Welcome! We hope that your relationship with the Unitarian Congregation of Guelph will be spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally challenging... and rewarding! We are pleased that you have chosen to visit us, and invite you to participate in a variety of programs and activities.

What to Expect on a Sunday Morning:

Our Sunday Services begin at 10:30 a.m.  We realize coming to a new spiritual congregation can be anxiety producing for some people. We hope the information on this page will give you a sense of what to expect when you come to a Sunday Service.  Sunday morning is our main gathering time as a community. This is our time to reconnect, share our joys and concerns, engage children in exploring values, and hear words of challenge and inspiration to keep our feet on the journey for the week ahead. Before you enter the sanctuary you will pass by the Welcome Table and we encourage you to stop and sign the Welcome Book, so you can get oriented. You can also make a name tag for yourself and pick up brochures that will tell you more about who we are and what we do.

A typical Sunday service begins with a musical prelude and opening words.  We then light our chalice, a symbol of Unitarianism and the light of healing we try to bring to a broken world.  We have a special time with the children before they go to their classrooms for Spiritual Development time. Our services also include readings, singing, a time of quiet meditation or reflection, sharing of joys and concerns, a monetary collection to support the church, and a talk by a member or a guest speaker. Children sit with their families at the start of the service and we sing them out to their classes after a children's story. For infants and toddlers we have a staffed nursery for them to play in. Of course, children of all ages are welcome to stay with you during the whole service if you and they prefer.

Attending the service on Sunday is a very special experience, but most members find that, over time, it is not enough to sustain their interest and needs.  We know of no better way to deepen your connection, as well as increase your reward, than by active engagement in a program that most closely matches your needs. The Newsletter, published every other month, lists the majority of our events and programs. The Upcoming Services and Events Page has a listing of our activities. The best place to find out what is going on, however, is on the back of your order of service!

If you would like to initiate a new event or program, talk to Melina Bondy, our Coordinator for Spiritual Development. You can call her at the office - 519.836.3443.