312 FILLMORE STREET, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10301    PHONE: 718-447-2204

worship 

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We light a flame at the beginning of each service, to represent the light of reason, the warmth of community, and the flame of hope.

​SERVICES: MINISTER  & LAY-LED

PicturePart-time Visiting Minister, Ember Kelley
Ember Kelley began serving as part-time Visiting Minister at the Unitarian Church of Staten Island in September 2023.  In this role, she joins us from the pulpit once a month, and offers leadership to the UCSI community as the search process for a full-time Minister continues.
 
She is a 2018 graduate of Chicago Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. Ember also holds a Master's and Bachelor's in Theological Studies from Calvin Theological Seminary and Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She also works as the Director of Religious Education at the Fourth Universalist Society in Manhattan.

Some of her recent experiences include working as a Youth Director, Ministerial Intern, and English Teacher. Her passions include social justice, LGBTQ+ issues, religious trauma recovery, mindfulness, developing self-understanding, earth-centered spirituality, yoga, and cultivating community.


The UCSI WORSHIP GUILD organizes, schedules and presents lay-led worship services. These services are very special, and can be initiated by any member of our church. With the Worship Guild's guidance, members can develop their service concept, refine it, and coordinate it with a music program facilitated by Dr. Carolyn Clarke, Music Director, and with other musicians and performers. ​Sometimes there is a guest musician, performer, or speaker(s).
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UCSI Worship Guild member Ruth Benson leads a service program which includes guest speakers.

THE UCSI SERVICE: WHAT TO EXPECT

At 10:45 am, prelude music, directed and led by Dr. Carolyn Clarke, begins our service. At 11:00am, the worship service continues with the lighting of the chalice flame. The service typically includes:
  • Welcome
  • Sharing of joys and sorrows
  • Moment of silence
  • Hymns sung by the congregation
  • Music performed by the church choir and guests, led by Dr. Carolyn Clark 
  • Sermon
  • Various readings, some call-and-response
  • Extinguishing of the flame
  • Musical postlude
The service typically concludes at 12:00 noon, followed by coffee hour in Fellowship Hall.
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beyond the sunday services

Worship happens on many levels, often in settings outside of Sunday services. We look forward to working with our new part-time minister, Ember Kelley, in moving our church's worship efforts forward, so we welcome the next generation who will make the most of our liberal church and its history.

Many strides have been made thus far. Former consulting part-time minister Rev. Berger helped us address long-standing organizational and communications challenges. He also assisted the congregation in developing and funding upgrades to our historic building and its aging infrastructure, from the installation of a new heating system, to the refinishing of our floors, the painting of our walls, and the renovation of our bathrooms.
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Our interfaith Passover Seder has most of the usual ritual foods, but also an orange, symbolizing inclusion of the LGBTQ community, and women.

SUNDAY Services online

 We are currently offering in-person services, as well as Zoom-linked online services. With this hybrid approach, the live service, which can be watched in real time on Zoom, is captured on camera and posted within hours to our YouTube Channel.
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You can find them here: 
​https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnR_A5DXmyIiqKP5bsjeyjQ