Resistance and Resilience
Sunday, Feb 1, 2026 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: We begin our February theme of “Embodying Resilience” by exploring the relationship between how we show up for our values and how we sustain our lives. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
A Love Note to Myself
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Feb 15, 2026 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: When is the last time you knew you loved yourself? Have you ever? On this Valentine’s Day weekend, we consider the path of self-love. Coffee Hour Afterwards...
The Practice of Resilience
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Feb 22, 2026 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Theologian Howard Thurman speaks of finding a way forward amid remembered radiance. How do we find our way as individuals and as a people? Coffee Hour...Being Together, Building Together
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Mar 1, 2026 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: TBD Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
A New Era of Action in Illinois
Sunday, Jan 25, 2026 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Natasha Walker, Guest Speaker Overview: What happens when 30+ congregations speak with one moral voice? We are delighted to welcome Natasha Walker, our new leader at the UU Advocacy Network of Illinois (UUANI), to the...
Resistance Delayed
Sunday, Jan 18, 2026 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: We tell proud stories of Unitarian and Universalist ancestors who fought against enslavement in this country. What about those who waited and hesitated? Coffee Hour Afterwards &...
A Conflict Avoidant’s Guide to Resistance
Sunday, Jan 11, 2026 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Some of us thrive during conflict. Many of us run away as fast as we can. How do we choose resistance when we want to flee? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
LOVE WINS Valentine’s Day Dinner & Dance
Spread the LOVE at our annual LOVE WINS Valentine’s Day Dinner & Dance! Saturday, February 14th, 6-8 PM in Fellowship Hall Tickets: $25 each or $125 for a table of 6. On sale when available through February 8th We are thrilled to announce the return of our...
To Deny the King
Sunday, Jan 4, 2026 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: The wise people of the Nativity story saved a child by not returning to King Herod. What are our new roads as the year begins? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
Releasing and Readying: A New Year’s Ritual
Sunday, Dec 28, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Regina Stanley and Friends Overview: On this last Sunday of the year, join us as we let go of what has been and prepare to begin the New Year. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve: A Light of Hope
Wednesday, Dec 24, 2025 @ 7pm Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: For Christmas Eve, we share the message of Jesus’ birth through ancient and modern texts and beautiful music. This service will feature violin music from EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks and piano and...
Winter Solstice Pageant: The Snow Tree
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Dec 21, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Jesi Laughlin and a Cast of Thousands Overview: Celebrate the season with the children and youth of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria as they present a playful adaptation of The Snow...
Present and Future Hope
Sunday, Dec 14, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: If we get a say in our definitions of hope, what stays with us today? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
A Grateful Heart, A Generous Life (Rescheduled)
Sunday, Dec 7th, 2025 @ 10:30 am (Rescheduled from Nov 30) Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: As we close the monthly theme of gratitude, we consider the relationship between giving thanks and generosity. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
What Do We Do with All This Rage?
Sunday, Nov 23, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Despite having so many reasons to be angry, we have precious few ways to express this feeling that is at our human core. Join us this Sunday–you won’t be told to “Calm down.” Coffee...
Wake, Now, My Conscience
Sunday, Nov 16, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: The freedom to follow a moral and ethical path is central to our liberal tradition. What does conscience mean in this moment? Please join us after the service for the fall congregational...
The Forbidden and the Controversial: Banned Books
Sunday, Nov 9, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: There is something powerful and affirming in the act of holding our Annual Book Sale. This service includes the voice of Rev. Julie Conrady, minister with Unitarian Universalist churches in...
Grief & Gratitude: A Service of Remembrance
Sunday, Nov 2, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis, Jesi Laughlin, and the Congregation Overview: At this time of year, many cultures and faiths set aside time for when the veil between the living and the dead grows thin. We will have time to share the...
Compassion in a Broken World
Sunday, Oct 26, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Our hearts are broken open in so many ways in our time. How do we address the pain in the world and care for ourselves? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
The Great UU Book Sale 2025
The Great UU Book Sale Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7 & 8, 8am – 3pm Universalist Unitarian Church 3000 West Richwoods Blvd. ~ Peoria Come spend some time looking through our great selection of books! We have so many that you are certain to find some you will...
Sacred and Holy Words
Sunday, Oct 19, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: In the big tent of Unitarian Universalism, we have more feelings about language than people in Peoria. How do we speak of what inspires us? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
Breaking Up with Colonialism
Sunday, Oct 12, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day and amid the wave of anti-immigration detention, how do we address our own biases and concerns? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
We Are All Choir Members
Sunday, Oct 5, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Seth Major Overview:What are ways in which we can think about how we should interact with the world around us? How should we “show up” in the places where we live, work, and play? Rev. Seth Major will present the...
Divided – and Yet…
Sunday, Sep 28, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: In the deepening struggle for agency, democracy, and justice, how shall we show up in this moment? How do we care for ourselves and the world when so much is pulling us apart? Coffee Hour...
The Big Heart of Superman and Punk Rock
Sunday, Sep 21, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Inspired by this year’s new Superman film, how do we focus on love and decency while finding our way in strange times? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
Belonging
Sunday, Sep 14, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Unitarian Universalist ancestor Marge Keip reminds us, “As surely as we belong to the universe, we belong together.” That belonging is not so simple. What are we seeking when we come into...
