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

worship 

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

Rev. Emily DeTar Birt

Emily DeTar Birt is our new Halftime Consulting Minister. She will lead half of our services each calendar year, from September through June. She will provide spiritual guidance from the pulpit, as well as in one-on-one and small group settings. During Sunday services, Minister DeTar Birt will be assisted by Dr. Carolyn Clark, our Music Director, and by other musicians and performers she has arranged to include in the program.

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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).

UCSI Worship Guild member Ruth Benson leads a service program which includes speakers. Ruth is involved in the ongoing, lay-led Compassion series.

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 consulting part-time minister, Emily DeTar Birt, in moving our church's worship efforts forward, so we welcome the next generation who will make the most of our historical 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.

Our interfaith Passover Seder has most of the usual ritual foods, but also an orange, symbolizing inclusion of the LGBTQ community, and women.

SERMONS

Rev. Emily DeTar Birt, 2017 - 18
JUNE 17, 2018 • And a Rose in the Wintertime  
Each of us brings a unique presence into our community as a congregation. Come celebrate this Unitarian Universalist tradition, as we explore the beauty of our bouquet. Listen >