Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Central Unitarian Church Central Unitarian Church–Over 125 years in Bergen County ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://cucwestwood.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Minister Reflection: Ancient Stories, Ancient Wisdom](https://cucwestwood.org/minister-reflection-ancient-stories-ancient-wisdom/) - As a child, this time of year meant colored eggs, chocolate bunnies, and ham. Even though my family celebrated Easter, we didn't attend church, so the religious origins of the holiday remained obscured. It was only as I got older that I learned about other spring holidays along with their ancient stories and rituals. This - [May 4th, 2025 - Hike for Hope: Join or Donate](https://cucwestwood.org/hike-for-hope/) - For more than 30 years, Family Promise of Bergen County’s Hike for Hope has brought people of all ages together in support of children and parents facing homelessness in our community. Participants embark afternoon will also include music, snacks, activities, contests, and more, with prizes awarded in various categories. All proceeds from the Hike for - [Central Unitarian Church has moved!](https://cucwestwood.org/move-to-westwood/) - After 67 years at 156 Forest Ave. in Paramus, Central Unitarian Church has moved to Westwood, NJ. Our contact information remains unchanged; you can still reach us at communications@cucparamus.org or call us at 201-262-63000. If you have any questions about our new location or services, please don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to - [CUC at WestwoodFest — We're Doing It Again!](https://cucwestwood.org/cuc-at-westwoodfest-were-doing-it-again/) - Saturday, September 12, 2:00–6:00 pm, Veterans Memorial Park. After a great turnout last year, CUC returns to WestwoodFest as a sponsor and community participant — with craft activities, an info table, and a chance to connect with local families as we look ahead to opening our new home at 36 Bergen. We need volunteers for - [Summer at CUC: "This I Believe" Services Continue](https://cucwestwood.org/summer-at-cuc-this-i-believe-services-continue/) - Our summer worship series, "This I Believe," continues through September 6 with intimate, member-led Sunday services featuring hymns, a chalice lighting, and personal reflections shared by members and friends of the congregation. The Marsha P. Johnson Social also continues through the summer, 4th Wednesdays at 7 pm. Most other programs are on their seasonal pause - [36 Bergen Nears Its Opening](https://cucwestwood.org/36-bergen-nears-its-opening/) - As our new building takes shape, the milestones keep coming: utilities are connected, hardwood floors are installed and stained, and downstairs the Food Prep Area cabinets and countertops are in. Painting, electrical, HVAC, and elevator installation are next on the list, and the project team is currently anticipating a Certificate of Occupancy by fall. Read ## Pages - [Home](https://cucwestwood.org/) - A diverse and inclusive community that welcomes all for practicing liberal religion, building connections, seeking meaning, and creating positive change. - [Offertory](https://cucwestwood.org/offertory/) - Your generosity sustains our community and our shared values. Thank you for giving in the ways that work best for you. You can contribute to CUC through our online collection plate by putting money in the plate or paying your annual pledge of financial support. Scan the QR code or visit our Giving page to - [This Month's Reflection](https://cucwestwood.org/monthly-reflection/) - Latest message from our minister on our monthly theme. - [Calendar of Events](https://cucwestwood.org/calendar-of-events/) - [Help Make Sunday Mornings](https://cucwestwood.org/welcome/sundays-at-cuc/volunteer-today/) - Sundays at Central Unitarian Church are made brighter by YOU! ✨ Want to help create a welcoming space on Sunday mornings? Join our Welcome Team, light the chalice, bring flowers, or host coffee hour—it’s easy, fun, and a wonderful way to connect with others in our community. Curious about other ways to share your time - [CUC on Sundays](https://cucwestwood.org/welcome/sundays-at-cuc/) - Information about Sundays at Central Unitarian Church. - [Music at Central Unitarian Church](https://cucwestwood.org/welcome/sundays-at-cuc/music/) - Music is a rich and vital part of worship at Central Unitarian Church. From piano and organ to guest instrumentalists, music is woven into every service, inspiring reflection, joy, and connection. Our worship celebrates songs and hymns from many traditions, and thanks to our location near New York City, we frequently welcome professional artists from - [UU Outreach Auction](https://cucwestwood.org/serve-community/outreach-auction/) - The Outreach Auction is dedicated to raising funds for six designated charities that meet and fulfill life needs. This week-long virtual event features a silent auction. It is sponsored by two Unitarian Universalists in Bergen County: Central Unitarian Church and Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades. 100% of the proceeds go to the selected charities. - [Online Directory, Giving, and More](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/online-directory-giving-and-more/) - Church Center is Central Unitarian Church’s secure, private member platform, powered by Planning Center. It’s your one-stop place to: Access the online directory of members and friends (for information you choose to share) Give to the church, manage pledges, and track donations Stay updated on news, events, and announcements Sign up for events and classes - [About Central Unitarian Church](https://cucwestwood.org/about-central-unitarian-church/) - Our History In 1897, a small group of folks founded the Hackensack Unitarian Congregational Church. By 1956, the congregation had outgrown its walls and moved to Paramus, changing its name to Central Unitarian Church (CUC) and reaching out to the liberal religious community in Bergen County. In 2022, the congregation decided it was once again - [Serve Community](https://cucwestwood.org/serve-community/) - At CUC, we believe in putting our values into action. Guided by our commitment to justice, compassion, and equity, we actively support those in need—whether through local outreach programs or deeper engagement with the broader Unitarian Universalist community. Our service efforts span both hands-on local initiatives and denominational connections, offering opportunities for everyone to get - [Unitarian Universalism](https://cucwestwood.org/spiritual-diversity/unitarian-universalism/) - Are you looking for a spiritual community rooted in a search for truth and meaning rather than a set creed or dogma? Unitarian Universalism (UU) offers an open-minded, caring space where you can explore your beliefs, nurture your spirit, and join others in making a difference in the world. Our congregations welcome people from diverse - [CUC Welcomes All](https://cucwestwood.org/welcome/) - Central Unitarian Church is a religious community that serves members throughout Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Rockland counties. Founded over a century ago, our congregation is part of a 450-year-old faith tradition and is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Unitarian Universalism Unitarian Universalism is a 450-year-old faith with its roots in the Protestant Reformation - [Youth Group](https://cucwestwood.org/about-religious-education/youth-group/) - CUC’s Youth Group (10th through 12th grades) offers a safe and open space for reflection and discussion about their lives and provides a supportive and inclusive space that encourages members to share their thoughts and feelings about their relationship with the UU community. The group also participates