First Sunday Spiritual Roundtable Discussions

Roundtable Discussions, held at Park Hall on the first Sunday each month, are organized to inspire mindfulness and to encourage open discussion. Our Roundtables are also accessible on Zoom (see below).

Members suggest topics on any subject which furthers our ethical, moral, or spiritual development, such as nature or compassion. After the topic has been introduced, the facilitator will invite all to participate in a roundtable format of sharing and discussion. Some of our past topics have included integrity of our word, grief, freedom, sacred circles and gossip.

Susie Tatone, statone01@gmail.com facilitates the Roundtable Programs. 

Childcare is provided at Park Hall. Remote attendance will also be available by Zoom. 

Join this Zoom meeting from our website: Sunday Programs

Join this Zoom meeting from our website: https://freecongregation.org/sunday-programs.aspx

Second and Fourth Sundays

All second and fourth Sundays follow a Unitarian Universalist order of service.

Gathering. At 10:10 am, our musician will play J.S. Bach’s “Prelude in C major” to announce the start of the program.

Announcements. A member of the congregation will provide brief news and describe upcoming events. New visitors are invited to say a little about themselves if they wish.

Story for All Ages.  If children are present, they may listen to a story told by the Associate Speaker and then join the children in our community level either for childcare or children’s education. There is no charge for childcare. 

Music. The congregation sings two hymns, generally from the UU hymnal. Our musician may also sing and play a variety of other music: classical and Broadway musicals are favorites!
UU Sundays always begin with a musical prelude and end with a postlude.

Joys and Concerns. Sharing the joys and concerns in our lives strengthens our community and provides an opportunity to give and to receive comfort, support, and companionship. Guests and members are welcome to share. We do not have one particular ritual associated with this sharing: we might light candles, we might place a pebble in water.

Readings. These are poems or short selections of texts that connect in some way to the theme of the program.

Reflection. The Speaker's Reflection generally takes about 15-20 minutes; the subject matter is drawn from a variety of religious topics. The goal of the Reflection is to spark thinking, feeling, and discussion about the topic. Topics have included freedom, forgiveness, play, and relationships.

Congregational Dialogue. Religion is something to explore with others. Our congregation believes that this part of the program is especially important; many of our guest ministers and speakers, unaccustomed to “talkbacks” as part of a Sunday “church” program, find it particularly exciting. Attendees are invited to respond to the Reflection or, more generally, to the theme of the program. Discussions get lively!

Please join us; you are always welcome! Childcare is provided, too!

Third Sunday: Free Thought Forums

Free Thought Forums continue the legacy of free and open inquiry established more than 150 years ago by the founders of the Free Congregation. As their Sunday programs did then, today’s Forums express our commitment to free thought in religion, guided by reason, and inspired by the “books of Nature and World History.”

Free Thought Forums begin at 10:10 am with an invitation to be seated, followed by brief announcements. The guest presenter will speak for 25-30 minutes. Discussion and answers to questions follow the presentation. We usually adjourn by 11:20.