Worship Services

Service Format

Services begin with a welcome to all and some devotional thoughts to contemplate. This is followed by an opportunity for members and visitors to share their current joys and concerns. Then a children's story is read and after the story, children are invited to either stay for the sermon or to go upstairs for religious exploration classes.

The members of our congregation attend church in a variety of styles of clothing. You are welcome to wear "business attire," shorts and sandals, or anything in between. During the service there is childcare for infants and toddlers, and religious exploration classes (Sunday School) for all ages: preschoolers through high school. Children of all ages are also welcome to remain in the service. Refreshments and fellowship time follow the service. We'd like to meet you, and hope that you'll drop by for a visit! We are a friendly group, but we are not "pushy."

Religious exploration and child care services are provided. See the Children's Religious Exploration page for more info on the curriculum and activities of the RE program.

Audio equipment is available for the hearing impaired. Just ask any church member for assistance.

Also, large-print hymnals.

Read Some of Rev. Millspaugh's Previous Sermons. See the links on his Ministerial Musings page.

Guest Speaker Suggestions Welcome; see the announcements page.

Worship Services for September 2008

Note: In September we return to our regular schedule with two services each Sunday, one at 9:30 a.m. and another at 11:00 a.m.

September 7, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Discovery
Discovering or re-discovering a community is thrilling. New people are “finding” Unitarian Universalist communities every week while seasoned members are finding what has been forgotten. How can we connect with each other by what we find? Today we will take a look at the "finds" in our community.
The Rev. Mitra Rahnema
Worship Associate: Laura Jackson

September 14, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Step into Liquid
It is water that has carved and shaped our landscape, the container in which we come together. Today we will talk about the gifts of water. Please bring a bit of water representing insights or experiences of your summer for the annual Water Ceremony and we will re-emerge into community for the coming year.
The Rev. Mitra Rahnema
Worship Associate: Laura Jackson

September 21, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Learning to Join
Is church only for Sundays? What is the purpose of being part of a religious community? The original humanist manifesto calls us to a “heightened sense of personal life.” We will explore what it means to heighten our lives and how we challenge our community to our best selves. Additionally, today we will celebrate and recognize our newest members.
The Rev. Mitra Rahnema
Worship Associate: Mark Fox

September 28, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Regeneration
Roberta Ward Smiley from Santa Monica moved to Costa Rica in 1983 with her partner, Daniel Spreen Wilson They purchased a 100-acre farm in the province of Guanacaste and after fifteen years they began to recognize the environmental toll caused by their farming practices. In 1998 following the sale of all their cattle, they began regenerating forest on their property, naming it La Reserva Forest. Illustrating the UU Principle of the Interdependent Web of Life, Ms. Ward Smiley will relate her stories of ecological success with La Reserva Foundation, which she founded.
Roberta Ward Smiley
Worship Associate: Mark Fox

Adult Forums

Adult Forum begins its fifteenth year like last year with discussions ranging from math, physics, & energy, to the environment, religion, Cuba, travelogues, universe, toll roads, infinity and bluebirds. Here we go again! Are you ready?

September 14 at 11:00 a.m. in the social hall

Melissa Vargas will speak on Prop. 7 on the Nov. ballot, Solar and Clean Energy Initiative. She is the organizer for this measure and will speak on four ways to cleaner energy: Solar, Geothermal, Wind and Biomass.

September 28 at 11:00 a.m. in the social hall

The League of Women Voters of  the Capistrano Bay chapter Rep will discuss the November ballot propositions.

October 12 at 11:00 a.m. in the social hall

Home solar energy solutions. Shawn Maez from Solar City

Anne Farrell

Announcements 

In order to create a more reflective mood, announcements will no longer be given orally during the service. Information regarding church business will be printed in a slip-sheet and placed inside the order of service. If you want to submit an announcement, please edit it carefully and include all pertinent information. What you submit will be cut and pasted into the slip-sheet as is. Please also indicate how many Sundays you would like the announcement to appear. Submit announcements to no later than the Wednesday preceding the service.