Sunday Worship
Format
The Urantia University Institute group worship Zoom gatherings take place each Sunday at 7 am Pacific time USA / 10-11am ET. For all other time zones check out www.worldtimebuddy.com
The sessions began in November of 2021 and evolved from a former UUI Café. Soon, the time was adjusted to a later time and shortened in duration from 90 minutes to 60 minutes. The facilitators for Sunday Worship are volunteers from the UUI community.
Facilitators of each gathering open with a brief welcome and introduction of the weekly focus/theme, which is inspired by The Urantia Book or the time of year. They then offer a piece of music that settles the group in and focuses attention. This music is used as a tool to co-create an atmosphere of communion or a “call to worship.”
Expressions of prayer and gratitude are interwoven into intentional readings from The Urantia Book and other sacred texts. Poetry and prose—sometimes original pieces written and read by participants—are offered. Periods of complete silence or of listening to gentle, inspirational instrumental music are provided. Deep inner listening is encouraged. The specific format of each session may vary based on the designs of individual facilitators.
Participants are invited to have a meaningful, personal, and intimate worship experience while in the setting of a group worship. All are welcome to be visibly present or to remain off camera.
Facilitators vary across weekly sessions, and they are encouraged to be creative— even experimental—with their direction. The pace of the services is generally relaxed, though it may be punctuated with upbeat, uplifting music and even humor to allow for joyful expression. Often the gathering ends with brief though deeply personal group sharing. There is always a call to “loving service” as a natural extension of this time of “loving worship,” meant to send the participants on their way into the week ahead.
This group is first and foremost dedicated to learning about, understanding, and attempting to experience what The Urantia Book teaches about “true worship.” From that foundation we continue to find unique ways to enact and share this experience.
Our group size has grown slowly and steadily, and the main facilitators are looking forward to continued growth of the Sunday morning sessions. There are also plans to offer similar experiences at different times, even in various languages, throughout each week. We invite all who are interested in attending and/or in joining the facilitation teams to contact us at admin@urantiauniversity.org.
The only thing you need to join is the Zoom link. Join UUI's email list below to get access.
Eric M.
“The UUI Worship Cafes have helped make my worship easier and more regular…there is a special spiritual energy to group worship that is not simply the sum of the participants present. I imagine that our Adjusters and angels rejoice and actively participate in our sessions."
Bill T.
"The Worship Cafes fill a large hole that I felt in our community for years. Finally, we are finding a way to worship in our own way as a community."
Andre P.
"Finally, group worship is manifested in the exemplary way that it is described in The Urantia Book…The Urantia community has blossomed thanks to the dedicated work of Susan, Geoff, and the Cafe team."