need specific parking accommodations, please contact the office and we are happy to help.
- On Sundays, we use the upper door into the Dorothy Memorial Hall. This door has a ramp and button for automatic opening.
- Our restrooms are all gender inclusive. Wheelchair accessible bathrooms can be found in the hallways by the elevator on both floors, as well as in the vestry downstairs.
- Assisted listening devices are available.
- Large print hymnals are always available. Large print programs are available at most services.
ARRIVAL:
Our Sunday services start at 10:00. The upper doors are open from 9:30 to 10:15. Late arrivals can knock and be let in by a greeter.
Upon entering the Dorothy Memorial Hall, you will be welcomed by one of our greeters who will give you an Order of Service, ask if you would like a temporary name tag, and ask you to sign our visitor book. Our greeters are also happy to answer any questions you may have.
Coat racks can be found to the right, when you enter. Bathrooms are across the room on the left or through the lefthand door by the elevator.
Children:
Children go with their adults to the sanctuary for the start of every service. In the sanctuary, there is a small table with activities for children to fill their time.
Toward the middle of the service, we have a Time for All Ages, where a story is told and people of all ages are invited to come to the front and sit together.
On Sundays when Spiritual Exploration Experience meets, children are invited to go downstairs after the Time for All Ages and enjoy classes with their respective age groups. SEE has activities for youth ranging from nursery age to 18. Our SEE programming runs from September to May, usually meeting three times per month.
**Spiritual Exploration Experience or SEE is what UUSB calls our religious education programming. In other churches, this may be called spiritual education, Sunday school, etc.
A Typical Order of Service:
Starting the Service:
Each service begins with ingathering music, as we filter into the sanctuary, find seats, and talk quietly.
After the music ends, around 10:00, our minister, worship leader, or worship associate will welcome everyone to the service. Following the welcome, there is a a summary of the week’s announcements, including upcoming events and important information.
Following the announcements, we have our Chalice Lighting. The Chalice Lighting is a Unitarian Universalist tradition to mark the beginning of our time together and remind us of the light within all of us.
Time for All Ages:
The Time for All Ages is most often a story shared by the minister to help engage our youth in the day’s topic. Children and the young at heart are all invited to come to the front for this time. After the story, children are invited to head downstairs for SEE or to return to their seats.
Joys & Sorrows:
This is a Unitarian Universalist tradition, where we invite people to share what is happening in their lives – anniversaries or reunions or illness or loss.
Offering & Share the Plate:
UUSB is primarily funded by annual pledges from our members and friends. We Share the Plate from our Sunday offerings. Half of the undesignated funds in our plate each week are shared with an organization that shares our UU values.
Readings & Sermon:
Our minister, Rev. Andrew Moeller, usually preaches around three Sundays each month. On Sundays when Rev. Drew is away, a guest speaker or member of our congregation leads us. Topics vary and can include spirituality, social justice, history, and more.
You can find descriptions of upcoming services in our monthly newsletter, the Chalice & Chimes or the upcoming Sunday is in the weekly e-news on Thursdays.
Ending the Service:
After the sermon, we have our closing song, followed by extinguishing the chalice.
UUSB closes most services with a musical benediction with words written by our former interim minister, Rev. Arthur Vaeni.
Fellowship Hour:
After the service, all are invited to join us for a drink, snacks, and community in the Dorothy Memorial Hall. During Fellowship Hour, you will find coffee and tea, as well as water and sometimes juice. Snacks are provided by different teams each week.
We look forward to getting to know you! If we haven’t spoken to you by the time you have your refreshments, please reach out to any one of us. We are glad to have you with us!
For those with children downstairs attending the day’s SEE programming, classes usually end a few minutes after the service. We ask that parents pick children up, rather than releasing children to walk around the building without their adult.