Regeneration
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, May 28, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Memorial Day weekend marks the cusp between Spring and Summer. What have we already received year? How shall we prepare for what is to come? Coffee Hour...Ready for Joy
No Zoom, Please Attend in Person at the Herm Farm Sunday, Jun 11, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer and a Cast of Thousands Overview: Join us at the Herm Farm for our annual picnic and celebration of the past year. The picnic begins at 9:30 AM. The service...The History of the UU Church of Peoria
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Jun 18, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Kathy Carter, Peoria UU Member Overview: Kathy will share stories and events from the UUPC history that have shaped us into who we are today. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...The Arts Today: Inspiring, Controversial, Subjective
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Jun 25, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Judith Koren-Shanahan, Peoria UU Member Overview: We explore the impact the arts have on us today. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
The Beauty of Music
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, May 21, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Universalist Unitarian Church Choir Overview: Join us as we enjoy our annual Music Sunday with our excellent choir led by Dave Breeden. Everyone starts in worship. Children may remain in service...
Dancing with Creativity
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, May 14, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: The creative principle is everywhere, as are the forces working against it. How do you navigate that flow? We will enjoy the music of the Peoria Recorder Group....
Five Smooth Stones To Save the World
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, May 7, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: As the Nazis rose to power in Western Europe, many churches ignored or denied the growing threat. Unitarian theologian James Luther Adams called those...
Mistakes and Miracles
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Apr 30, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Unitarian Universalism is committed to creating a more just and equitable world. And – we arepredominantly white with a mixed history of being anti-racist and...
Woman Voice/Earth Voice: An Earth Day Celebration
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Apr 23, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Florence Caplow Overview: “Oh to be a pear tree—any tree in bloom!” Zora Neale HurstonCome celebrate Earth Day with the poetic voices of women honoring the earth, as well asreflections...
Questions on the Mind
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Apr 16, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:Humans come in so many forms, including how our minds work. How do we expand ourunderstanding of human intelligence as we strive to welcome all?The choir will...
Beyond Easter: Shall We Rise?
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Apr 9, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Guest Musician: Wes SedrelJesus always flipped the tables on people’s expectations as he showed a new way of relating toeach other. What do we learn from him...
Liberate, Animate, Agitate
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Apr 2, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: What might we mere mortals offer to a bruised and hurting world? Join us for the kickoff of our Annual Campaign and dream of our work in the world. The choir...
Trans Day of Visibility 2023 RESCHEDULED
NEW DATE – MAY 5TH @ 7:00 PM Trans Day of Visibility Celebration Trans Day of Visibility is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve...
Claiming the Broken Places
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Mar 26, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: On this last Sunday with the theme of Vulnerability and before we enter into April’s theme of Resistance, we pause to pay attention to our brokenness, our...
Pioneers in Ministry: The Iowa Sisterhood
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Mar 19, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: The first women in ministry faced bias and few opportunities. But the Great Plains of the 1800’s were an opportunity for a band of Unitarian women. Who were...
Sending an Invitation
Sunday, Mar 12, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: Rosabeth Moss Kanter tells us that “The most radical thing we can do is connect people to one another. That starts conversations toward a vision for change.” What does connection mean for us...
Ostara Ritual
Ostara Ritual Sunday, March 19th @ 5:00 pm Ostara is celebrated on the spring equinox and is a time to celebrate rebirth and renewal. Hosted by the Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria in collaboration with Susan Smith and The Cauldron of Knowledge. Join us for a...
Brave New Words: Getting to the Heart of Our Values
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Mar 5, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: How do we declare what we hold dear in this time? Join us for how this faith is exploring new ways to name our foundation and our values. See the notice about...
The Righteous Compassion of Francis Ellen Watkins Harper
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Feb 26, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:As part of Black History Month, hear about a woman who sought equality for all people as she navigated being a Black Unitarian woman in antebellum United States....
Grounding in Love
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Feb 19, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Carin Bringelson Overview:Come explore the loving roots of Unitarian Universalism. When we dig deep into our spiritual sustenance, we might just find that love is as messy as it is...
Listening to the Heart of Islam
Sunday, Feb 12, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:In conjunction with our series on the six sources of Unitarian Universalism, we consider the relationship between love and surrender in Islam. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
The Love Church?
Sunday, Feb 5, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:Over the past few decades, Love has grown as the primary word for Unitarian Universalism. Are we The Love Church? The choir sings today. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
Imbolc Ritual
Imbolc Ritual Sunday Feb 19th @ 4:00 pm Fellowship Hall This cross-quarter holiday takes place at the midway point between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara). It has long been recognized as the beginning of the end of winter, marked by the...
Make It Better With Make-Believe
Sunday, Jan 29, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Craig Schwalenberg Overview:Ever play Let’s Pretend? Ever visit the Kingdom of Make-Believe? Maybe when we were kids, but we’re too old for that now…aren’t we? I certainly hope not. Grab your chalk, hop on the...