in social action, community outreach, fundraising, and various - [Leadership Development](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/leadership-development/) - This vital committee works to involve members of the congregation as leaders of the ministries that drive our mission, from the Board of Trustees to committees that help produce our programs and activities. Gain More Than You Give Do you want to get more involved in Central Unitarian Church? Contact Leadership Development today. Let them - [Adult Spiritual Development](https://cucwestwood.org/about-religious-education/adult-religious-education/) - One of the guiding principles of Unitarian Universalism is the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Central Unitarian Church offers rich opportunities for exploration and reflection throughout the year. They might explore sacred texts from different world religions, the lives of important people from our Unitarian Universalist heritage, or individual paths to spiritual - [About Family Faith Formation](https://cucwestwood.org/about-religious-education/) - Welcome to our Family Faith Formation Program. Our primary goal is to offer a safe community for our families to develop their beliefs and understand our UU faith and principles. We aim to inspire discovery, inquiry, interrelationships, and reverence for life in all its diversity. For more information, contact the Director of Family Faith Formation. - [Our Whole Lives (Gr. 7-9)](https://cucwestwood.org/about-religious-education/youth-education/) - This comprehensive sexuality education curriculum equips teens with accurate, age-appropriate information to help them make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. Grounded in a holistic view of sexuality, OWL provides facts about anatomy and human development and helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and - [Hospitality](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/hospitality/) - Hospitality is a vital part of our spiritual practice at Central Unitarian Church. We practice it weekly on Sunday mornings, when we welcome newcomers in many different ways, including: A volunteer Welcome Team, which staffs the entrance, hallways and Welcome Center in the sanctuary. They greet arriving visitors and members, help newcomers sign our guest - [Your Generosity Matters–Uniting in Faith, Building in Love](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/giving/pledge_2025-2026/) - Making Your Pledge for 2025-2026 On Generosity Sunday, March 2, we invite you to come together in community and commitment—an opportunity to invest in the future of our congregation and strengthen the home we share in faith. Your financial commitment for the 2025-2026 church year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) is more than - [Women's Alliance](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/womens-alliance/) - The Women’s Alliance of Central Unitarian Church has been enriching the lives of women, young and old, for more than 115 years. The Alliance hosts fellowship events for the congregation, provides financial support to select CUC programs, and actively promotes the following goals: To serve the church, the community, and the cause of world fellowship. - [Endowment Trust Fund](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/endowment-trust-fund/) - CUC maintains an endowment fund to which members have contributed over the years as part of their estate planning. By contributing to the endowment, members, and friends help ensure that future generations will benefit from the work of our church as much as they themselves have done. Administered by independent trustees, the fund's mission is - [Social Action](https://cucwestwood.org/serve-community/social-action/) - At CUC, our members are not just called but urged to join hands in service to others and our greater community. We demand equity and justice for all, care for the most vulnerable, and defense of our Earth home. Your participation is not just welcomed but crucial to our mission. Our impactful work, informed by - [Get Involved](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/) - Get Involved - Explore the many ways to connect with CUC and our members. - [Religious Diversity](https://cucwestwood.org/spiritual-diversity/) - We are a congregation of conscious seekers after truth. In joining Central Unitarian Church, we pledge ourselves to a free and responsible search for truth about the things that matter most. "Free" meaning that we can explore the wisdom of the ages without fear of censure, with the loving support of this spiritual community. "Responsible" - [CUC Membership](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/) - At CUC, membership is a transformative journey of personal and spiritual growth, with a focus on love, worth, dignity, and divine spark in each human being. - [Our Stories](https://cucwestwood.org/spiritual-diversity/our-beliefs/) - Our congregation is a vibrant tapestry woven with threads of diverse religious backgrounds, ethnicities, economic circumstances, and sexual orientations. We embrace and celebrate this diversity, offering a nurturing environment where you are accepted for who you are while also encouraging you to explore and contribute your unique perspectives to our faith community. Our congregation is - [Coming of Age Program](https://cucwestwood.org/about-religious-education/coming-of-age-program/) - Our Coming of Age program is designed for young people who are moving through that “in-between” stage, from adolescence to adulthood. At this stage, youth are thinking more about those big life questions and forming an identity and faith. What a powerful time to help them understand what Unitarian Universalism is all about! This year-long - [Spring Fling Frequently Asked Questions](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/spring-fling/spring-fling-frequently-asked-questions/) - What is Spring Fling? Spring Fling is a great evening for socializing, enjoying good food and music, and participating in Auctions of all kinds for the benefit of CUC. Where does the money go? ALL the money earned after expenses goes to CUC’s Operating Fund. How do the Auctions work? Prior to the evening, via - [Meditation](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/meditation-group/) - Meeting on the third Thursday afternoon of each month (September through June) from 3:30 to 5:00 pm, the Meditation Group focuses on and provides practice in many forms of meditation including guided, silent, walking and others. Time is provided for voluntary sharing of experiences. Susan Bruce leads the group. Our practice is primarily mindfulness and metta, - [Pastoral Care](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/pastoral-care/) - We turn to one another for help in many ways. The minister at Central Unitarian remains on call for hospital visits, and grief counseling at need. The minister arranges for professional colleagues to cover such needs when away on travel. A select team of congregational members, known as the Pastoral Care team, augments the minister’s - [Events](https://cucwestwood.org/events-2/) - CONTENTS - [Archived Services](https://cucwestwood.org/archived-services/) - [Upcoming Services](https://cucwestwood.org/upcoming-services/) - [Giving to Your Faith](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/giving/) - Generosity is at the center of the religious experience. Some see giving to their religious community as giving thanks for the spirit of life, perhaps even giving thanks to a greater power. Others see such gifts as a way of promising a spiritual home to the next generation. Others have a vision of the community - [Covenant Circles](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/covenant-circles-2/) - Covenant Circles