Worship & Music at General Assembly 2016

General Assembly (GA) 2016 occurred in Columbus, OH, from June 22-26.

General Assembly, like Unitarian Universalism, offers a wealth of theological diversity. A variety of worship choices are offered throughout GA. We encourage you to celebrate with us—at your local congregation or online!

GA Worship Video

  • Welcome and Opening Celebration
    Start your General Assembly off with the great pulse of spirit in the Heartland. We soar and THRIVE as we celebrate with words and song how we are better together as Unitarian Universalists, and how we are better together when we engage in interfaith relationships. Participants include alumni and current participants of the Thrive Leadership School for Unitarian Universalist (UU) Youth & Young Adults of Color; Gretchen Seigfred and Mariah Smallwood from The Amazing Giants; and music from Susan Peck, Leon Burke, Mark David Buckles, and the GA Band. The Opening Celebration includes a procession of banners from hundreds of UU congregations and organizations.
  • Thursday Morning Devotional
    Join us for a few minutes of centering ourselves in the spirit before we begin the work of the day. As we move into the business of the morning we will reconnect with what we are about and to the greater purpose of our time together. Musicians: Jeffrey S. Stern, Adam Peterson, Susan Peck, Dr. Leon Burke, III.
  • Service of the Living Tradition
    The Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group invites you to join us at this service where we honor those who have died, recognize those who have completed active service, and welcome those who have received fellowship, credentialed or certified status in the past year. The sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. Bill Sinkford, Senior Minister to First Unitarian Church of Portland, OR.
  • Friday Morning Worship
    A morning worship inviting us into an act of confession. Where have we fallen short of building beloved community? And what are our responsibilities as we attend this General Assembly? In word, song, and ritual, we will join in making ourselves vulnerable and opening ourselves to what can become.
  • Synergy Bridging Worship
    Life changes are hard and scary, but also full of opportunity when we are held by a larger love in community. Come support our bridging youth, rock out with the GA Band and musicians from Sanctuaries DC, and hear a message about the toolkit Unitarian Universalists (UUs) have for times of transition.
  • Saturday Morning Worship: "Love and Courage (Even When You Want to Chicken Out)"
    What is spirituality? Perhaps we can learn something from the French who often speak of a certain “Je ne sais quoi” or “I don’t know what.” In this service we will explore the intangible and indefinable things that foster the spirit of our congregations and empower us to work in partnership with people of all faiths for justice and align together on the side of love and act boldly even when we want to turn and run.
  • Sunday Worship: "In All Thy Getting, Get Understanding"
    What do we enter into congregational life hoping to get? So many things, perhaps—but underneath the consumer’s idea of acquisition is the pull to a deeper encounter with the experience, hope, heartbreak and yearning of others in community. Can we be a place of deep encounter where borders are crossed and faiths connect, where real stories and real struggle intersect and understanding arises anew?
  • Closing Celebration: "We Ready—We Comin’"
    Members of the Black Lives of UU Organizing Collective offer a celebration of spiritual connections affirmed in the Movement for Black Lives. Standing in the truth that Black Lives Matter and anchored by revolutionary music, this unapologetic service features reflections from visionary leaders pointing toward freedom and justice.
Musicians and Choir at the 2016 Service of the Living Tradition

Musicians and Choir at the 2016 Service of the Living Tradition