On Sunday, Sept 10th, we will gather for our traditional UU Water Ritual to mark the beginning of a new church year!

This ritual was created by Unitarian Universalists Carolyn McDade and Lucile Longview nearly 43 years ago and celebrates our belonging to this community and Unitarian Universalism by combining our waters in a simple yet meaningful ritual. The mixing and mingling of our water symbolizes that our UU faith comes from many different sources and reminds us that we are a church that values and honors different perspectives and experiences.

At our multigenerational Ingathering service, everyone is encouraged to bring a small amount of water from a place that is spiritually nourishing to them. Perhaps it comes from a special trip to a beloved homeland, or a pool/beach/lake where gatherings with family and friends remind you of the importance of staying connected, or maybe it comes from a spicket you use to water your beautiful garden. We will use our gathered waters throughout the year to bless people in weddings, child dedications, and other ways to represent the love and support of our community.

This service will have music to please all ages. Our adult choir will sing two pieces of contemporary, upbeat music. Children from our Ecojustice Camp will sing Pat Humphries’s “Swimming to the Other Side.” Music Director Mary Beth Courtright will play contemplative music on organ and piano. And there will be several singable hymns, including Peter Mayer’s “Blue Boat Home.”