Rev. Shawn and Kiersten Moore have been having conversations over the past two years about rebuilding the core of multigenerational community and spiritual life at VanU post-pandemic. We plan to experiment next fall with a shorter, intentionally all ages worship on the First Sunday of each month (September through June) followed by food and programming afterwards for adults, children, and youth to go deeper together in a variety of ways.
Core registered programs for children and youth will continue the rest of the month; including youth group, Crossing Paths, Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.), and Coming of Age. Worship on the second through fifth Sundays will proceed as usual and children will be supported and engaged by Lifespan staff and volunteers in Hewett Centre and the Sanctuary. (read the introductory post here)
Experimenting with Worship and Community
Q: How will a Whole Congregation, all ages, religious exploration Sunday once a month promote intergenerational community if it is aimed at families?
A: While these 1st Sunday experiments will be an all ages service, that does not mean families only, I really mean all ages–intergenerational. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, particularly those who primarily come for a full length sermon above all other aspects of worship. But it is not only children who like ritual, participation, creativity, more music, no business, and a shorter length in worship.
Also, the programs after worship will be aimed at different age groups, including elders and adults without young kids. Workshops will be designed, but not restricted, by age–so a young person fascinated by history can absolutely come engage with a UU history class, and an elder person who prefers art, nature, music, or movement can skip the discussion group for one of the creative spaces.
Exploration Sundays: Engaging Hearts, Heads, and Hands
Q: What are these First Sundays of the month going to look like in the fall?
A: The First Sunday all ages services will be shorter in length and involve focused homilies and reflections, ritual, participation, creativity, more music, and no business. Afterwards we will have food – a vital component if folks are going to stay – and then 60-90 minutes of program and activities in at least three spaces. Programming time will include hearts, heads, and hands options: moving, thinking, or creating. All will be built around meaning making, deepening connections, and filling our spirits.
Moving, Thinking, Making …
Q: Who will lead these awesome workshops and programs on Exploration Sundays?
A: Rev. Shawn and Kiersten envision working with other program staff, like Casey Stainsby and Alex Okrainetz; our intern minister Janet Pivnik; the new Lifespan RE Team chaired by Ariel Hunt-Brondwin; other RE volunteers; youth and their advisors. We would also like to collaborate with members and Teams wanting to facilitate an exploration of any question that touches the spirit. What is the spiritual in-road to questions of climate, environmental and social justice, or reconciliation? What spiritual practices do people have to share? There is a wealth of deep wisdom, joy, and playfulness we have to draw on for facing the challenges and concerns in this life we share.
Effect on Other Groups
Q: What about space for other meetings and forums on Exploration Sundays?
A: The whole campus will be reserved for the early-afternoon (12-2:15) on these first Sundays and we ask that teams and committees find other times to meet in the course of the month.
Q: Does this mean no other forums or offerings by teams or groups on the first Sundays of each month?
A: We imagine that forum content could fit with a month’s theme and be a part of the programming provided. Shawn and Kiersten expect to be in conversation with various groups who may wish to offer programming on themes relevant to their areas of work or interest.
So much of our spirituality as Unitarians is connected to our values of learning, growth, and justice. There is opportunity for creative space, movement such as dance or games or spiritual practice, as well as discussion or content learning workshops and forums.
Q: Why is the whole campus reserved for Exploration Sunday afternoons?
A: Our goal is for the first Sunday of each month to be an animating time for the whole congregation. The morning service launches the month’s worship and small-group theme with different ways to explore that theme in programming following coffee hour. The intent is to engage everyone in the community-building this approach offers and make it easier for other groups to schedule events without competing programs.
Do you have an idea? Let Rev. Shawn or Kiersten know about it.