are small groups that meet a few hours each month to explore conversations of meaning together. They are a way to focus on your own spiritual development while forming deeper relationships with a small group of members and friends from the congregation. Our new Covenant Circles will use our monthly Touchstones spiritual journals - [Member Documents](https://cucwestwood.org/member-documents/) - Welcome CUC Members to your documents page. The Communications Team is currently working on a long-term solution to provide members with a secure member-only portal where information can be distributed and shared. In the meantime, we've developed this page to provide access to important CUC documents and to help you find other sources of information regarding - [Love into Being - Rev. Andree Mol](https://cucwestwood.org/love-rev-andree-mol/) - At the beginning of Candidating Week, the Rev. Andree Mol delivered a sermon on "Love Into Being." See a video recording below. - [Introduction to Rev Andree Mol](https://cucwestwood.org/introduction-rev-andree-mol/) - On April 14, the Search Committee of Central Unitarian introduced their candidate for our next settled minister to the congregation in a video presentation. In the video, members of the committee share their experience of search and their reasons for selecting the candidate. The video concludes with a message from Rev Andree Mol to our - [Partner Church Interviews 2019](https://cucwestwood.org/partner-church-interviews-2019/) - Below are interviews conducted with Central Unitarian Church leaders describing key parts of our congregational practices, from religious education and pastoral care to day-to-day management of the church. Church President Dina Cutrone Director of Religious Education Lynn Sodora Chair of the Pastoral Care Committee Phyllis Quickel - [Spring Fling](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/spring-fling/) - Spring Fling has been the highlight of CUC’s Spring Social Season since 1990. It is also a major fundraiser with all the proceeds – in recent years more than $20,000 - going to CUC’s operating budget. There is great food and music, fun decorations as well as silent and live auctions and raffles. Almost everyone - [Contact Us](https://cucwestwood.org/contact-us/) - Frequently Asked Questions Ask About Worship Services For questions about Sunday morning worship, our faith or the role of the church in our community. Ask About Religious Education For questions about our educational programs for children, youth and adults. How to Find Us View Larger Map Email Us - [Labyrinth](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/labyrinth/) - Thanks to the generosity of members, Central Unitarian has constructed a labyrinth as an aid to walking meditation. A labyrinth is a patterned path, often circular in form, used as a walking meditation or spiritual practice. A labyrinth's walkway is arranged in such a way that the participant enters, moves back and forth across the circular form - [Welcome Center](https://cucwestwood.org/welcome-center/) - Please fill out the form below to tell us about yourself and your interests, and to be included in our regular email communications about Sunday services and other activities at Central Unitarian Church. - [Memorial Garden](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/pastoral-care/memorial-garden/) - Many of our faith prefer the idea of having their ashes scattered in a symbolic setting to that of a traditional cemetery burial. In 2011, the vision of a small but effective group of members was realized in the creation of a lovely memorial garden nestled in the island between the south parking lot and - [Buildings & Grounds](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/buildings-grounds/) - Our Buildings & Ground Committee takes responsibility for maintaining our building and surrounding grounds of our picturesque property abutting Van Saun Park. In addition to handling maintenance issues, the Committee organizes events that involve the congregation in improving the appearance and usability of the church. More Information To inquire about the work of the committee - [Book Group](https://cucwestwood.org/about-membership/about-programs/book-club/) - Central Unitarian Church’s Book Group meets the first Thursday evening of every month at 7:00 pm in the Lounge. Members select the titles to read and engage in lively and thought-provoking discussion. The range is broad and topics related to personal and social issues. Past books include: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. The paths - [Youth Group](https://cucwestwood.org/youth-group/) - CUC’s High School Youth Group welcomes all high-school-age youth (14–20) for discussion, fun, and fellowship. In Youth Group, teenagers bring their faith into action through worship, community building activities, social action projects, learning and leadership experiences. Youth work with adult advisors to plan and lead events and meetings. Group activities come in all shapes and - [Membership](https://cucwestwood.org/become-best-selves/membership/) - We welcome participation by all who walk through our doors. Come in, come back and get to know us. Participate in our social and faith development events. Contribute your time and money to our good works. Find out how good it feels to give, and how much you receive in return. Then, at the right - [Calendar](https://cucwestwood.org/calendar/) - [FAQs](https://cucwestwood.org/faqs/) - [Children's Faith Development](https://cucwestwood.org/become-best-selves/lifespan-faith-development/children-youth/) - Our Children and Youth Faith Development Programs involve students in classroom study, discussion, activities, participation in intergenerational services and community service in order to: Foster a sense of community enabling our children to be aware that they are honored respected participants in our congregation. Explore the nature of religion, its principles, traditions, and personal relevance - [Youth Group](https://cucwestwood.org/become-best-selves/lifespan-faith-development/youth-group/) - Please click here for our Registration form. Youth Group, grades 9 - 12 CUC's High School Youth Group welcomes all high-school-age youth (14–20) for discussion, fun, and fellowship. In Youth Group, teenagers bring their faith into action through worship, community building activities, social action projects, learning and leadership experiences. Youth work with adult advisors to - [Faith Development](https://cucwestwood.org/become-best-selves/lifespan-faith-development/) - Our congregation invites people of all ages to pursue spiritual growth through a personal search for meaning - a search informed by our faith's core principles and diverse sources of wisdom. Children's Faith Development We offer children a range of programs including Sunday School classes, All Ages worship services, and community service projects. More Youth - [Volunteer Opportunities](https://cucwestwood.org/become-best-selves/volunteer-opportunities/) - Members and friends of Central Unitarian Church like to put their faith into action, because it is only by giving of ourselves that we gain greater meaning, fellowship and joy in life. If you are new to our congregation, there are easy ways to get started putting your skills to work, and getting to know - [Tags](https://cucwestwood.org/events-2/tags/) - CONTENTS - [Categories](https://cucwestwood.org/events-2/categories/) - CONTENTS - [Locations](https://cucwestwood.org/events-2/locations/) - CONTENTS - [My Bookings](https://cucwestwood.org/events-2/my-bookings/) - CONTENTS - [Ask About Anything Else](https://cucwestwood.org/ask-about-anything-else/) - Use the form below for questions about church rentals, administration or anything else. - [Ask About Religious