Sunday Service Creation

 These guidelines are intended for anyone who creates or designs a Sunday service. (Note: occasionally service leaders do not design the service.) Given the diverse preferences of our congregation concerning Sunday service style and content, the variety in Sunday services will ideally reflect the variety of those preferences.  As a guide for anyone unfamiliar with designing a service, the elements listed below are often included, although not all in one service. Deviations from this format are welcome (e.g. a Buddhist service comprised mostly of silent meditation), though inexperienced service designers should consult with someone from the Sunday Service Committee to ensure a workable service format. The three most essential elements that should be included in practically every service are Joys and Concerns, the Offertory, and a Meditation.

 

Welcome, Announcements, and Guest Introductions

Prelude

Chalice Lighting and Opening Words

Opening Song or Hymn

Joys and Concerns

Offertory – collection and special music

Intergenerational Story/Lesson (followed by singing the kids to RE classes)

Meditation (1 to 5 minutes)

Sermon/Message for the Morning (inc. a link or reference to the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles (see page 3 of these Guidelines)

Group Reflections on the Message of the Morning

Closing Hymn or Song

Closing Words

Extinguishing of the Chalice

Postlude

Assistance in Developing a Sunday Service

If you are interested in designing a Sunday service, you can contact any member of the Sunday Service Committee for assistance.  Sunday Service Leaders will be assigned someone from the Sunday Service Committee to check in with them to see how the service is progressing and if any assistance is needed.

Order of Service

The service leader should prepare an Order of Service which specifies what will happen during the service and in what order. Contact the MqtUU Administrative Assistant (Admin) for assistance in preparing the Order of Service (currently, the admin is Heidi Gould, mqtuuadassist@gmail.com, 906-361-2643). The admin will assist in preparing and duplicating the Order of Service for the Sunday service. The Chair of the Sunday Service Committee (currently Tom Sullivan, tsulli3206@aol.com) can also provide assistance in this.

Length of Service

Services should be approximately one hour long. They should begin at 11:00 am, with the gathering music (if there is any) beginning a few minutes before that. The children should be sung out by 11:20 (if the children are not to be sung out, the RE Coordinator [currently Jamie Kuehnl] should be so informed). The main message/sermon/talk should run 15 to 20 minutes.  The closing song/words should begin by about 11:55.  It is especially important that services not last more than an hour because RE ends at 12:15 and the social hour should begin around 12:00.  This time frame is not always possible, so just do your best.

Intergenerational Story/Lesson

Normally, MqtUU services include an intergenerational story or lesson. Sometimes the “IM” (Intergenerational Message) is a special part of a service devoted to that; other times, it involves the children participating in a special service or ceremony. The service creator should be in contact with the Sunday Service Committee if help is needed planning this part of the service.  The person providing the IM might be the service creator or someone else.  If the Religious Exploration Coordinator (REC) is to be included in the intergenerational story/lesson, then the REC must be so informed at least two weeks prior to the service.   You can also contact Teri Rockwood at  teri.rockwood@gmail.com for guidance for the IM.

Meditation

Each service should have a time for meditation, which will usually come after the children are sung out and before the sermon/homily/talk.  The Meditation should end with one of the following hymns:  #123 (“Spirit of Life”), #352 (“Find a Stillness”), and #83 (“Winds Be Still”). The Meditation can be as brief as 1 minute of silence followed by “quiet singing” of the hymn or as long as 5 minutes and include a meditative reading to reflect on.  You can contact Teri Rockwood if you need assistance with this part of the service.

Physical Arrangement for Services

The Sunday Service Committee can provide feedback on what will work for your service.

Music

The musical selections for a service should tie into the theme of the service.  Jeanne Trost and Barb Michael are on the Music Committee and may offer assistance. Some CDs of hymns are also available at the church if no pianist is available.  Your own CD selections can also be used, but be sure to choose pieces that are less than 3 minutes long.  Youtube is an excellent resource from which video and/or audio can be utilized. Check in with the Sunday Service Committee member assigned to you to coordinate sound equipment needs.

Musicians need a two-week notice to prepare adequately for your service.

Sunday Service Committee Members:

Tom Sullivan, Chair (tsulli3206@aol.com, 906-249-3790),

Kathy Campbell (kathrynklos@gmail.com, 906-361-4850)

SAMPLE ORDER OF SERVICE     2-25-18 OoS