Holidays and Traditions

Such times as Water Communion, Winter Solstice, Christmas Eve, and Flower Sunday create the rhythm of the year. Members, friends, and visitors to the church are invited to participate.

Holiday Brochure

• UUCPA 2024 Holiday Events

Upcoming Holiday Events

Child Dedication Ceremony

When a child comes into our church family, whether because just born, just adopted, or recently joined our congregation, we UUs celebrate with a ceremony called a dedication. The purpose is to welcome the child, declare his or her name, and promise our support to his or her parents, and the ceremony is always very sweet and joyful — everyone in the congregation is smiling. Dedications are not just for babies! When an older child wishes to have a dedication, we’ll work with them and their family to make a ceremony that’s appropriate for them. Instead of doing as we have done in recent years, and celebrating most dedications at two services per year, we are going to plan dedication dates with each family. If you would like to know more, contact Amy or Dan.

New Member Welcoming Ceremony

We formally welcome new members three times a year during Sunday Worship Service. If you have recently joined, the Membership Committee will contact you about the next service.

Water Ceremony

When we return to the two service schedule in the fall, the first service includes the Water Ceremony.  Each person brings a small amount of water which represents the places we have been through the summer.  We pour our waters together as we gather in community.  This ritual is becoming common in our denomination.

Thanksgiving Dinner Potluck

On Thanksgiving afternoon, members, friends and their guests gather in the Fireside Room to share the traditional meal together.  Turkey and mashed potatoes are cooked at church, and the side dishes and desserts are supplied by those attending.

Winter Solstice Celebration

Our solstice ceremony includes meditative music, readings, and all of us lighting candles to celebrate the return of the light.  We conclude by burning a yule log outdoors in our fire pit.  Children and adults are welcomed, we can all enjoy sharing a fire and some food on a dark night.

Christmas Eve

We celebrate the traditional Christian holiday with song and story, singing the traditional carols and finding meaning in the birth of Jesus for our lives today.

Easter

Each year on Easter Sunday, we celebrate the renewal of the earth and of ourselves.

Flower Communion

The first occurrence of this ceremony was in Czechoslovakia following World War I. The Unitarian Church in Prague had survived the war, and Norbert Čapek, the minister, asked people to go gather flowers and bring them to decorate the church. For this celebration each person brings a flower, and takes home one brought by another.