Sample Page – Unitarian Society of Hartford

Welcome to the Unitarian Society of Hartford!

the Path to Belonging

We are a people of many beliefs and backgrounds: people with a religious background and people with none; people who believe in a God, people who don’t, and people who let the mystery be. We welcome you: your whole self, with all your truths and your doubts, your worries and your hopes. Come join us on this extraordinary adventure of discovery!

If you are searching for a place to worship that will deepen your spiritual perspectives or are seeking a liberal religious education for your children, we hope you find it in this Meeting House.

Imagine a religion that embraces many different beliefs—including yours. If you’re searching for a religious home where people honor each other’s beliefs and worship together as one faith, come see us. We are a loving, diverse, open-minded, inclusive religious community that encourages you to seek your own spiritual path, wherever it leads. We welcome and affirm people of all abilities and are committed to fully including and embracing people with disabilities in congregational life.

The following are the seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

We often greet our visitors during the service. If you are comfortable, you may introduce yourself to the congregation, or just wave. Online visitors are encouraged to introduce themselves on the chat.

We invite you to join us after service for refreshments and conversation in our downstairs Fellowship Hall. Online visitors are invited to stay online for further conversation. You will find another Welcome Table, information on programs, congregational initiatives, coffee, tea and other beverages—even a used book sale.

Your babies, children, and youth are welcome to attend our Religious Education program or remain with you in worship. A Welcome Table volunteer can answer your questions, introduce you to the RE director and direct you to the classrooms.

Caring Network

Building

Budgets

Rentals

“We move mountains, one stone at a time; as Unitarian Universalists, our journey is to transform the big and small, to transform ourselves, and to transform the world.” – Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen

We are committed and spiritually grounded partners in building social, racial and environmental justice in Greater Hartford and beyond. We look for opportunities to partner with local organizations actively working for justice in our community.

The following represent current USH partners:

The Village for Families and Children
The Village for Families and Children, whose main campus is adjacent to the Unitarian Society of Hartford, provides mental health services to children, youth, and their families in many settings throughout greater Hartford. USH has a long-standing relationship with The Village and supports its work with speakers, education, and donating to an annual Uniform Fundraiser. To learn more about The Village and ways you can help contact Jrporlando@cox.net or https://thevillage.org/

Horace Bushnell Children’s Food Pantry
Hunger knows no vacations. Food is collected in bins in the lobby of the Meeting House. The list of needed food items is posted above the bins and in the enews. Donations are delivered weekly to the Hartford pantry.

Volunteering with The Fern Street Food Ministry
Each week, members of the Social Justice Council support the Unitarian Universalist Church of West Hartford in their Food Ministry Backpack program. Our job is to pack up and deliver backpacks to West Hartford Public School families with special dietary needs who require weekend food support. Some members also participate in the Food Pantry program at the Unitarian Universalist Church of West Hartford on the third Saturday of every month, providing non-perishables, fresh produce, and frozen meat and poultry to qualified recipients. pics

Noah Webster Tutoring
USH members tutor at Noah Webster school, in Hartford’s nearby West End, on a weekly basis for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Tutors are matched with teachers and can choose the grade and subject they are most comfortable with. Please contact Diana Heyman at heydiana42@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer.

Good Neighbor Offering (GNO)
USH partners each month in making a donation to a local organization engaged in social justice. Suggestions for local organizations come from the USH congregation. Speakers for the selected organizations give us insight into the mission and specific programs that we help to fund. The emphasis on building relationships strengthens our giving as a spiritual practice.

2023-2024 partners

September – PFLAG
October – Hawkwing
November – IRIS (Integrated Refugee Immigrant Services)
December – CT Foodshare

2022-2023 GNO partners:

CIRI (CT Institute for Refugees and Immigrants)
Hawkwing
CT Foodshare
Blue Hills Civic Association
Operation Fuel
The REACH Fund of CT (Reproductive Equity, Access and CHoice)
The Village for Families and Children
Wilson-Gray YMCA
Golden Rule Project (Veterans for Peace)
Church Street Eats

Adult & Family Programs

Becoming Involved

Memorials

In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart.

Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door: we join together on a journey that honors everywhere we’ve been before.

Our beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We have no shared creed. Our shared covenant (our Seven Principles) supports “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” Though Unitarianism and Universalism were both liberal Christian traditions, this responsible search has led us to an inclusive spirituality drawn from six sources: from scriptural wisdom to personal experience to modern day heroes.

The Seven Principles

Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote these principles:

1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.