Journey to Membership

Welcome!

We are so glad you’ve found your way to this congregation! We hope you will find a spiritual home here as we learn together what it means to be part of a welcoming community that supports your spiritual journey while it feeds your soul and your mind. This community challenges you to grow and to stand up for what we believe in. This community also provides many opportunities to enrich your family’s life as we all grow, care, and act in faith for the future.

Getting to Know Each Other

Learn about our worship services 

Learn more about Unitarian Universalism

Meet with a minister

Learn about Small Groups organized in a week format; Or look at the Google document for a deeper dive.

Connect with education and activities for children FLAME

Participate in a Pathways orientation

First Time Visitor

Stop by the Visitor’s Table. There you will be warmly greeted and you will be invited to sign up for the weekly email, receive a name tag, discover information about the many small group offerings and Neighbor 2 Neighbor groups..

In addition, you can learn more about our Journey to Membership and how you can become more connected with this vibrant community. 

Talk to us!  Join us for coffee and conversation from 11 am – Noon-ish. 

This is a photo of Presidents Hall at First UU of Richmond with several people standing in small groups, engaged in conversation and holding cups of coffee. Some people are standing at an information table near the back of the picture.

Explore Small Groups

First UU of Richmond offers many small group opportunities. Small groups revolve around interests such as:

spirituality and personal growth, 

social justice,

religious education and faith formation, 

church volunteers and stewardship

Affinity groups such as knitters, quilters, writing, book groups, men’s groups and women’s groups are generally open to newcomers. .

Small groups are can be found in our new PATHS into Community initiative as Practicing Radical Hospitality, Awakening Hearts and Minds, Taking Care of One Another, Healing a Broken World, and Securing our Church’s Future

Pathways Orientation 

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When you are ready to consider membership in the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, we offer a Pathways orientation class. This class provides a basic orientation to the principles, covenant and mission of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond. You will become acquainted with the Membership Team and enjoy a day of learning and socializing. At the end of the class, you are invited to become a member of First UU by ‘signing the book’ and designating a contribution of record. However, please be aware that there is no pressure to join First UU at the end of the class and you are always welcome to enjoy what First UU has to offer without becoming a formal member.

Next Pathways class:  TBD

Pathways 1.0 – An Orientation to 1st UU Church of Richmond

New to our community? New to Unitarian Universalism? Pathways presents to you our core values and ways you can connect with individuals and groups in the community. We begin with the basics: who we are, how we are organized, how to connect with our groups, and getting to know you.  We introduce our faith formation, known as FLAME, worship, church governance and polity, UU identity and theology, social justice for children, youth and adults, and the many ways to connect with this faith community.

You must take Pathways to join, but you do not have to join when you take it.

Let us know you are interested by emailing membership@richmonduu.org

Pathways 2.0 – A deeper dive into UU theology and identity.

You will receive an invitation to this group after you have completed Pathways 1.0. Using the UU Principles and Purposes as a guide, we will reflect on how we can integrate our faith into our daily lives.

Pathways 3.0 – Living the Pledge to End Racism in Richmond.

This is a grassroots effort to recognize the worth of every individual by making a personal, daily commitment to remove prejudice from our own lives and to treat all people with dignity and respect.

We are committed to racial reconciliation in our city. Pathways 3.0: Living the Pledge is a workshop offered three times each year. Participants explore ways to remove prejudice from their lives and make a commitment to treat all people with dignity and respect.

Register at richmondpledge.org.

Requirements for Membership

In order to be considered a member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, VA