What to Expect on a Sunday
Sunday morning service at 10:00 am is the center of life at the UUFA. We gather to deepen our personal spiritual journeys, be called to action to work towards justice, and enjoy being in community. Children & youth also are a vital part of our community and can participate in enriching programs.
A timeline of Sunday mornings:
Gather
Our Sunday mornings begin as people gather before the service. Volunteers are making coffee, setting up chairs, greeting each other and awaiting the start of service.
Greeting
As you arrive in the building, you will be greeted by a member near the door. UUs tend to be friendly folks, so don’t be surprised if others you don’t know say hello too!
Get name tag
At our visitor’s table, you can make a name tag and sign up to receive information. Most members wear permanent name tags, making it easier for all of us to learn names.
Move into Fellowship Hall
A few minutes before service starts, someone will ring a bell to let people know it is time to move into Fellowship Hall. As you enter, you’ll be handed a program, detailing the morning’s service. There are no assigned or reserved seats, so take a seat wherever you are comfortable.
Service
The program typically includes readings, meditation, songs sung by the congregation, special music performed by members, and a sermon. After the “time for all ages”, children are excused for Religious Education class. About halfway through the service, we pass a basket for our offering. Please don’t feel obliged to contribute anything as a visitor; we’re just glad you are here!
Coffee Fellowship
Once the service is over, we gather in the Fireside Room to socialize while drinking fair-trade coffee or tea and partaking in wonderful treats. This is a great time to get to know some of our community. Feel free to ask questions about our Fellowship and Unitarian Universalism in general – you might not get the same answers from everybody, but that’s part of our charm!
Frequently Asked Questions
What sort of people go to the UUFA?
Our members and friends have a wide variety of religious backgrounds and theological philosophies. We welcome:
- Single people, couples, families
- Children, college students, adults, seniors
- People of all races and ethnicities
- People of all gender identities and sexual orientations
- Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans, humanists, atheists, and many others
Is it OK to just show up and take a look?
Yes, we welcome visitors at any time! The best time to visit is probably on Sunday mornings (when we have services and lots of people here). Please stop by the visitor table in the Fireside Room if you’re visiting! If Sunday morning doesn’t quite fit your schedule, stop by during office hours.
What time are Sunday services?
Sunday services are at 10 am CT, and available to join both in-person and online. Click the “Join service online” button on the homepage, or call 312-626-6799, meeting ID: 997 408 874. After the service, stay for coffee fellowship in the Fireside Room (or stay online).
Can I bring my children?
YES! We love children!
We usually provide nursery care for children up to age 3 during Sunday programming. During the school year, religious education classes (aka “Sunday School”) are available for children in PreK through Grade 8. No childcare pre-registration is required for occasional visits, but we do ask that regular attendees register their child(ren).
How do I get to the UUFA?
Our address is 1015 Hyland Avenue. Hyland runs along the west edge of the Iowa State University campus, from Ontario (13th) Street to Lincoln Way, and a few blocks further south.
A lower parking lot in front of the building includes ADA accessible parking spaces. Our overflow parking lot is 100 feet north/uphill (look for the blue yard signs). The city prohibits parking on Hyland Avenue. If both lots are full, additional parking is available further uphill along Ross Road (the nearest side street), or in the ISU College of Design parking lot (across from the ISU cemetery; weekends only).
How should we dress?
Wear whatever clothes feel comfortable to you! Dress is usually casual; jeans and a casual shirt are just fine. Some people dress more formally, so you can, too, if you want. No matter how you dress, chances are good that there will be someone else who is dressed similarly.
In the summer, lots of people wear shorts. Children can wear clothes they can play in.
Where can I find out more about Unitarian Universalism?
The Unitarian Universalist Association is a great place to start. We also offer Intro to UU sessions from time to time; check the calendar for availability.
For those seeking more information on what it means to be a member of our congregation, we now offer self-guided online Membership Exploration – read more here.
Virtual Guest Book
If you are a guest joining us online or just visiting our website, please know that you are always welcome at our Fellowship!
Please sign our guest book and let us know what brought you here today. Once you have completed the form below, click submit to be sure your responses are recorded (you’ll also receive a copy in your email).
