Sundays from June 25 until September 3
Summer services are produced by the Religious Services Committee. Worship begins at 10 am on Zoom or in the sanctuary as indicated in each service’s description.
Please note that all summer services except 2 will be conducted on ZOOM ONLY.
June 25, General Assembly Online Worship
LIVE-STREAMED 11 :00-12:30 pm
There will be no Sunday Worship at Murray, but Sunday Worship will be live-streamed from UUA in Pittsburgh. from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT / 10:00 a.m. CDT / 9:00 a.m. MDT / 8:00 a.m. PDT. No registration required.
Join us virtually for the largest annual gathering of UUs in worship.
July 2, The Media is the Message
Service by Justin Keith | Zoom
An exploration of the polarization of cable news and social media in today’s society and how to combat echo chambers with critical thinking and well rounded news consumption.
July 9, Breaking News from the UU General Assembly
Service by Colleen DeGroot and Bruce Field | Zoom
July 16, The Wisdom of Mister Rogers
Service by Donna Seagrave| Zoom
Fred Rogers, the creator of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, dedicated his life to understanding and supporting the growth and development of children and, by extension, the grownups and caregivers in their lives. Let us consider the wisdom of this talented musician, composer, puppeteer, and minister, who reminded us to “look to the helpers, to always be kind, to recognize that life is made up of striving much more than attaining and that we all make mistakes as we grow.”
July 23, Bingo of Life
Service by Marguerite MacLean | Zoom
What common milestones have you reached in your life? Have you turned 50? Are you an empty nester? Have you broken a bone? I’ll discuss some common and maybe not so common milestones that we have achieved in our life. We’ll post the “bingo” sheet on zoom and you can see if you get a Bingo. Whether you get Bingo or not we’ll discuss each one and you can put in chat if this is something you have achieved and for some of them share a short sentence or two about the event.
July 30, Make A Joyful Noise
Service by Ruth Debrot | In-person only
Improvisation is fundamental to creating something new. Creating can be a messy business because it requires a certain amount of risk-taking which some people find daunting. I have found that the ability to “riff” using what is familiar and assimilate bits of the unfamiliar when confronting new situations can generate growth in our lives. When approached freely, in a spirit of community, improvisation can foster a sense of joy, wonder, spirituality and self-awareness.
August 6, Religion in Literature
Service by Liz Kenyon | Zoom
Religion has played a significant role in literature throughout history. From religious texts such as the Bible and the Quran to works of literature that explore religious themes and ideas, religion has profoundly influenced literature and culture. In this service, I will provide an overview of this topic, going as far back as ancient Babylon and ancient India.
August 13, Connecting with Folktales and Fairytales
Service by Monica Weil | Zoom
Some of the first stories that we learn as children are folktales and fairytales. Folktales and Fairytales represent the different dimensions of life and humanity. Many of these stories start to lose their appeal as we grow in our wiser years. They can become irrelevant or are no longer in touch with modern aesthetics. When approached with openness and wonder, they can continue to provide wisdom for all ages.
August 20, Book Banning
Service by Monica Staaf | Zoom
“What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.” ― Salman Rushdie
Books are being challenged and banned across the country in order to “protect” children. How can we defend books, including those that we may personally find offensive, to allow each other the opportunity to express ourselves and search for truth?
August 27, Blessing of the Animals
Service by Ruth Debrot and Randy Larrivee | In-person only
Join Randy and Ruth for a live, outdoor ceremony to give thanks and bless the companions in our lives—leashed or crated cats and dogs, birds and chickens, turtles and fish, horses, and so much more! We will acknowledge the ways that human lives are made fuller and richer by the creatures that inhabit the Earth with us. Feel free to bring your pets, photos of pets, and stuffed animals.
September 3, Bumper Sticker Philosophy
Service by Len Yutkins | Zoom
According to Paul Simon the “words of the prophets are written on the subway walls” (The Sound of Silence). I believe the words of wisdom now appear on bumper stickers!