Dear Reader

Gather

Shape

Invite

Conclusion

Case Studies

Songs

Resources

Dear Reader, So you are interested in starting, restarting, or improving your small-group worship in the young adult style! Maybe you’re in a congregation or part of a campus ministry. Maybe you’re out in the community, looking for ways to bring spiritual practices to your work. Maybe traditional worship isn’t your jam, Sunday morning isn’t your time, or you just need some circle worship too. Maybe you’re a religious educator, a young adult lay leader, a recent bridger, a minister, a student, an activist, or a campus ministry leader.

Well, whoever you are and whatever you’re trying to do, if it’s close to Unitarian Universalist in flavor, small in size, and participatory in nature, then this guide will probably help you do it. This book is divided into four sections: Gather, Shape, Invite, and Case Studies.

Gather is where you’ll find tips on how to get things started if you’re starting from scratch or re-starting a defunct endeavor. This section suggests a few different kinds of meetings you could have and how to make the most of them. You can take or leave that advice and adjust it to your liking.

Shape is the main course of this guide. It talks about structure and flow (both key to worship) and lists common elements you might find in a small-group, young adult–style worship service. Each element has tips about how you might use it or where you might find resources about it. Don’t skip this section; it’s key!

Invite is all about outreach and inclusion. How do you welcome folks into this awesome thing you made? If you’re already up and running, this might be a good section to look at right away.

Case Studies are exactly what they sound like—profiles of three different real-life, young adult–style, small-group interactive worship services in Unitarian Universalist contexts. Read up on those for a sense of what we’re talking about and to learn from the attempts of others. Why learn the hard way, when you could learn some of what you need to know the easy way?

“Navigating worship creation is always a journey. Whether you have years of experience or are just becoming interested in worship coordination, Worship for Young Adults is a wonderful resource in this work. This comprehensive guide brings you through the process from start to finish, taking into account all the aspects and questions you'll need to consider for an inclusive and accessible worship. Presenting a look at ‘Potential Pitfalls’ and ‘Helpful Hints’ during the gathering and shaping process, as well as the ‘Struggles’ and ‘Learnings’ of case studies, this resource offers the foresight needed to anticipate circumstances and solutions before they arise. I encourage you to grab a copy before your next worship endeavor.”
—Veronica Smith, Family Ministries Program Associate, Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse, Moscow, Idaho

“All over the country, young adults and Unitarian Universalist leaders are working to seed new communities of worship and connection. This guide is a generous offering of resources and reflections, questions and answers, songs and stories to grow vibrant young adult worship.”
—Matt Meyer

“Worship for Young Adults is a clear, concise, and helpful guide for Unitarian Universalists interested in creating a space for young adult spiritual practice. The book outlines the process of planning, organizing, and carrying out young adult worship in a way that makes it approachable, regardless of experience or skill level. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to foster a young adult community, whether in a congregation, on a college campus, or in someone’s basement.”
—Max Solomon-Frye, 2018 Senior Youth Dean, UU-UNO Intergenerational Spring Seminar

“This guide fills a gap in the resources young adults need to create UU spaces. Its call to focus on the sustainability and structure around our young adult worship—not just the content—is so important. I wish Worship for Young Adults had been available when I was involved in campus ministry in college; it’s an invaluable resource I didn’t know I needed.”
—Yvonne Marcoux