Information for our guests

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort welcomes all guests for Sunday morning worship services. We meet at 10 AM each Sunday morning at the Wardle family YMCA at 1801 Richmond Avenue, Port Royal, South Carolina. Enter the building through the far right front door as the YMCA remains closed until 1 PM.

As soon as you come in you will be greeted and given an order of service. Your first stop inside is the welcome table which is staffed by someone on the membership committee. There are brochures about our denomination and fellowship which you are welcome to pick up. The members of our congregation wear nametags so you are invited to make one for yourself. We encourage you to fill out a visitor information card so that you can be added to our email list which gives you weekly information about our Sunday services.

The next table you’ll see has additional information about our fellowship and community events as well as clip boards to sign up for activities and volunteer opportunities. Questions are welcomed at both tables.

Children are welcome at UUFB. We currently offer 2 classes: supervised play for those under 5 years old and religious education for those in elementary school. Families are encouraged to come early to find the classes and meet the teachers. All children attend the first part of the worship service with their parents. They are invited forward to sit on the quilt for the children’s story and afterwards go to their classes. Parents are always welcome to attend religious education (RE) classes with their children. Click here for more information.

Sunday services are held in a gym which is transformed into a sacred space by volunteers. For our purposes we call it the “reflection room”. Rev Nan White is in the pulpit twice a month and she is worship leader 3 times a month. Other Sundays we have guest speakers and ministers. Click here for the schedule.

In our Sunday services we include music every week with a pianist or guest musicians. We have a choir which practices and sings several times a year. Musicians and singers are always welcome.

The focus of the reflection room is the centering table which holds our chalice and other decorations. During the welcome, visitors are invited to stand and introduce themselves. Later in the service a candle is lit each week for the women and men who serve in the armed forces. Another part of our service is the time for members to share Joys and Sorrows by placing a shell next to the flaming chalice as a symbol of our faith community holding each others joys and sorrows in the Light.

You’ll notice placed on the front of the Pulpit is our banner. For the story of its creation, click here.

Following the service at about 11:15, we gather for social time in the lobby with coffee and snacks. Please stay to give us a better chance to welcome you.

We encourage you to visit us many Sundays at 10:00 AM as our services are diverse in leadership, content, and subject matter. If you have additional questions feel free to email our church office or call the office 843.838.1399.

Gateway to Membership

by Jerri Meisner

For over 28 years I have been a Unitarian Universalist (UU). In the 25 years I belonged to the congregation in Raleigh, I met and married Larry, raised our two sons, and worked in many volunteer jobs and one paid position. It was my spiritual home, sacred community, and extended family. From my experiences and reflections on it, I offer three suggestions:

1) Greet everyone, 2) Get involved, 3) Give money.

Greet everyone and keep UUFB a friendly place that welcomes all. New members: don’t sit in church waiting for the person beside you to welcome you - they are probably new, also! Longtime members: don’t do church business on Sunday morning, but spend the time reaching out to someone you don’t know. Everyone is a de facto member of the Care and Membership Committees, making all welcomed and cared for. If you don’t see someone for a while, call or email them and say, “You have been missed.” Start now to greet everyone.

Get involved. Members who are involved feel a sense of ownership and are satisfied. Although we have a Minister and a Nanny, we are basically a co-op, relying heavily on volunteers. Volunteering your time makes you an integral part of our congregation. Sharing your own spiritual beliefs and journey makes you part of our shared religious community. Spending time in Youth RE makes you excited about our future. If you don’t know how to join in, email beaufortuu@embarqmail.com

Give money. UUFB is a generous congregation. Our members share their talents, time, and treasures. We support many social justice projects in the Beaufort community:

Penn Center
Marshview Organic Farm
Family Promise
Habitat for Humanity
Annual scholarships for high school students

We support our district and national denomination by paying our fair-share dues each year. We are hoping to purchase our own property this year and move forward with a building of our own. The theme for our 2009 stewardship campaign is Everything is Possible. Please give generously.
UUFB is made up of individuals of inherent worth and dignity.

It takes all of us working together, sharing and caring. It takes all of us being warm greeters, finding ways to get involved, and offering our resources.