Archives: Services

Broken Bread: Rituals of Thanksgiving

What does communion mean when it’s not bound by creed? In this service, we’ll explore the Unitarian Universalist understanding of communion—not as sacrament, but as symbol. Bread becomes our teacher: of sustenance, of community, of brokenness and renewal. From ancient grain to shared table, we’ll reflect on how bread invites us to remember our interdependence, … Continue reading Broken Bread: Rituals of Thanksgiving

Eating on the Good Dishes

As the many holidays and religious celebrations of this part of the year descend upon us, I want to offer this little bit of advice: get out the good dishes. Please let’s not leave the china in the cupboard for fear of breaking it. Life is short and not always sweet. Celebrations are good. Family … Continue reading Eating on the Good Dishes

Stations of the Sun: Autumn

In this worship, Rev. Ritchie offers a spirited guide to the essentials of modern paganism and the soul-deep richness of honoring the turning seasons. From harvest festivals to hearth-centered wisdom, this service invites you to mark autumn in particular with intention, curiosity, and reverence. Join us at 10:30AM at our newly renovated and expanded church … Continue reading Stations of the Sun: Autumn

The Veil Lifted: Universalism and the Legacy of Spiritualism

In the flickering candlelight of 19th-century parlors, Universalists gathered not only to preach the gospel of boundless love—but to listen for the voices of the departed. Spiritualism, with its séances and spirit circles, was more than a cultural curiosity; it was a theological experiment born of grief, hope, and radical openness. In this service we’ll … Continue reading The Veil Lifted: Universalism and the Legacy of Spiritualism

Fear Not? What Horror Movies and the Bible Teach Us about Terror

Fear can seem like an especially irrational emotion. Surely, there is nothing to be afraid of in the drafty basement or the dark path through the woods. Indeed, over 300 biblical verses exhort us not to fear. Should we fear not? In this spine-tingling service, Director of Religious Exploration Morgan Patten will explore what fear … Continue reading Fear Not? What Horror Movies and the Bible Teach Us about Terror

Indecent Theologies

Today we’ll ask: What does it mean to do spirituality without the constraints of respectability politics? How might we become more honest, more liberating, and more faithful to the messy beauty of real life? Join us at 10:30AM at our newly renovated and expanded church home at 1574 Franklin Street, Lewis Center, Ohio, or, attend … Continue reading Indecent Theologies

Swimming in the Analog Sea

In a world of constant connectivity, we pause to rediscover the richness of the slow and the tangible. This service advocates for unhurried thought, and spiritual presence in an age of digital overwhelm. Come wade into quieter waters: there’s plenty of room. Join us at 10:30AM at our newly renovated and expanded church home at … Continue reading Swimming in the Analog Sea

(Re)creating a New Day

Inspired by the Jewish High Holy Days and Rabbi Jack Riemer’s reflections, we explore turning—not just as repentance, but as rebirth. Rosh Hashanah awakens us to life’s beauty; Yom Kippur invites us to shed the ego and return renewed by grace, understood not as a divine gift but a spiritual practice. Join us at 10:30AM … Continue reading (Re)creating a New Day

Great Migrations

Drawing on the intimate personal narratives from Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns, Rev. Ritchie traces the “Great Migration” of millions of African Americans from the American South to the North and West throughout the twentieth century—a movement driven by hope, resistance, and the search for dignity. Alongside these and other experiences of human … Continue reading Great Migrations