Education](https://cucwestwood.org/religious-education/) - [Ask About Worship Services](https://cucwestwood.org/worship-services/) - [Welcome Center](https://cucwestwood.org/center/) - Please fill out the form below to tell us about yourself and your interests, and to be included in our regular email communications about Sunday services and other activities at Central Unitarian Church. - [Check Your Pledge](https://cucwestwood.org/check-your-pledge/) - You can check your pledge and payments any time through CUC's online Member Directory. Just follow these three easy steps: [wpcol_1half id="" class="" style=""][/wpcol_1half] [wpcol_1half_end id="" class="" style=""]STEP 1. Click here or on the image to the left to go to the Member Directory log-in page. Log in with your personal user name and password. - [Family Faith Development](https://cucwestwood.org/become-best-selves/lifespan-faith-development/family-faith-development/) - All Ages Worship Each Sunday, we begin the worship service with children and adults in the sanctuary together. After the first fifteen minutes, children are sung out to their Sunday School classes. Regularly throughout the year, there are special all-ages worship services. These are fun, interactive, musical times for all of us, of all ages, - [Sunday School Classes for Children](https://cucwestwood.org/become-best-selves/lifespan-faith-development/children-youth/sunday-school-classes-for-children/) - 2015-16 Schedule PreK/Kindergarten, 3-5 years old Curriculum: Celebrating Me and My World Celebrating the wondrous qualities of children and the animals, objects, and people around them; Celebrating Me and My World provides experiences and opportunities to grow in trust and caring; and develops students’ self-identity and sense of connectedness with all of life. Early Elementary, - [Events](https://cucwestwood.org/events/) - Central Unitarian Church (CUC) offers members, friends and the greater community a wide range of events and programs. It offers chances for spiritual growth, community service and socializing with like-minded friends. See What's New to the left for upcoming events. Click on the links to the right for more information on individual events and programs. - [Intro](https://cucwestwood.org/intro/) - Central Unitarian Church Welcomes All Central Unitarian Church is a religious community serving members in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Rockland counties. The congregation, founded more than a century ago, is part of a 450-year-old faith tradition and is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Sunday worship for adults and children begins at 10:30 am. read - [Our Mission and Covenant](https://cucwestwood.org/our-mission-3/) - Central Unitarian Church welcomes all into a home of spiritual diversity that challenges us to become our best selves, minister to one another in love, and serve the greater community. As a congregation, we honor our mission and promise to act with grace as we celebrate our shared humanity. We view our differences as strengths - [Become Our Best Selves](https://cucwestwood.org/become-best-selves/) - Involvement in Central Unitarian calls each of us to learn and grow individually and collectively. We are more than a worship service; we are more than social outreach; and we are more than a community of friends. Together, we challenge one another to step out of our comfort zones to consider new ideas, grow in ## Events - [Family Promise of Bergen County Hike for Hope 2024](https://cucwestwood.org/events/family-promise-of-bergen-county-hike-for-hope-2024/) - Since its inception, Central Unitarian Church has been a continuous supporter of Family Promise of Bergen County, which is dedicated to providing housing, support, and meal programs for working families with children facing homelessness and our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. This year, the CUC and the Social Action team, devoted to addressing social justice issues - [Forward in Faith - 2024-2025 Stewardship Campaign](https://cucwestwood.org/events/forward-in-faith-2024-2025-stewardship-campaign/) - 2024-2025 Stewardship Campaign CUC is accepting pledges for the 2024-2025 fiscal year stewardship campaign "Forward in Faith." Read more here. - [Annual CUC Ingathering Picnic](https://cucwestwood.org/events/annual-cuc-ingathering-picnic/) - We will continue our tradition of a congregational picnic directly after our ingathering service on September 10. Please bring food and beverages to share. The picnic takes place at the Westwood Women's Club directly after service. Enjoy the food, beverages, and fellowship with members and friends of CUC. CUC will be supplying some meat and ## Locations - [Central Unitarian Church](https://cucwestwood.org/locations/central-unitarian-church/) ## Services - [Jewish High Holy Days Service: "Beginning Again"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/jewish-high-holy-days-service-beginning-again/) - We gather this Sunday during the Jewish High Holy Days, which span from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. These are days set aside to spiritually prepare yourself to begin a new year. In Western culture, we tend to look at new beginnings as a clean slate. However, many religious traditions consider beginnings as part of - [Ingathering Sunday — All-Ages Water Communion: "New Beginnings"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/ingathering-sunday-all-ages-water-communion-new-beginnings/) - We open our new congregational year with Ingathering Sunday, a time to gather in community with members, friends, and newcomers. Together, we'll take part in our beloved Water Ceremony — please bring a small container of water from a place meaningful to you, whether near or far. Our blended waters remind us of our shared - [Summer Service: "This I Believe"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-service-this-i-believe-2/) - Speaker: Josef Machac Often serving in our pulpit as a Worship Associate during the year, Josef will provide the final Reflection for our "This I Believe" series of lay-led summer worship services. He has chosen to reflect on the question "Does AI Pose an Existential Threat to Humanity?" Bring your curiosity. This year’s theme, “This I - [Summer Service: "This I Believe"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-service-this-i-believe/) - Speaker: Rev. Andrée Cornelia Mol From June 28 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year’s theme, “This I Believe,” invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that - [Summer Services: "This I Believe"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe-9/) - Speaker: Rev. Andrée Cornelia Mol From June 28 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year’s theme, “This I Believe,” invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that - [Summer Services: "This I Believe"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe-8/) - Speaker: Robert René Galván From June 28 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year’s theme, “This I Believe,” invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that shape - [Summer Services: "This I Believe"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe-7/) - Speaker: Louise Lessersohn From June 28 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year’s theme, “This I Believe,” invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that shape our - [Summer Services: "This I Believe"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe-6/) - Speaker: Lynda Fritsch From June 21 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year's theme, "This I Believe," invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that - [Summer Services: “This I Believe”](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe-5/) - Speaker: Mia Howard From June 