Sanctuary Worship & Etiquette
Worship happens in many ways, but the way that West Shore knows best is in the sanctuary on a Sunday morning. When people are looking for a congregation, they often want to know "what's the service like," and "what are the "norms" of the congregation; that is, what's okay to do or not do in your church? Here are some guidelines:
- Come early to get a parking space! West Shore has limited parking space and if you arrive a few minutes before the service, it may be hard to get a spot.
- Leave food and drinks outside the sanctuary.
- Children and welcome and expected, and members of West Shore have a pretty high tolerance for children's noises. However, if children become too restless or too vocal, please take them to the Rotunda lounge (equipped with a video monitor and sound), the Fireside Room or the Nursery. All of these areas have the sound piped in.
- Regarding applause. West Shore has no policy regarding applause, hoping instead that the congregation will be sensitive to the moment and not applaud after a musical offering simply because iit's what's done at a concert or after a children's performance. We hope that applause is done sparingly, but enthusiastically!
- What to wear. People dress in ways that make them comfortable; ranging from Sunday best to casual.
- In/out of the sanctuary. We ask people to be respectful and quiet when coming in/out of the sanctuary, refraining from taking a seat during prayers, readings or the sermon.
Worship
West Shore's 350 seat sanctuary is where our two morning worship services are held. Because Unitarian Universalists do not hold to a prescribed liturgy, we are free to create worship services that reflect both ancient truths and new insights. We do this through both traditional rituals and by innovative liturgy. On a typical Sunday, however, you might see an order of service that looks something like this:
- Gathering Music
- Sounding of the Bell--the bell sound calls us to attention
- Prelude--Often on the organ, sometimes a choral invocation
- Invocation--centering us on why we gather
- Lighting of the Chalice--while not a universal symbol in all UU churches, many have adopted the chalice as a way to begin the worship service. We often refer to it as the "light of truth, the warmth of community and the fire of commitment."
- Welcome & Announcements--a statement of what Unitarian Universalists believe and information about the week's events
- Hymns/Song--sometimes from a hymnal--other times words are projected on the wall or screen behind the pulpit.
- Seasonal Rituals--Depending on the time of year, or events in the life of the church, you may experience a child dedication, a teacher or Board of Trustees commissioning ceremony, induction of new Worship or Pastoral Associates, a flower or bread communion service or any number of other rituals as a way of signifying an important milestone in the life of the congregation.
- Meditation, Reflection, Prayer--a time for centering, for quiet, for silence.
- Readings--drawn from a variety of sources; ancient & modern; scripture and poetry; classic texts or contemporary writings--all readings will relate to the theme of the service.
- Anthem--a piece of music offered by the choir; often reflecting the best in classical choir repetoire.
- Sermon--the sermon is directly related to the stated theme of the worship service; usually 20 minutes; often divided into two 10-minute sections.
- Offering/Offertory--an opportunity to reflect on generosity (offering) with something tangible, while listening to music (the offertory.)
- Benediction--a sending forth in preparation of the week ahead.
- Postlude--Because the quality of the organ and music director is so highly regarded, most people sit quietly during the postlude to listen to the music. Others who wish to talk leave the sanctuary and go to the Rotunda for . . .
Coffee/Tea Hour--a sacred ritual to UU's. It's usually served in the church's Baker Hall, with people free to wander and visit in the courtyard, the Rotunda area and the Fireside Room.