Ingathering Water Communion: Come, You Longing, Thirsty Souls
Sunday, Sep 7, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:This Ingathering marks the start of the church year. We offer our commitments to one another and celebrate being part of community that is called to create more love, freedom, growth, and...
Wondering Together: The Question Box Sermon 2025
Sunday, Aug 31, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: For our end of summer Question Box Sermon, you are part of creating the message along with Reverend Jennifer. Send her your questions ahead of time or offer them in person during the...
Blessing of the Animals – and the Backpacks 2025
Sunday, Aug 24, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Join us for our Blessing of the Animals! Beloved animals are welcome to join us onsite or in a photo. In-person pets must be leashed or in a kennel or carrier. See Rev. Jennifer for...
The Lamp Beside the Golden Door: Welcoming Immigrants to America
Sunday, Aug 17, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): February Sky ~ Susan Urban and Phil Cooper Overview:The path of immigrants in America has not been all easy money and streets paved with gold. Besides leaving behind family and beloved homelands, immigrants have often been...
New Horizons: Principles to Dream and Create a New World
Sunday, Aug 10, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Gary Chatham Overview: How do we create positive change today in the face of negativity? Ideas from the past can help us heal ourselves, heal our relationship with the Earth, and create deeper community. Coffee Hour...
T-Shirt Theology 2025
Sunday, Aug 3, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Regina Stanley & the Congregation Overview:(This service is inspired by Jill Thomas.) It has been said, “You are what you wear.” A message on a t-shirt can tell us a lot about the person wearing it. During this service,...
Storytelling for Social Change
Storytelling for Social Change Sundays, August 10th, 17th, 24th 12:00 Noon, UUCP Conference Room Childcare Provided With political division becoming more pronounced it can often be difficult to cut through the noise and really listen to the people talking to us about...
The Wisdom of the Treasure Hunt Way
Sunday, Jul 17, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Edward Flint & Jeanette Gruber Overview: Kids’ birthday parties create a very special opportunity to share a memorable (and age-appropriate) story about our shared human quest to find the essence of TREASURE–the good...
To Be Free from Fear?
Sunday, Jul 20, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Nick Hall Overview: Church member Nicholis Hall shares his familiarity with using personal experiences to tell stories and change minds. Drawing on lessons learned from Listen for a Change, he shares one such story about the...
Ageing: The Courage to Enter the Twilight Zone
Sunday, Jul 13, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Judith Koren-Shanahan Overview: There is a famous old saying, “Old age is not for sissies.” How do we muster the courage to face our aging futures? How do we make some of the hard decisions we all end up facing? ...
Who Is Superman and What Does He Mean to Us?
Sunday, Jul 6, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Brad Keefauver Overview: After 87 years, another generation will be discovering Superman this summer, and all that lies behind that character. Brad Keefauver will explore the legend, lore, and meanings behind the greatest...
Pride: In the Name of Love
Sunday, Jun 29, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Regina Stanley, Membership Coordinator Overview: As we conclude Pride Month and prepare for Peoria’s Pridefest on July 19, Regina Stanley reflects on the history of Pride and the meaning of being welcoming in our time....
Litha 2025
Sunday, Jun 22, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Keepers of the Great Grove Overview: Celebrate the Summer Solstice with Keepers of the Great Grove CUUPs Chapter. This longest day of the year is the perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going. This...
Why I Am a Unitarian Universalist
Sunday, Jun 15, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Jack Ryan Overview: Longtime member Jack Ryan shares his experience of being raised in the Catholic Church and how his spiritual and ethical evolution led him to Unitarian Universalism. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
Rising to the Moment
Sunday, Jun 8, 2025 @ 10:45 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Join us at the Herm Farm for our annual picnic and celebration of the past year. The picnic begins at 9:30am. The service at the farm begins around 10:45am. A recorded service will be...
Liberation in the Heart of a Flower: The Flower Communion
Sunday, Jun 1, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis & Jesi Laughlin, DLRE Overview: Join us for a celebration of story and the abundance of life as we honor our ritual of the Flower Communion. All are invited to bring flowers as we create our common...
Great Freedom, Great Responsibility
Sunday, May 25, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: On Memorial Day weekend, what is the state of this great American Experiment? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
This I Believe
Sunday, May 18, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): UUCP Youth Overview: What is your Truth and how did you find it? Today, we will listen to the youth from our congregation to hear how they have wrestled with that question this year and to learn what some of their answers...
Beyond the Bible
Sunday, May 11, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Our modern understanding of liberal religion did not instantly appear in the 20th century. What led to declarations of a new theology that moved away from the Trinity and to Unitarianism...
Beyond Empire: Saving What We Love
Sunday, May 4, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: May the Force be with you on May the 4th! We begin this month’s theme of Imagination with the celebration of Star Wars Sunday. Whether or not you are a fan or know anything about the...
Receive and Return: Gifts with the Earth
Sunday, Apr 27, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:In honor of Earth Day, we explore reciprocity, including all of our ancestors. Materials from the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth inspire this service. Coffee Hour Afterwards &...
The Promise of Easter
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Apr 20, 2025 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Where is life to be found in the face of loss, death, and our all-too-human burdens? Join us after the service for the annual Egg Hunt. Coffee Hour Afterwards...