21 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year's theme, "This I Believe," invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that - [Summer Services: “This I Believe”](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe-4/) - Speaker: Gabriela Jaeger From June 21 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year's theme, "This I Believe," invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that - [Summer Services: “This I Believe”](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe-3/) - From June 21 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year's theme, "This I Believe," invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that shape our lives. - [General Assembly Sunday Worship Service](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe/) - On Sunday, June 21, at 11:00 am, CUC will join Unitarian Universalist congregations across the continent in sharing the General Assembly Sunday Worship Service, led by Rev. Jen Youngsun Ryu. Instead of holding our regular service, we will gather at the Westwood Woman’s Club to watch the live-streamed worship service together. All are welcome. If - [Summer Services: “This I Believe”](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-this-i-believe-2/) - From June 21 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year's theme, "This I Believe," invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that shape our lives. - [Summer Services: "This I Believe"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/from-june-21-through-september-6-cuc-will-gather-for-intimate-member-led-summer-services-each-service-includes-hymns-a-chalice-lighting-joys-and-sorrows-and-personal-reflections-shared-by-a-memb/) - From June 21 through September 6, CUC will gather for intimate, member-led summer services. Each service includes hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and personal reflections shared by a member or friend of the congregation. This year's theme, "This I Believe," invites us to explore the experiences, values, and insights that shape our lives. - [All-Ages Flower Ceremony: "Nobody Said it Would Be Easy"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-flower-ceremony-nobody-said-it-would-be-easy/) - Together, we participate in our annual Flower Ceremony, first created by Rev. Norbert Capek in 1923 at our partner congregation in Prague. Participants are encouraged to bring a single flower to service to contribute to the ceremony. We consider the hard work it takes to create and sustain diverse, interconnected communities and how vital such - [Flourishing Together](https://cucwestwood.org/services/flourishing-together/) - This first Sunday of Pride Month, we celebrate the LGBTQ+ individuals in our lives. We consider the necessity and beauty of creating communities where all of us flourish. Join us after service for CUC's annual business meeting. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All are welcome—come as you are! Time: 10:30 amLocation - [Opposites Detract](https://cucwestwood.org/services/opposites-detract/) - "Culture clash". That term has been around since the 1920s. And the concept of a "broken world" has been around for millennia. The central irony of culture is that it is where we live together while dividing ourselves into sides. We concern ourselves with antonyms quite a bit. Maybe…we should celebrate shadings and connotations, taking - [RE Appreciation Sunday: "Teaching Curiosity"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/re-appreciation-sunday-teaching-curiosity/) - This Sunday, we celebrate religious education within our congregation and consider the importance within Unitarian Universalism of teaching curiosity rather than certainty. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All are welcome—come as you are! Time: 10:30 amLocation (Temp): 205 Kinderkamack Rd. Westwood, NJ - [Countering Fear](https://cucwestwood.org/services/countering-fear/) - Many of us today are living in fear of the future. Fear of losing our rights, fear for our unraveling democracy, fear of endless war and violence, fear of economic uncertainty… The list of fears goes on and on. Can we counter those fears by facing our uncertain future with curiosity? What role can curiosity - [Awakening Curiosity](https://cucwestwood.org/services/awakening-curiosity/) - During this contemplative service, we explore spiritual practices that awaken curiosity in ourselves so that we can better approach life with wonder and grow into new ways of being. We take a moment during our service to honor all the mothers in our lives. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All - [Mental Health Awareness Sunday: “The Curious Mind”](https://cucwestwood.org/services/mental-health-awareness-sunday-the-curious-mind/) - May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This Sunday, we explore the role curiosity plays in our mental health and wellness. We also explore the power of curiosity to help our congregation maintain an environment which is free from the stigma of mental illness. The CUC Choir performs. Service lead: Rev. Andrée Cornelia Mol. Services are - [The Possibilities of Artificial Intelligence](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-possibilities-of-artificial-intelligence/) - With the rapid development of AI, technology experts speak of both immense promise and grave dangers. What are the spiritual implications and possibilities for such powerful human technology? Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All are welcome—come as you are! Time: 10:30 amLocation (Temp): 205 Kinderkamack Rd. Westwood, NJ - [Possibility in the Face of Climate Devastation](https://cucwestwood.org/services/possibility-in-the-face-of-climate-devastation/) - Earth Day is April 22, 2026. In 2024, the planet officially breached the global warming threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels that scientists warned would trigger devastating changes to our climate. A year later, the United States withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time. What possibilities exist for us as - [Living with Extinction](https://cucwestwood.org/services/living-with-extinction/) - We are living through what is called the Sixth Great Extinction or the Anthropocene Extinction. All around, creatures are disappearing forever due exclusively to human activity. How do we maintain our faith in the interconnected web of all existence while living alongside extinction? How do our rituals and rites answer the call of the species - [Learning to Love a Broken World](https://cucwestwood.org/services/learning-to-love-a-broken-world/) - The practice of paying attention includes embracing all of life as we encounter it. This requires acknowledging both the beauty and the pain that we experience in the world as it is. We can be tempted to ignore the pain, and we can easily become overwhelmed by it. But to love the world means to - [All-Ages Spring Equinox Service: "More of This"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-spring-equinox-service-more-of-this/) - Spring officially arrives after many harsh weeks of winter cold and storms. We take time to notice what is being born this time of year, embrace the joy and wonder to be found in the rebirth of spring, and explore ways to bring more of that energy into our everyday lives. Services are available in - [Music Sunday: "The Musical Structure of Existance"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/music-sunday-the-musical-structure-of-existance/) - The choir presents its annual Music Sunday. The service will feature multiple performances by the choir, Matt Anderson, and John Freund, who will present an original song. Susan Springstead, Worship Associate, and Robert René Galván, guest speaker. René's reflection is titled "The Musical Structure of Existence." Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join - [Paying Attention in an Age of Distraction](https://cucwestwood.org/services/paying-attention-in-an-age-of-distraction/) - We live in the age of the "attention economy," when our technology and politics increasingly demand our scarce attention. This Sunday, we explore ways to liberate ourselves from these distractions and remain attentive to our core values, while honoring the sacredness of our living world and all who are a part of it. Services are - [Finding Our Power](https://cucwestwood.org/services/finding-our-power/) - The Jewish Holiday of Purim celebrates the story of Esther, which centers around two women who refuse to give up their power. This Sunday, we lift up stories from scripture and women's history that continue to teach us that we can define ourselves beyond the confines placed on us by society. We find our power - [Generosity Sunday: "Investing in Hope, Love, and Community"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/generosity-sunday-investing-in-hope-love-and-community/) - Join us for our Generosity Sunday as we launch our stewardship campaign for the 2026-27 congregational year, which will be our first full congregational year in our new building at 36 Bergen Street. During this service, we will celebrate the elements that nurture resilience in our congregation, including hope, love, and community. The CUC choir - [Nurturing Resilience](https://cucwestwood.org/services/nurturing-resilience/) - In a world where so many of our shared values are under attack, it becomes easy to feel depleted and demoralized. In this contemplative service, we explore spiritual resources which we can use to nurture resilience for the years ahead of us. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All are welcome—come - [Increased Life Expectancy and Resilience](https://cucwestwood.org/services/increased-life-expectancy-and-resilience/) - Advances in medical science have created the possibility of the human lifespan increasing to 150 years. All aspects of human life and activities will be impacted. Let’s consider changes that need to be put in place for a smooth transition.Guest Minister: Rev. Rosemary Newberry Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All - [The Necessity of Resilience](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-necessity-of-resilience/) - When individuals and communities live under constant threats against their safety and their freedom, resilience becomes a necessity, not only for survival but also to sustain a movement to collectively transform systems of oppression. This Sunday, we will lift up stories from Black history which embody the practice of resilience. Services are available in person - [The Tradition of Religious Resistance](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-tradition-of-religious-resistance/) - Online Only. - click title for link details.Religion holds the power to be a source of control and conformity or a source of resistance and change. This Sunday, we examine the history of religious resistance, paying close attention to the role of Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists in that history. Services are available in person - [All-Ages Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service: "A Legacy of Resistance"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-rev-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-service-a-legacy-of-resistance/) - Celebrating the anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, we look back at his legacy of resistance and what it has to teach us about our own current moment in history. CUC Choir performs. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All are welcome—come as you are! Time: 10:30 amLocation (Temp): 205 - [Growing Your Spirit: Reflections from CUC Leaders](https://cucwestwood.org/services/growing-your-spirit-reflections-from-cuc-leaders/) - This Sunday's service, led by CUC's Leadership Development Team, features reflections from three current CUC leaders about leading at this particular time. Speakers include Delores Connors, President of CUC's Board of Trustees; Elizabeth Stewart, Vice President; and Jeff Merrigan, Treasurer. CUC's Leadership Development team includes Sally Keen, Annette Machac, Pam Zeldin, and Alex Barbieri. Services - [Preparing for the New Year](https://cucwestwood.org/services/preparing-for-the-new-year/) - With 2025 behind us and 2026 ahead, what do we need in order to prepare for the New Year? This service includes reflections on what we’ve learned individually and collectively that can inform our path forward in the days ahead. CUC member Jemal Touba shares a reflection on an important lesson he learned from his - ["A Light That Lasts: Hope Across the Holidays"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/a-light-that-lasts-hope-across-the-holidays/) - Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is disciplined trust that the light still works. What sources do you pull from for the hope and light you bring into the room? Bio: Ghana Imani Hylton spent two decades as a Human Resource Director and event planner in NYC. She is currently the Director of Campus Inclusion - [Christmas Eve Service: "Mothers, Angels, Shepards, and Sages in an Age of Kings"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/christmas-eve-service-mothers-angels-shepards-and-sages-in-an-age-of-kings/) - Join us for an annual CUC tradition: our candlelight Christmas Eve service. We will sing carols and tell the story of Christmas -- all about a young mother, angels, shepherds, and sages in a time of a king who feared the existence of a newborn baby. We'll consider what this story has to share about - [All-Ages Winter Spiral Service: "Choosing Hope"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-winter-spiral-service-choosing-hope/) - Join us for our special all-ages service focusing on the winter solstice when our sanctuary space is transformed into a winter spiral, and we meditate on the gifts of the nurturing darkness and the return of the light. Note: We will be hosting a winter spiral setup party on Friday, December 19, from 5 pm - [Hannukah Service: "Sometimes Hope Only Feels Like a Miracle"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/hannukah-service-sometimes-hope-only-feels-like-a-miracle/) - Many of us are struggling to find hope in this time. When the future seems bleak, sometimes it feels as if we can only rely on a miracle to bring us back hope. Yet "miracles" can be found in everyday experiences and help give us hope that tomorrow can be different from today. Sometimes, those - [Blue Holiday Service: "Hope and Lament"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/blue-holiday-service-hope-and-lament/) - We enter into this holiday season by first acknowledging and grieving our losses. Those who have died are no longer here to celebrate the season with us. Our anxieties and fears may make it difficult to access the joy and hope wrapped up in the holidays. Other life changes may include loss, which changes the - [Religious Education: Cultivating Gratitude](https://cucwestwood.org/services/gratitude-in-every-day/) - This Sunday, Rev. Andrée and our Religious Education Coordinator, Suzanne Castellano, will lead us in intergenerational discussions around the power of gratitude. We'll interview each other on the role gratitude has played in our lives. You are invited to bring to service an object of meaning in your life. It could be a photograph, a - [All-Ages Thanksgiving Service: "We Give Thanks"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-thanksgiving-service-we-give-thanks/) - Join us for a special joint Sunday service with the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood. Our service this Sunday will begin at 10:00 am and will take place at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood and online. