Visitors

Frequently Asked Questions

Browse through the following to answer many of the questions you may have about our church and denomination.

(With credit to Our Unitarian Universalist Faith: Frequently Asked Questions published by the Unitarian Universalist Association.)

What binds Unitarian Universalists together?
At the heart of Unitarian Universalism (UU) is a belief that each person is free to search for truth and meaning in their lives. As religious liberals we put less emphasis on formal beliefs and more on practical living. Our interest is in deeds, not creeds. What we have in common are our seven UU Principles, and the desire for a church community where we can be accepted regardless of what we believe.

What kinds of people attend NSUC?
You’ll find a wide variety of people at NSUC, including those with Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Agnostic, Atheist or Pagan backgrounds or leanings. Many of our members are people who have attended another church and found the community valuable but weren’t able to accept the beliefs. Some have never before been part of a spiritual community. Acceptance is very important to our membership – we like to learn from each other, knowing that none of us has all the answers.

We are a welcoming congregation, which means that our church affirms and promotes the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We invite, welcome and celebrate people of all ages, races, sexual orientations, levels of education, and economic status. We believe we do not all need to think alike to love alike.

How do you worship together if you don’t all believe the same thing?
We worship each Sunday as a way to nourish our minds and hearts through reflection, through connection with one another, and through our reverence for the mystery and beauty of life.

We use two strategies to meet people’s individual needs – flexibility and “taking turns.” Flexibility means choosing service elements that can mean different things to different people. For example, a minute of silence can mean prayer, meditation, or reflection. Lighting a candle can be spiritual or social.

We also have much variety in our services – some are more tailored to people with a stronger spiritual side, and some are more philosophical or intellectual. Considering the variety, we suggest you visit us several times to get a true sense of our spiritual community.   Back to Top

What happens during a worship service?
Our services take place in a bright, warm sanctuary equipped with pews and chairs. Very often the sanctuary looks crowded, but seats can usually be found in the “wings” to the right and left of the stage. We try to keep the back row open for newcomers until after the service begins.

Our services usually involve lots of music and various common elements. Followed by a musical prelude, the main services begin at 10:30 am with the lighting of the chalice, a symbol of our Unitarian Universalist tradition.

If the children are upstairs for the beginning of the service, which is often the case, we all enjoy a children’s story and some congregational singing before the children proceed to their classes. Following some words of welcome and a few brief announcements, we light a Candle of Joys and Concerns, and a Candle of Global Concern. We may listen to a reading, and take a few minutes for quiet reflection.

There is almost always some kind of address – either a sermon from our minister (2-3 Sundays per month) or an invited guest, or a talk or panel discussion involving members of our congregation. We take a collection to support the work of our congregation. We tend to close with a few more words and more music. We like to link hands for our closing song. Services usually run about an hour in length.  Back to Top

What sermon messages do you explore?
You name it. As long as there exists some universal appeal, we explore and challenge timely topics. Whether it be social action, peace, war, personal growth, freedom, justice, or any of the deep questions in life, we bravely, and with an open mind, present meaningful, topical subjects. For a review of past topics check our Archives.  Back to Top

What do Unitarian Universalists believe about God?
Some Unitarian Universalists are non-theists and do not find language about God useful or relevant to them. The faith of other Unitarian Universalists in God may be profound, though among these, too, talk of God may be restrained. Why? To avoid confusion over the wide-ranging use of the word God, many Unitarian Universalists are more apt to speak of “reverence for life” (in the words of Albert Schweitzer, a Unitarian), the spirit of love or truth, the holy, or the gracious. Many also prefer such language because it is inclusive; it is used with integrity by both theist and non-theist members. Whatever our theological persuasion, Unitarian Universalists generally agree that the fruits of religious belief and spiritual inquiry matter more than beliefs about religion – even about God. So we usually speak more of the fruits: gratitude for blessings, worthy aspirations, the renewal of hope, the interconnectedness of all living things, and service on behalf of justice.   Back to Top

What ceremonies are conducted, and holidays celebrated?
Our ceremonies of marriage, naming or dedicating our children, and memorializing our dead are phrased in simple, contemporary language. We observe these rites in community, not because they are required by some rule or dogma, but because in them we may voice our affection, hopes, and dedication.  Back to Top

