Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, Reading, MA

Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, Reading, MA

I intend to explore and experience the services of many different churches, predominantly near where I live in Massachusetts. These institutions are important, often overlooked and even misjudged centers of our communities that seek to make a positive impact on their participants as well as others through their generosity and public service. It is possible that through this activity I may eventually consider a long term relationship with one of these pillars and foundations of the community, however I am eager to do a lot of exploring first.

The Congregation

The church welcomes people of all backgrounds including the LGBTQ community. They are excited at the possibility of explorers like myself walking through their doors, and their website caters to first time visitors. UU of Reading is a very social organization engaging in a coffee hour both before and after the service. We were warmly greeted by Rev. Hank Peirce and his wife upon arrival. It is clear by the way the congregation greeted each other both prior to, and within the ceremony that they are a close community. One nice part of the service highlighted this by recognizing the outstanding contributions of several congregants involved in activities and ministries.

Following the service my wife and I did strike up conversation with several very friendly congregants. We discussed a broad range of topics from the UU "Coming of Age," program, which is similar on some ways to confirmation, to what my inspiration was for my current church exploration. Normally I don't reveal my exploits to congregants but it did come into conversation here. The mission of Unitarian Universalism seems to share a bit in common with my goals, as did the sermon on this day which I will detail later. UU's members look for commonality across different philosophies to pursue progress and social justice. I'm struck as I visit many different faith communities on their commitment to outreach. It is something I think many in society, especially those amongst us who may be more secular, can take for granted. Additionally within congregants of the various faiths, I see them looking to satisfy personal spiritual goals within a community. The UU church emphasizes that we may approach these focuses by different paths, and that is acceptable.

Building & History

UU of Reading dates back to 1827 when the Third Congregational Society was established. I owe the historical information on this congregation to an excellent history page on the church's website. The church building itself dates to 1923. Despite being under 100 years old, the structure maintains a lot of unique character from its pastel stained windows, the beams in the vaulted ceiling, and the choir balcony. Interestingly it seems that through one addition, a traditional cross layout of the sanctuary and pulpit was achieved, something often reserved for much larger churches. Today, the main sanctuary faces away from the lectern. Facing the lectern a music staging area is in the left wing, and additional pews are in the right side. Of note are the symbols of many faiths which have been added around the chancel. A sizeable recreation hall has been added onto the church. 

The Service

The service was structured with several hymns, a greeting time where people mingled with others, the lighting of the chalice, meditation, and of course the sermon. The lighting of the chalice, a symbol of Unitarian Universalism, intends to unite congregants in worship and symbolize the spirit of their work. Congregants are also invited to light their own candles for concerns as part of the service.




The sermon was performed by Liz Weber a Ministerial Intern who had recently travelled to Nepal for a global meeting of Unitarian Universalists. Liz shared her experiences in Nepal and what she learned. One item of surprise to Liz was that Universalists across the globe seemed tolerant of the right of congregants to question belief in God, where she presumed that most would be more strictly Christian outside of the U.S. Other topics of interest were discussion of Nationalism occurring in India that prevented the UU conference from being held there as originally intended. Additionally she brought up the violent persecution of UU members in Burundi, severe to the point of arrest by gunpoint, and forcing those congregants to move to another country to practice. These unfortunate stories highlight the importance of tolerating differences. The contrasts highlight how lucky we are to live in a place that is far more accepting. Regardless it also highlights the importance of incorporating such values into our daily lives.

I would be remiss not to call out the musical excellence of Roald Wilson who performed several brilliant piano pieces in addition to several pieces spanning cultures to complement Liz's sermon on her interactions with the global community.

Outreach

UU of Reading does a lot of work to enrich their community and also to learn about it. Their webpage on social justice describes at a high level several activities, from participation to various activism, to work a Bread & Roses, a Lawrence, MA organization to help feed those in need. UU Reading has involvement in the UU Urban Ministry which does work towards various issues such as combating domestic violence and racism. They have a long list of Affinity Groups that Congregants can participate in which range from activities of outreach to more personal items like Buddhist Meditation.

Conclusion

UU of Reading has an incredibly active organization that provides a progressive alternative to those seeking a faith based community. Reading and the surrounding communities are richer for the actions and dedication of the congregants at this church.

Text and photographs by George Parks

Sources are embedded in links