From Kristin Worthington, Director of Lifespan Religious Education

Years ago, I heard about a wonderful experience a fellow UU educator participated in. Instead of sitting in pews, listening to the wisdom of our UU teachings, singing hymns and all the “regular” components of worship, her congregation met in a common space and some assembled care packages for the area
homeless while others knit gloves to include in them.

It has been a goal of mine for some time now, and I am so pleased to announce that “Service Sundays” are now coming to fruition at BRUU!  For the church year starting in July 2023, our 5th Sunday worship services will transform into a full congregational action project. These Sundays will provide us with the opportunity
to LIVE the wisdom of our faith.

What will this look like?
– Multigenerational Fellowship: All ages and skill levels are invited to participate. Nursery care will be available.
– Following our Service, we will share in a potluck lunch together.
– All our 5th Sunday “Service Services” are scheduled during the regular worship hour. No need to put any reminders in your calendar!
– We will aid the work of local organizations.  Except for the July 2023 launch, our projects will be designed to have two options:
o An off-site activity for those who are willing and able to travel to a location in the community; and
o An option to stay in fellowship hall for a project that supports the organization we are serving.

Roughly, the typical 5th Sunday will begin by lighting our chalice in the sanctuary. We will invite offerings that will be donated to a UU organization (directly or somewhat related to the local work we will be doing.) Next, we will process to the Fellowship Hall where the specific project will be described, car-pooling will assemble and then we will get to work! Once complete, we will extinguish the chalice and sit for a communal lunch.

Travel: Announcements will be made letting you all know the location of the off-site project with a request to offer any available seats you may have. This will be informal, and we will work through the best way to get everyone there who wants to participate.

It is not expected that the off-site portion will end promptly at 11:00 am. Please schedule yourself some freedom in your day and leave when it is necessary for you and your family.

There will be Zoom broadcasting of the activities and ways for those at home to participate, although we are wanting as many people as possible to join in person.

It is my hope that these “Service Services” will be enjoyed and appreciated. Please know that certain logistics are being created as we go, so let me know if you have ideas on how to make the efforts better or would like to submit an organization or project for the future.

Volunteers to coordinate transportation or facilitate in house activities are always welcome. Our underlying intentions are Love, Justice, Inclusivity and Support mixed with a good dose of getting our feet out there where our mouths say we are.

For more information on this or any of the Education Programs at BRUU, get in touch anytime – Kristin Worthington, dre@bruu.org

Details to date are:

– June 30, 2024: LGBTQ+ support and advocacy [to be determined] (Fifth Sunday Share-the-Plate offering will be donated to Side with Love)

– March 31, 2024: Trail Maintenance and Garden Cleaning with the Prince William Conservation Alliance. On site activity will assemble “seed bombs” and other gifts to share with our local ecosystem.  (Fifth Sunday Share-the-Plate offering will be donated to UU Ministry for the Earth)

– October 29, 2023: SERVE Family Emergency Shelter, the largest in the region, provides emergency housing to 90 adults and children here in Manassas. BRUU members prepared an after Thanksgiving Brunch including quiches, hash brown casserole, french toast along with fresh fruit and yogurt. (Fifth Sunday Share the Plate offering was donated to UU Disaster Relief)

– July 30, 2023: We filled 50 back packs with required school supplies for Sinclair Elementary School. Recipients of the back packs are students who receive free lunches based on financial need. Go to the SignUp Genius site to donate school supplies now! (Fifth Sunday Share-the-Plate offering was donated to Black Lives UU.