Seeking the truth in love
WORSHIP SERVICES
Coming together in peace
Our Sunday Morning Services


Our worship services are in general informal and relaxed, but of a high quality. We are justly proud of our music program, the sermons from our fine interim minister, our guest speakers, and our special events and services. Our children and youth are also an important part of our worship.
Services Led by Our Interim Minister, the Rev. Linda Bunyard


We are Called to Worship by words that invite each person to come “just as they are” to be together in community. (Worship: “seeking of what is of worth.”) 

The Lighting of the Flaming Chalice is unique to Unitarian Universalist worship. The symbol of the flaming chalice came to us from the work of the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II in Eastern Europe and symbolized the light of freedom. The chalice is an ancient symbol, predating Hebrew and Christian worship and practice, reminding us of the abundant flow of life-giving sustenance. It is a time in our service to quiet our minds and center our hearts. Each time we light it we seek new meaning in this small ritual.

Our Affirmation is a time-honored covenant that has been used by Unitarian and Universalist churches for over a century. Each church has its own version.
       Love is the spirit of this church, and service its law.
        To dwell together in peace,
        To seek the truth in love,
        And to help one another.
        This is our great covenant.

The Opening Hymn is one of praise. The Rev. John Buehrens, former President of the UU Association, has this to say about the value of praise: “It isn’t the character of God that is at issue, it is ours. And it is a good thing to sing praises, not because God requires it, because our character does.”  We may not name God in our singing every Sunday, but we find something about our lives and this world to praise.

At the Story for All Ages the children and the young at heart are invited to sit with our Storyteller for an interactive teaching moment, which always has application for the lives of adults.

Two Sundays a month our Offering is shared with an organization chosen by the Social Justice Committee. Most of these provide services locally. Each Sunday we participate in Total Ministry when we bring our non-perishable food for the food barrel. “Grateful for the abundance in our own lives, we give for the life of this congregation.”

When the children, youth and their teachers leave for classes we move into a quieter time with the naming of Joys and Concerns (and milestones) and the speaking of names of those in need of care and prayer.  From that we move into Meditation, Silence, and Prayer.

After an inspiring Anthem by the choir or a song by any of our many talented singers we are ready to hear the “message” that the “preacher” has prepared for us. Yes, we call it a Sermon. Expect to be fed intellectually and also to have your heart touched. During this interim year the sermons have been chosen very specifically for addressing the needs of a congregation preparing for a new minister. The interim minister is listening to the congregation for the issues that need to be addressed.

After the Sermon we sing a hymn of commitment, one that will encourage to get up and go out into the world to live our values and get to the healing work that needs to be done in our community and our world.

The Benediction is the final “good word” for leaving.

Worship services this year are energized and full of a variety of styles of music as well as a diversity of theological perspectives and sources of inspiration.

About one Sunday a month we have an Intergenerational Service where the children stay with us for the hour. These services change format to engage young minds in more creative ways--and the sermon comes in small segments.

Join us for a worship experience like no other in Spartanburg and the Upcountry!
Our Music Program and Our Choir


Our inspiring music is as important to us as our excellent preaching. Our enthusiastic and talented music director works with the minister and the Worship Committee to provide a high-quality musical experience during the worship service. We have an adult choir which performs at least twice a month and outstanding guest musicians and musical programs. The music program has made great strides in the past year and has attracted new members both into the church and into the choir. (Click here for more on our music program.)
Children's Time

In every service we have a "Childlren's Time," a very spirited and dramatic story told or enacted by our talented youth activities director. Afterwards we sing the children out, as they go to Children's Chapel and the youth RE activities which follow. At least once a month, the children and young people remain in the sanctuary for an Intergenerational Worship Service. In recent months, integenerational servivces have included: an African Drumming Group, an observance of Martin Luther King Day, a Winter Solstice Singing Ritual, a Thanks-giving service and a Halloween service, and our annual Water Communion.
Guest Speakers
Special Services
It is a UU tradition to give our minister at least one Sunday off a month, two when there are five Sundays, and two months vacation in the summer. On Sundays when the minister is away we have programs led by our own congregation members or by guest speakers. Episcopal minister Roy Cole, Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz, Walter Mack (director of the Penn Center school on St. Helena Island), and Spartanburg police chief Tony Fisher have spoken from our pulpit during the past year. Our own members have discussed such varied topics as the hospice program, Green Sanctuary, Yoga as spiritual practice, the life of Margaret Fuller, and topics related to personal fulfillment.
•  Christmas Eve

•  Annual Water Communion

•  Winter Solstice Singing Ritual

•  Visiting Musicians Series
The Unitarian Universalist
CHURCH OF SPARTANBURG
Sunday Service at 11:00
Vespers Wednesday at 6:30
A Free Religion
“Let us worship, not in bowing down, not with closed eyes and stopped ears. 
     Let us worship with the opening of all the window of our beings, with the full outstretching of our spirits.” (Kenneth Patton)

We begin our Sunday morning services with Gathering Music, usually sung by the congregation. Singing has the power to transform a group of individuals into a community, if only for an hour on Sunday morning. We draw a common breath together and 130 individuals become a harmonious choir.
 
210 Henry Place
P.O. Box 1942
Spartanburg, SC 29304
864-585-9230
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg