Through the church year the Coastal Virginia Unitarian Universalists celebrates a number of holidays and transitions.

  • Christmas
  • Youth bridging service
  • Teen presented service
  • Mother’s Day
  • Father’s Day
  • Homecoming
  • All souls day
  • Flower communion

American Unitarian Universalism recognizes a diverse collection of events and milestones but those above are commonly celebrated by this congregation. Brief descriptions of several having a distinctly Unitarian Universalist flavor or of local origin follow.

Youth Bridging Service

Youth Bridging Service celebrates two significant transitions in the lives of the church youth, coming of age at the transition from grade school to middle school, and from graduation from high school and entry into the ranks of our young adults.

Flower Communion

In this service, the congregants place flowers into a basket or other vessel, they are blessed, and then distributed to the congregants. This ritual celebrates beauty, community, human uniqueness and diversity. The ritual originated in 1923 by Unitarian minister Norbert Capek of Prague and was later introduced to the United States by his widow, Rev. Maya Capek. The UUA offers additional information.

Homecoming and Water Ceremony

UCN celebrates water ceremony at homecoming, the first Sunday after Labor Day. While on summer holiday, congregants gather water samples from places that are special to them. Returning to church after holiday, the congregation collects this water and blesses it for use in child dedication services and other rituals needing water. The ritual recognizes our unique origins and our coming together for shared worship and spiritual growth. It also represents the renewal of the church by the shared contributions of the congregation during the coming year.

All Souls Day

This service provides an opportunity for congregants to recognize significant contributors to their life experiences who are no longer alive. Most members recognize parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings, significant friends, or mentors.