Frequently Asked Questions —
Will I be pressured to join or to be saved?
No. In fact, people sometimes think we are being aloof because we don’t approach our visitors as if we were selling used cars. We’ll welcome you at the door. We’ll send you our newsletter for a while, if you ask for it. We’d be happy to have you join us, but we won’t try to push ourselves onto you. We’ll never pressure you to be saved, either. We don’t believe in salvation by grace. That is where the “Universalist” part of “Unitarian-Universalists” comes in. You can read more about our beliefs here.
Are you accessible for disabled folk?
The entire first floor is accessible from the driveway entrance, which we keep clear of vehicles for that purpose. We do not, at this time, have a lift to the second floor offices, but all of our function spaces are on the first floor.
What do adults wear?
We’re an eclectic bunch and we wear pretty much anything we want to, and you can too as long as it’s street legal. Some of our members dress up on some Sundays, but some of us don’t.
Do you have a choir?
We don’t have a choir or a formal music program at this time, but we do have a wonderful pianist (Dr. Karèn Tchougourian), and we usually sing on Sundays. Some of our members are past or current professional musicians and others are music students so a music program is definitely on the table for the future.
What about my young children?
Children are welcome to stay with you in the sanctuary during the service, or hang out in our South Sunroom with designated adults to do coloring and talk about their joys and concerns. We offer childcare during our services and some events at no cost to you. As time goes on we hope to rebuild our former Religious Education program.
Do you have any programming for teens?
We have a youth group that meets from 1 to 3 on Saturday afternoons in our Social Hall. The group is led by Kristina Cardot, who co-owns the Funky Phoenix, and activities vary, with the first Saturday being all school ages crafting, the second Saturday doing board games and/or puzzles, the third Saturday working on social justice and community building, and the fourth week being crafts again for the teens. As time goes on we hope to offer more youth programming.
Do you allow pets to attend services?
Well behaved and housetrained dogs are allowed at services and some functions if they are leashed. Please attend a service without your dog first to assess how comfortable he or she might be. Please ask in advance with regards to specific functions. If the function says “bring your dog” then as long as your dog is well behaved and will be leashed you can feel free to bring him/her without asking in advance.
Other pets may be considered on a case by case basis. Always clean up (including any shedding or crumbs) after your pet.
I’m a little hard of hearing. Will I have problems?
Most of our spoken material, including the Joys and Concerns from the congregation, is heard through our public address system.
Does your congregation have diverse beliefs?
Every Sunday we state: “We welcome all to our church – people of all racial and ethnic identities, people of all sexual orientations and genders, people of all incomes and abilities, people of all religious beliefs and people with no particular religious belief that they can identify.” This is our truth and we live it.
How can an agnostic go to church?
By private automobile, bicycle or on foot. Seriously, this is one of the things about us that puzzles people. Why would an agnostic (atheist, humanist…) go to church? We give people a place to explore and grow spiritually and to practice social justice. Finally, there is the social aspect of a church. Even agnostics like potlucks.
What other activities are at the church?
You can see a schedule here. BIO (Berkshire Interfaith Organizing) is also housed in our church and they have quite a few activities; see their web page for more info.