Though practices vary in our congregations and change over time, UUs celebrate many of the great religious holidays with enthusiasm. Whether we gather to celebrate Christmas, Passover, or the Summer Solstice, we do so in a universal context, recognizing and honouring religious observances and festivals as innate and needed in all human cultures.  Back to Top

Is there childcare and/or Sunday School? What is taught?
Yes, NSUC offers lifespan religious education for people at all stages of their personal spiritual journeys. For children, we have programming for all ages – from nursery care to our youth group (13-18). For more details see Religious Education.   Back to Top

What should I wear? What should my children wear?
You should wear whatever you are most comfortable in. Many people dress casually (jeans are fine), but some people dress up. Your children should wear something they can play in.  Back to Top

What other activities and programs do you offer at NSUC?
There are many opportunities for you to participate at NSUC. As our offerings change over time, you may wish to check our newsletter and calendar to see what’s going on currently. In addition to our ongoing children, youth, and choir programs, we host adult religious education workshops, potluck dinners, book clubs, women’s and men’s support groups, various affinity groups (such as Chronies for older women, and Artarians for artists), inter-faith dinners, meditation groups, drumming classes, sex education classes for all ages, various discussion groups, a superb Christmas dinner, etc, etc.   Back to Top

What provisions do you have for people with disabilities?
Our main floor, including our sanctuary, is wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately our washroom facilities are downstairs, and currently must be accessed by going out and around the building via a ramp. (We are planning for elevator access.) In the sanctuary we have headsets for people with hearing difficulties, and large-print hymnals. Please ask a greeter or usher for more information on these aids.  Back to Top

How does NSUC’s church organization operate?
NSUC is a member congregation of the BC Region of the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC), our national organization. For some services we also rely on the American national organization, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). CUC churches are independent, democratically run institutions with the power to select and approve their own ministers. Church policy, budgets, and programs are overseen by our Board of Trustees. Church work is shared by our Minister and Staff and various committees. We rely heavily on the efforts of our many volunteers. The church budget and all major non-budget expenses are subject to congregational review and approval by majority vote.   Back to Top

What about the committees?
Although the Board of Trustees has primary responsibility for ensuring we carry out our congregational mandates, most of the church’s activities occur in committees. A few of the committees, such as Finance, require specific skills or knowledge and are appointed by the Board. The rest are open to anyone who’s interested and willing to contribute the appropriate effort.

Some people join committees that call on their professional skills; others use the committees to stretch their experiences, or to exercise talents outside their daily routine. All find a sense that some call “ministry” in committee work, a sense that they are working for a cause that transcends the humdrum.

Committees and groups are generally small and friendly, and are an excellent way to meet people and become part of the NSUC community.  Back to Top

Will I be pressured to join?
No. The right to a free and independent search for truth and meaning is one of our seven UU Principles. We are not as oriented towards spreading our religion as much as we are towards making it available for people who are looking for it. However, expect people to be friendly and encouraging. When you first arrive you will likely be greeted (look for people in the foyer wearing sunflowers on their lapels), offered a printed program describing the service being given that day, and a nametag if you wish to wear one. You are also given an opportunity to sign our guest book. If you like what you find, you are welcome to return for our services as often as you wish, and to participate in our community life in any other ways that appeal to you. When the time suits you, you may wish to become a member of our church.  Back to Top

What does becoming a member involve?
Over time, many people embrace the responsibilities that come along with membership at NSUC. As a member, you are responsible in at least three ways: To yourself, you owe the pursuit of a personal spiritual journey. To others, you owe participation as a member of a shared community. To the institution, you owe a commitment of financial support in the form of an annual pledge in any amount you feel appropriate in your economic circumstances.

Participants in our community are generally at one of three levels of commitment, each with the following rights and benefits:

How is the church funded?
The church has an annual budget to meet, and the congregation is responsible for raising all funds to meet that budget. Everyone’s contributions, but especially the pledges, help us improve, enhance and expand our programs, staff and church facility.   Back to Top

Where can I find out more?
First investigate the rest of our site. You’ll find lots of information about our various activities and programs, and links to both the Canadian (CUC) and American (UUA) national organizations. At some point you may wish to attend a series of three classes we hold for people new to our congregation – we run them at least twice a year. Additionally, you may wish to read Our Unitarian Universalist Faith: Frequently Asked Questions, published by the Unitarian Universalist Association.   Back to Top