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All are welcome—come as you are! Time: 10:00 amLocation: Unitarian Society of - [Trans Day of Remembrance & Resilience](https://cucwestwood.org/services/trans-day-of-remembrance-resilience/) - We offer a special service on this Trans Day of Remembrance in partnership with Bergen County LGBTQ+ Alliance, PLAG Paramus, and Westwood Pride. We will gather to honor trans individuals who have lost their lives in the last year, to hold space for the continued hatred and oppression that trans people face, and to celebrate - [Community Sunday: "A Place For Us All"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/community-sunday-a-place-for-us-all/) - Many of us were taught that our nation was shaped by immigrants. Yet, throughout our nation's history, we have increasingly discriminated against and dehumanized those who occupied this land before us, those who were brought here against their will, and those who wished to call this country home. This Sunday, we consider that complex history, - [Gratitude in an Age of Polarization](https://cucwestwood.org/services/gratitude-in-an-age-of-polarization/) - Gratitude doesn’t always appear as expressions of joy. Sometimes gratitude may come in the guise of a criticism or a call for change. Attending a No Kings protest or teaching about racism, for example, can be understood as expressions of gratitude: for our nation’s promise and the lessons to be gleaned from history. This Sunday, - [Women's Alliance Speaker Series](https://cucwestwood.org/services/womens-alliance-speaker-series-3/) - "I am Woman, Hear My Voice" Service Leads: Genia Peterson, Delores Conners, Evelyn Noether Stokvis. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). All are welcome—come as you are! Time: 10:30 am(Temp) Location: 205 Kinderkamack Rd. Westwood, NJ - [Compassion as Strength: Embracing both Nieghbor and Stranger](https://cucwestwood.org/services/compassion-as-strength-embracing-both-nieghbor-and-stranger/) - Unitarian Universalists have boldly proclaimed Love at the center of our shared values. We view compassion as a strength. We teach this strength to our children and inspire it in others through both our words and our deeds. We are called to bear witness to and act in solidarity with those whose rights are under - [The Great Turning: Cultivating Compassion for the Earth](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-great-turning-cultivating-compassion-for-the-earth/) - Now, more than ever, we must collectively cultivate compassion for the Earth and all living beings. Such compassion could produce a life-sustaining shift in our relationship with our shared planet from one of exploitation and destruction to one of respect and nourishment. Eco-philosopher Joanna Macy, who died this summer, referred to this shift as The - [All-Ages Blessing of the Animals: Learning Compassion](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-blessing-of-the-animals-learning-compassion/) - Join us for our all-ages Blessing of the Animals service, where we recognize and celebrate our connection with our animal companions. All pets and their human companions are welcome! Dogs must be leashed and, if required, muzzled. Smaller animals should be carried in kennels or cages or held securely. You may also bring a photograph - [Belonging and Self Acceptance](https://cucwestwood.org/services/belonging-and-self-acceptance/) - This Sunday, we celebrate the Jewish High Holy Days, which begin with Rosh Hashanah at sundown on September 22 and continue through Yom Kippur on October 2. This time of celebration is also a time of self-reflection and preparing for the year ahead. That work includes atonement or making amends. While this work often occurs - [From Seed to Sanctuary: The Power of UU Fellowship](https://cucwestwood.org/services/from-seed-to-sanctuary-the-power-of-uu-fellowship/) - Guest Speaker: Chris Budin Drawing from the seeds of inspiration planted by our Unitarian Universalist ancestors, we’ll explore the transformative power of belonging. From classrooms to pulpits, our educators and ministers have long been architects of wisdom, their intentional leadership shaping the spaces we share today. While history often omits herstory, their story, our story, - [Meeting the Moment: A Reflection on UUA General Assembly 2025](https://cucwestwood.org/services/meeting-the-moment-a-reflection-on-uua-general-assembly-2025/) - At this time of deep political polarization with a rise of authoritarianism around the globe, many traditional institutions, including many religious institutions, struggle to find their way forward. The approaches we have used for decades no longer seem adequate to all we are facing. This summer at General Assembly, the Unitarian Universalist Association invited congregations - [All-Ages Ingathering (Water Ceremony) – "The Work of Belonging"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-ingathering-water-ceremony-the-work-of-belonging/) - We open our new congregational year with Ingathering Sunday, a time to gather in community with members, friends, and newcomers. Together, we’ll take part in our beloved Water Ceremony—please bring a small container of water from a place meaningful to you, whether near or far. Our blended waters remind us of our shared journey and - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-10/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme “What I’ve Learned.” All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: 205 - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-9/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme “What I’ve Learned.” All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: 205 - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-8/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme “What I’ve Learned.” All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: 205 - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-7/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme “What I’ve Learned.” All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: 205 - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-6/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme “What I’ve Learned.” All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: 205 - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-5/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme “What I’ve Learned.” All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: 205 - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-4/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme "What I've Learned." All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: - [UUA General Assembly Sunday Service](https://cucwestwood.org/services/uua-general-assembly-sunday-service/) - Join together at our regular worship space in Westwood to view the Sunday service from the UUA General Assembly. This year’s Sunday Service will be broadcast live from the Baltimore Convention Center on June 22, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. (You can also access the service online at https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2025). This year's service will be - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-3/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme "What I've Learned." All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc-2/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme "What I've Learned." All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: - [Summer Sundays at CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-sundays-at-cuc/) - From June 15 to August 31 this summer, we’ll hold intimate