Sunday Mornings

During our regular church year (September-June) we have two worship services each Sunday morning, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m (9:30am ONLY from June-August). Both of these services are available in the Chapel or live-streamed on our website.  In the summer we have just one worship service.

"Worship" for UUs is about celebrating that which brings meaning to life, reflecting on how we might better care for ourselves and the world, being present for one another, and taking time to contemplate what we are called to do, to be, and to become. 

Immediately following each Sunday Service is an opportunity for coffee and conversations. Please feel free to drop in and attend a service any Sunday. If you're running late, come anyway.

A friendly greeter will be at the door to welcome you, offer you a name tag and help you find your way around. Please feel free to ask the greeters any questions you have.

You will see some dresses and suits & ties, and plenty of jeans, shorts and comfortable shoes. We welcome gender-non-binary attire. Wear what feels good to you. In other words, you’ll fit right in.

Children and youth of all ages are welcome in the services on Sunday mornings. It’s okay if kids get wiggly and babies make noises; it makes us smile! To help make church a positive experience for all members of your family, here are a few things we thought you might like to know:

Our “Sprouts” room offers attentive and loving childcare during Sunday services year-round for little ones age 6 months to 4½ years. You can leave your cell number with the teachers, put your phone on vibrate, and ask them to contact you if your child needs you (for example, if they are inconsolable for more than 10 minutes, or whatever you decide). That way you can have peace of mind knowing that your sweet pea is resting or playing safely while you are in the sanctuary.

We offer high-quality Sunday morning programs for children and youth from kindergarten through high school ages throughout the regular church year. During the summer months, we offer a variety of multi-age activities. Please see our Family Ministry page to learn more about these programs and how to register.

We have a "fidget cart" at the back of the Chapel with interesting things to hold or do, including crayons  and coloring sheet. If you’d like some, please ask any usher to point you to the cart.

You are welcome to walk in and out of the Chapel with your child as needed. We usually have the Sunday service playing live in Nathan Johnson Hall, where you and your children can watch the service and have a cup of tea, coffee, or a juice box if you like. Movement is ok, too.

Since Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations are non-creedal and self-governing, each church, fellowship and community has a distinct way of offering and expressing UU. We encourage you to visit different UU churches in the area and see what feels right to you. 

University Unitarian is the largest UU church in the state of Washington, and is one of the oldest (started in 1913). Our preferred style is more formal than some of the other UU churches in the Pacific Northwest. Our ministers usually wear robes and our services usually feature choir music as well as hymns sung by the whole the congregation. You’ll hear readings from various wisdom traditions and contemporary sources. We’ll invite an offering for the work of the church or to support a community organization. Our ministers will lead prayer or meditation and deliver sermons that speak to issues of life today, offering solace and calling us to reflection and action. Once a month (often on third Sundays), we usually have an All Ages Sunday which are a little livelier, tend to be more story and movement focused, and usually feature families. They're meant for all ages, and our children tend to be very engaged.

The ministries and programming of UUC are funded almost entirely by the donations of its supporters. Every gift, no matter the amount, is cherished. UUC accepts gifts in many different forms to fit the preferences and opportunities of donors. One of those forms is through a cash, check or text gift during the service. It is not a mandatory offering, but a gift given as each person feels moved to do so.

As of June 5, 2023, facemasks are optional and welcome at UUC. Please don't attend in person if you have cold or flu-like symptoms, even if you've had a negative COVID test or think they're just allergies. Take advantage of the Sunday Livestream, meetings via Zoom, or Sunday Service recordings!

You are welcome to park in our parking lot just south of the building on 35th Ave NE. If the parking lot is full, street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood.

People are differently abled. All are very welcome at University Unitarian Church. We have accessible parking in our parking lot, an elevator in the building as well as a ramp from the sidewalk at street level to the entrance closest to the Chapel.  

We also have a closed-loop hearing induction system if you have difficulty hearing. Switch your hearing aid to "loop" if you have that option. If you would like to request a receiver for this system, please ask one of our Ushers as you enter the chapel or anytime during the service.

Many of our meetings are also on Zoom if you have difficulties reaching the church due to weather conditions or a lack of transportation.  Once you join a group in UUC Connect, you will get the Zoom link for the recurring meeting. Or call the church office to get the Zoom Meeting ID.

Please drop by one of the UUC Information Sessions following each of the Sunday services. There is no charge and no need to sign up; just come on in! This is a friendly place to ask any questions you have about UUC, and meet other people who are new to the community. Otherwise, contact our church office or any church staff member.