How do Unitarian Christians Worship?

1) We worship in community.
When I read the Bible, I get the sense that Jesus was a bit of a party animal. He loved life, he loved people. He liked to eat, he liked to drink. Hey, when they started to run out of wine at Cana, who made sure that there was plenty to finish up the party? Jesus’ movement was a fellowship movement; we come together to praise God and to celebrate this unearned life we share. And we continue His fellowship path today, when we gather around to break bread and remember His ministry.
2) We share table fellowship.
This was obviously a central element of Jesus’ ministry, and Jesus’ table was radically egalitarian. And we as UU Christians should welcome all to our table, because it’s what we believe, and because it’s right.
3) We share the Bible when we are together.
It’s a story that moves us, a path that is revealing to us, and we know that it is possible (and imperative) to take the Bible seriously, and not literally.
4) We study the Bible on our own.
I wasn’t raised much with the Bible, which may seem like a surprise to those of you who know I’m a Catholic. But my Post-Vatican II experience kept the Bible mostly to the Sunday worship experience. I’ll open it up to a page and see what that page has to say to me. This summer I had a despairing moment when I was seeking guidance about whether there was a UU path for me. UUs can sometimes seem so opposed to anything with the “taint” of Christianity about it, that I worried about having a place at the table. So I stuck my finger in the Bible and it landed on Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapter 12, on Service and the community. I highly recommend it, but I’ll share a little bit:

“Love in all sincerity, loathing evil and holding fast to the good…With unflagging zeal, aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Let hope keep you joyful; in trouble stand firm; contribute to the needs of God’s people; and practice hospitality.”

5) Here’s sure to be a controversial one: UU Christians pray. For healing in the world and for others.

Jesus seems to have been one of those amazing people who had a direct and continuous relationship with the divine. And he seemed to have an open and ongoing conversation with God. Whether you believe in something called God, a “creative force” or “energy” in the Universe, a Flying Spaghetti Monster, or none of the above, I believe that prayer always matters. Prayer for me is where I focus myself and direct my energies on those things of ultimate concern.

Prayer also helps me to stay humble, and ward off the ridiculous human propensity to believe we’re the top of the heap. I can’t know who or what is listening or responding, but I can know that I am casting my energy forth into the universe, and that is enough.