Visitors

Unitarian Universalism is a faith tradition born out of the merger of two Christian traditions.  While Unitarian Universalism is no longer a Christian faith, there are Unitarian Universalists (UU) who do identify as Christian, as there are UUs who identify as Humanist, Buddhist, Pagan, etc.  A faith bound by covenant, and not creed, Unitarian Universalism does not prescribe shared beliefs.  Instead, Unitarian Universalism affirms six shared values, all centered around our biggest value – love.  These values are:

• Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.
• Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
• Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.
• Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.
• Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
• Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.

It is through these shared values we find revelation is not sealed, enlightenment is everywhere, and what we do in community is sacred.

MVUUF is a congregation dedicated to liberation, grounded in principles of democracy, and welcoming to all who share our values.

We are a congregation that actively welcomes 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, disabled individuals, and all who hold marginalized identities to participate fully in the life of the church, and serve at all levels of leadership.

We strive to break down barriers to belonging, both internally and externally.  And, we are willing to have the tough conversations when we do not get it right.

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!

MVUUF at St. John’s United Church of Christ
515 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH 45402

Ph: 937-436-3628
admin@mvuuf.org

Parking:
On Sundays, free parking is available in the side lot, and the far-rear parking lot behind the building (catty-corner to side lot). As the side parking lot is paved, it is reserved for those with mobility challenges. Please enter the building using our main entrance on Third Street. This front entrance is equipped with a ramp and wheelchair/scooter lift.

Parking can be a bit tricky at MVUUF, so please see our Parking Page for more information, including a map of our packing lots.

Visitors who visit us in-person and arrive by car may park in the side lot of the church.  This lot is paved.  There are handicap parking spaces at both the front and rear of the parking lot.  Parking towards the front of the parking lot will place you closer to our entrance on Third street.  Our entrance is equipped with a ramp, and our lobby contains a wheelchair lift capable of lifting 500 lbs.  Speaking of our lobby, this is also where you’ll find masks, should you wish to wear them.

As for our sanctuary, it is old, filled with pews, and built on a slight decline.  However, certain spaces have been marked for wheelchair users.  Upon request, hearing assisted devices, and large print hymnals are also available.  Simply ask the sound technician at the back of the sanctuary.

Visitors who join us online via zoom may also access real-time closed-captioning, and engage as much, or as little, as they see fit.  Please feel free to curate your own sensory experience by turning off your camera or adding your thoughts to the chat.

Should you need to use our restroom while you visit in-person, we offer an all-gender restroom, and a men’s restroom, on our first floor.  Both bathrooms may be accessed by a push button, and contain a handicap stall.

We strive to be intentional about our accessibility in all aspects of church life.  We do not utilize the inaccessible floors of our building, we invite you to bring fidgets or handiwork into the service, and all service rituals are designed to be accessible to participants both in the pews, and online.

Visiting In-Person

After parking and entering the building, you’ll be greeted either by one of our hospitality volunteers.  They’ll hand you the day’s Order of Service, and then direct you toward the sanctuary.  At the doors to our sanctuary, you’ll be greeted again, either by another one of our hospitality volunteers, or by our Director of Membership, Meredith Plummer.  We’ll ask you to fill out our visitor book, create a name-tag for you, and hand you one of our visitor bag (it has chocolate!).  If you have children, we’ll also ask you to fill out a visitor registration form.  Then, if there is time before the service, we’ll show you around the building and answer any questions you may have.  If there isn’t time, we’ll give you some basic information and still answer any questions you may have!  Finally, we’ll invite you to stay for coffee hour, after the service.

Coffee hour is our social hour.  It is also your time to really get to know us!  During coffee hour, we take the time to talk, connect, and enjoy refreshments together.  Our coffee hour takes place at the back of the sanctuary.

Our Director of Membership, Meredith Plummer, will follow-up with you by email or text within the week should you have questions, or want to know more about MVUUF.  They are here to serve you, and are always available to talk by phone or over coffee (their treat!).

Visiting Online

After accessing the worship zoom, you will temporarily be placed in a waiting room, while the zoom host grants you entry.  If you arrive around the start of the service, you will be greeted by the zoom host in the chat.

During the Welcome, the zoom host will post a link to the online visitor form (below).  Should you like to know more about us, we encourage you to fill out the form.  We also encourage you to stay on the zoom after the service for Coffee hour.

Coffee hour is our social hour.  It is also your time to really get to know us!  During coffee hour, we take the time to talk, connect, and enjoy being in community.

If you filled out our online visitor form, our Director of Membership, Meredith Plummer, will follow-up with you by email or text within the week.  Meredith is here to serve you, and is available to answer any questions you may have about MVUUF by phone or over coffee (their treat!).

At MVUUF, Children and Youth Religious Enrichment (CYRE) includes regular Sunday classes as well as periodic extra programs such as Our Whole Lives (OWL) comprehensive sexuality education classes and classes that help children and youth explore their personal faith formation.

CYRE also hosts fun special events throughout the year like a Halloween celebration, Holiday craft-making afternoon, and an Easter Egg hunt. Stay up to date with announcements about upcoming classes, special events, and more by filling out the visitor form below.  We’ll add you to our CYRE email list when you tell us you have children.

Please note, all children and youth attending CYRE classes must be registered. Visitors may use the guest registration form (given to adults when they first visit with children); however, after three visits, we ask everyone to complete the full registration form (called “MVUUF Youth Religious Enrichment Registration”). Registration helps us learn names, track attendance, plan for activities, and accommodate any special needs.

If you and your family are planning on visiting us for the first time, here are some additional things you need to know:

• Our youth group (6th – 12th graders) meets at the start of the service.
• Children (Infant – 5th Grade), start in the sanctuary with their adults.
• There is an interactive worship space set up at the front of the sanctuary just for our children!  Please feel free to sit there.
• Elementary aged children (Kindergarten – 5th grade) are dismissed to their classroom after the Story for All Ages (more on this under “What can I expect from a service at MVUUF?”).  Adults should plan to pick up their children at 2:15 PM.
• Finally, the sound of children in church is both a joy and a blessing.  However, should you feel the need, the unstaffed nursery room is open and available to families who may wish to step out of worship.

Most MVUUF services follow the same schedule:

• Opening Rituals: Our services begin with opening rituals which help guide us into worship.  These include music, welcoming words, a land acknowledgement, and a Chalice lighting (the Flaming Chalice is the symbol of Unitarian Universalism).
• Story for All Ages: The Story for All Ages welcomes children into the service, makes the day’s message more accessible to adults, and provides opportunities for connection across the lifespan.  After the Story for All Ages, the children exit to their classroom while the adults sing them out.
• Rituals of Care & Connection: After the children are in class, we share our Joys & Sorrows, engage in prayer or mediation, and enjoy more music.  Sharing of our Joys & Sorrows helps us quiet our minds and hearts, gives us the opportunity to rejoice in each other’s wins, and provide witness to each other’s pain. If you would like to provide a Joy or Sorrow when you visit, you can write it in the Joy & Sorrow book in the back of the sanctuary upon arrival, or type it into the zoom chat when prompted.
• Sermon: Engaging, heart-felt, reflections with a message.  Need we say more?
• Offering: Each week at MVUUF we split our offering with a local organization doing the work of justice and liberation.
• Closing Rituals: Finally, our services end with closing rituals which help guide us back into “the real world.”  These include music, extinguishing the Chalice, announcements, and closing words.

If you would like to view previous services to get a feel for our services, please see Service Recordings.