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

worship 

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We light a chalice at the beginning of each service, to represent the light of truth, the warmth of community, and the fire of commitment.

​​OUR MINISTER  

PicturePart-time Visiting Minister, Rev. Daniel Lawlor
Reverend Daniel Lawlor began serving as part-time Visiting Minister at the Unitarian Church of Staten Island in September 2024.  In this role, he 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.

​He says, “I am humbled and honored to be invited to serve with your historic congregation and kind community, where you commit each week to the search for truth and the spirit of love."
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Rev. Lawlor is a former middle school teacher and has served as a fundraiser for non-profits in California and New York, including the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth. Rev. Lawlor is a proud graduate of Boston University School of Theology and Brown University. 
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UCSI Worship Guild member Ruth Benson, leads a Sunday service program with guest speakers in dialogue on antisemitism and Islamophobia.

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
  • Meditation
  • 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, including community engagement, and the work of social justice in the greater Staten Island community. We look forward to working with Rev. Lawlor, 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.
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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.

THE WORSHIP GUILD

The UCSI WORSHIP GUILD organizes, schedules and presents lay-led worship services. These services are very diverse, covering a broad range of subjects from the "Compassion Series" on the practice of compassion in the world's religions, to subjects as local as justice for aging incarcerated people, and food insecurity on Staten Island. Topics for Sunday services  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 Worship Associate and a music program facilitated by Dr. Carolyn Clarke, Music Director. ​There services often include a guest speaker,  or  a guest musician, or performer.

The Worship Guild is currently offering in-person services, as well as Zoom-linked online services. Our Tech associates  livestream the Sunday service from our Sanctuary and subsequently upload the recordings to our YouTube Channel. You can find them here: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnR_A5DXmyIiqKP5bsjeyjQ