Before the service
Our wooded campus is located on Morris Bridge Road, near where Morris Bridge intersects with Fowler Avenue, just west of I-75. After you find a parking place (there are visitor places on the left as you pull in from Morris Bridge Road and much more as you drive through the campus), please find your way to the large dome which serves as our sanctuary.
You will be greeted by several members who will give you a name tag, answer any questions, and provide a contact form.
We want to get to know you.
Our Worship Service
Unitarian Universalists gather in worship to find meaning and live more deeply. Worship creates connections within, among, and beyond us, calling us to our better selves, calling us to live with wisdom and compassion.
As you enter the Sanctuary, an usher will give you an Order of Service that includes announcements for the upcoming week. There is additional information about the UUCT on the table to the left in the foyer. Feel free to take any pamphlets of interest.
If you arrive after the service has begun, you may either enter the first-floor sanctuary quietly or go upstairs to our balcony. We like to have all of our seats filled, so feel free to find an open space, even if it is at the front or in the middle of a row.
Our congregation’s worship service generally includes:
- Words of welcome
- Lighting a flaming chalice, the symbol of our faith
- Music, both instrumental and vocal and in a variety of styles
- A time for lifting up the joys and concerns of the congregation
- A meditation or prayer
- Readings—ancient or contemporary
- A sermon will be given by a professional minister, a guest speaker, or a member of the congregation
- An offering, collecting financial donations for the congregation or for justice work in the community
From time to time, worships incorporate holiday celebrations, multigenerational plays and pageants, longer musical performances, child dedications, and coming-of-age ceremonies.
Coffee Time
After the service, please join us for coffee and snacks. We generally meet in our Multi-Purpose Building, so just follow the crowd of coffee-seekers.
After your first visit, we will make a name tag for you; just ask for it the next time you visit. Also, check out our many activities listed on the pages in the middle of the Order of Service; participating in our special interest groups or social activities is a wonderful way to get to know the church and our members.
Children of the UUCT
Children are very important to us, and we have a wonderful Children and Youth Religious Exploration (RE) program.
We are excited to provide weekly sessions for children aged 5 to 12 years of age. A once per month teen/youth group meets on the 4th Sunday of the month.
For more information about our RE program click here: https://www.uutampa.org/new-website/childrens-education/
If your child has special needs, please contact our Religion Exploration Coordinator Beth Brownell at re@uutampa.org before your visit so we can ensure your child’s inclusion and safety.
Parents and guardians of children who will join the Religious Exploration program need to register their children. Forms are available at the greeter table in the large dome. Children ages 5 and older must be signed in and out by their caregiver in the Multi-purpose Building.
Classes begin at 10:30 and end at 11:30. Parents pick their children up at the playground or in the classrooms of the Multi-Purpose Building.
Nursery
We also have a staffed Nursery for those too young for our Religious Exploration program. Affectionately known as the WIGGLE ROOM, it is located in the Large Dome, accessed from the hallway to the right of the sanctuary. It is a welcoming space to nurse or quiet a restless child. Stocked with toys, rocking chairs, and a changing table, it provides general support for our wee ones and caregivers during Sunday services. The Nursery staff and volunteers have undergone background checks and training so you can feel safe in entrusting your wiggle ones to their care.
Answers to Some of Your Questions:
What should I wear to church? ……Come as you are. Come in whatever makes you comfortable. You’ll see a range, from “Sunday best” to very casual.
Can I bring my children? ….. Religious exploration for children and youth is an important part of our mission. Children who sit with their parents for worship are welcome to select a fidget box, crayons, or other item from the cart in the back of the sanctuary. At various times in the year, there are all ages services, when children and adults participate in worship together. For more information about our “Religious Exploration” program, click here.
Will you take up a collection? …….Yes, but we do not expect visitors to contribute. We invite you to be our guest!
What makes your church different from others? ……..There is no test of creed to join. Within our congregation, you’ll find a diversity of belief. In our Religious Exploration program, we do not indoctrinate children by teaching them what they should believe. Rather, we try to spark their own curiosity about religious questions and provide them with the tools they need to make their own decisions.
Will I be pressured to join? ……. Absolutely not! We know that many people prefer to visit several houses of worship before they start making relationships. In fact, we want you to get to know us, speak with our lay leader or worship associate, and attend a membership class before becoming a member of our church.
Is it true that your church is accepting of LBGTQ+? ……….It’s true. As a matter of fact, we’ve committed ourselves to actively welcome all members of the LGBTQ+ community. That’s earned us an LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation designation from the Unitarian Universalist Association. We have a number of LGBTQ+ people involved in our congregation and in leadership.
Is your building disability accessible? .……. Our current worship space is moderately accessible. Our Planning Committee has accessibility as a top priority. Click here for more information: https://www.uutampa.org/new-website/who-we-are/accessibility/
How do I get my other questions answered? …………Please come to a Sunday service, contact membership@uutampa.org or call us at 813-988-8188.
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