A Word from Our Elders
Sunday, Jan 22, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Members of the Congregation Overview: Finding our center includes listening to the lives of those who have seen and known so much of this world. Children and youth ask questions of our older members. All are welcome for this...
To Savor, To Serve: Choosing Justice
Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: As we remember the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., what is the place of justice in our lives and in our beliefs? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
The Promise and the Practice
Sunday, Jan 8, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:Our efforts at a liberal approach to religion is based on deep mutual commitments. Speaking our covenant out loud lifts the heart. How do our promises work with real, live human beings? The...
Touchstones for the New Year
Sunday, Jan 1, 2023 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Jesi Laughlin, Director of Lifespan Religious Education Overview: What is at your center? Let’s look inside ourselves set an intention, and create a touchstone to recall all year long. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
Gifts of the Season
Sunday, Dec 25, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis and the Congregation Overview: On Christmas Morning, join us for carols, stories, and brunch in Fellowship Hall. We will take turns unwrapping the parts of the service and sharing them as they emerge....
Lessons and Carols for the Wonder of Christmas
Saturday, Dec 24, 2022 @ 7:00 pm Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis and the Congregation Overview:For Christmas Eve, we share the message of the birth of Jesus through ancient and modern texts and beautiful music. This service will feature music from Dave Breeden and...
Winter Solstice Service 2022
Wednesday, Dec 21 2022 @ 7:00 pm Join us for a winter solstice service in Fellowship Hall. This event will be in-person...
Cherish the Dark
Sunday, Dec 18, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: So often in our language we use “black” or “dark” to refer to what is fearful and evil. Let us explore the richness of the Dark in our lives. The choir will sing. Coffee Hour Afterwards...
Owl and Robin, A Winter Solstice Fable
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Dec 11, 2022 @ 10:30 am No Facebook Stream or Posted Recording on 12/11 To honor the privacy of our youngest members and friends, worship on December 11th will be available on the church’s public Zoom feed but will not be streamed...
Encounter with Wonder
Sunday, Dec 4, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:What is the place of wonder in our lives? What has wonder done for us lately? The choir sings today. Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...Deck the Halls 2022
Saturday December 3rd, 3:00 – 5:00 PM Join us for our annual ornament crafting and decorating party. All ages are welcome to lend a hand to make this year’s tree the most festive yet! You will be guided through stations to work on new ornaments and old favorites...
The Body of Change
Sunday, Nov 27, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: How do you feel in your body as well as your heart? Before we enter into December’s theme of Wonder, let’s spend a moment on locating ourselves and our ever-shifting physical forms. Coffee...
Brave New Words: Under Construction
Join the 10:30am Service Zoom Sunday, Nov 20, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: For over 40 years, Unitarian Universalists have worked from a core expression of our values as named in seven Principles and six Sources. Now we are asked to...
Transgender Day of Remembrance 2022
Sunday, Nov 20 at 6:00 PM Join Peoria Proud at our Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria for our annual observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Transgender Day of Remembrance is an internationally-honored event that honors the lives of transgender...
Democracy with Dignity?
Sunday, Nov 13, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview: On this Sunday after the elections, we explore what it means to live in a divided time and hold true to a democratic process. The Fall Congregational Meeting is after the service. Coffee...Book Sale 2022
November 19th & 20th, 2022 Saturday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Join us for our book sale! Members shop before the 10:30 AM service on Sunday, November 20th. Bags are just $5.00 each on...
The Way of Change
Sunday, Nov 6, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:We begin this month’s theme of the Path of Change by addressing it directly. William Bridges offers a guide on how to make sense of change, even when everything is in flux. The choir...
Thinning the Veil: A Service of Remembrance
Sunday, Oct 30, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis, Jesi Laughlin DLRE & 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. This year we will...
UU Haunted Forest 2022
Saturday October 29 7:00-8:30 pm Dare to enter the trail through the haunted forest where ghouls and goblins eagerly await your visit! Our haunted forest is specifically designed to be just the right amount of fright. Scary enough for brave kids and adults of all...
The Courage to Learn
Sunday, Oct 23, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis & Jesi Laughlin, DLRE Overview:The mission of this congregation includes the call to grow spiritually. What does spiritual growth mean to you? What do we offer and what would you like to explore?...
Defending Democracy
Sunday, Oct 16, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Dawn Dannenbring Overview:Illinois People’s Action organize everyday people and the faith community across downstate Illinois to be a powerful voice on justice issues. As a faith that understands the need for people to have...
Encounter with a World of Faiths
Sunday, Oct 9, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:The first global dialogue of faiths was with the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. The Parliament returns to Chicago in August 2023. How are we called to be with our siblings...
The Heart of Courage
Sunday, Oct 2, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:Join us for the first Sunday with our monthly theme of “Courage.” What does it mean to take a chance with each other? Coffee Hour Afterwards & Offering...
Margaret Fuller: First Woman of the Transcendentalist Club
Sunday, Sep 25, 2022 @ 10:30 am Speaker(s): Reverend Jennifer Innis Overview:The Transcendentalists of the 19th century laid the foundation for the liberal religion we know today. The big names were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. But Margaret Fuller’s...