in-person services here at CUC. Each week will include hymns, a chalice lighting, joys and sorrows, and a personal reflection from a member or friend of our community on the theme "What I've Learned." All are welcome—come as you are! Date: SundaysTime: 10:30 amLocation: - [What Did I Miss?](https://cucwestwood.org/services/what-did-i-miss/) - Rev. Andrée, rejuvenated from her five-month sabbatical, returns to our Sunday morning services with the question: What did I miss? She expects, like her, that your response may involve more questions rather than answers. Such as: How did we get here? Was I not paying proper attention in history class? Doesn't our nation aspire to - [From Emerson to Paris: Discovering the Paris UU Fellowship along the way](https://cucwestwood.org/services/from-emerson-to-paris-discovering-the-paris-uu-fellowship-along-the-way/) - This Sunday, we welcome guest speaker Beth O’Connell for her talk, “From Emerson to Paris: Discovering the Paris UU Fellowship along the way.” Beth, a retired journalist and longtime UU, will share her spiritual journey from growing up in Emerson to finding community abroad with the Paris UU Fellowship. Services are available in person and - [So Close, Yet So Far](https://cucwestwood.org/services/so-close-yet-so-far/) - The State of Florida is well known to people in our region as a pleasant place to retire or take a vacation, and for once, having been the supposed home of the "fountain of youth". The sermon will explore the unique spiritual and religious practices found in South Florida, which reflect a rich mixture of - [Am I making this up?](https://cucwestwood.org/services/am-i-making-this-up/) - The line between imagination and intuition can often seem blurry. We’ll explore why, and how we can better cultivate both with discernment. A ritualist with ongoing relationships with the other-than-human, Mikki Baloy will highlight the reasons and uses for doubt, and ways to work with it. This Sunday service is led by Mikki Baloy, an author and - [Ex Libris: The Power and Danger of Books](https://cucwestwood.org/services/ex-libis-the-power-and-danger-of-books/) - Carl Sagen once professed, “Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic," but from their initial inception there have been those who regard them as a danger and have sought to censor and even destroy them. Matt Anderson will perform selections from the movie, The Book - [Seeking Meaning, Seeking Mental Well-being](https://cucwestwood.org/services/seeking-meaning-seeking-mental-well-being/) - There is a link between our search for meaning, and maintaining our mental well-being. The sermon will explore the role of meaning and values as it relates to mental health. Service Speaker: Rev. Mark Cutolo. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [Magic and Miracle](https://cucwestwood.org/services/magic-and-miracle/) - In honor of the Easter holiday, we'll learn more about how early Christians distinguished between magic and miracles and how those nuances influenced people's views on the afterlife and the resurrection of the dead. The Lead Speaker is Rev. Mark Cutolo. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [The Two Things You Should Never Talk About At Work](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-two-things-you-should-never-talk-about-at-work/) - Former member Rab Bell explores how Unitarian Universalists can best live our spiritual values in this time of discord, confusion, and fear. Guest Speaker: Rab Bell. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [Keep It Simple](https://cucwestwood.org/services/let-us-pray/) - People complain about the hectic pace of life and the way technology disrupts our lives and peace of mind. The sermon will explore some examples of people pushing back against those demands in favor of a simpler, more deliberate way of life. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [The Power to Choose to Do or to Don't](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-power-to-choose-to-do-or-to-dont/) - Managing autonomy, freedom, and right are the foundation of Covenant. An exploration of being able to think and do whatever you want, and choosing not to. Worship speaker: John Freund. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [Sincerely Skeptical](https://cucwestwood.org/services/sincerely-skeptical/) - Being skeptical can prevent us from putting our faith in nonsense. Today's sermon will explore the ways our skepticism can be challenged in ways we can't explain. Rev. Mark Cutolo leads service. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [All-Ages Women's History Month Service–Mystical Rose](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-womens-history-month-service-mystical-rose/) - In honor of Women's History Month, we'll discuss the most famous woman and mother of all time—Mary of Nazareth. Despite secularization, reports of visions of her continue unabated, and the sermon will explore this phenomenon as well as how church authorities determine which visions are authentic or inauthentic. Rev. Mark Cutolo leads the service. Services - [Music Sunday at CUC!](https://cucwestwood.org/services/music-sunday-at-cuc/) - Join us for the choir's annual Music Sunday, featuring multiple performances and readings by the choir, John Freund, Matt Anderson, and René Galván, who leads this service. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [Queen of Heaven and Earth](https://cucwestwood.org/services/queen-of-heaven-and-earth/) - In honor of Women's History Month, today's sermon will examine the writings and legacy of the first known author in world history, and the religious teachings she wrote about. Speaker: Rev. Mark Cutolo. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [The Three Passions of Giovanna LaMarca](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-three-passions-of-giovanna-lamarca/) - Speaker: Giovanna LaMarca Longtime CUC member Giovanna LaMarca is delighted and honored to be the Women’s Alliance Guest Speaker. A dedicated educator, Giovanna loved teaching at the Bronx High School of Science and was known for bringing delicious homemade treats to Women’s Alliance gatherings. Join us as we welcome Giovanna and celebrate her contributions to - [All-Ages Black History Month Service - ONLINE](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-black-history-month-service/) - Due to the upcoming weather advisory, the Feb 9th service will be available only online. Join us HERE. Join us for an all-ages service celebrating Black History Month. We will explore events and figures from Black history and consider what they have to teach us about justice and equity. Join us HERE. - [Black Cats and Broken Mirrors](https://cucwestwood.org/services/black-cats-and-broken-mirrors/) - Human beings of all backgrounds have a history of practicing superstitions. Today's sermon will explore the roots of this and why humans find superstitious beliefs and practices to be useful. Service Lead: Rev. Mark Cutolo, interim minister. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [Heroes, Heroines, Anti-heroes, and Villains](https://cucwestwood.org/services/heroes-heroines-anti-heroes-and-villains/) - (The Luigi Sermon) People love to hear a story with a heroic character in it. Today's sermon will explore some surprising anti-heroes with complicated plot lines found in sacred and popular sources. Service lead: Rev. Mark Cutolo, interim minister. Services are available in person and online (click HERE to join online). - [Community is the Spirit](https://cucwestwood.org/services/community-is-the-spirit/) - Leadership Sunday: "Community is the Spirit." The Leadership Development Team sponsors a service with four speakers from important committees and avenues of service. Come and hear what it's like to serve on a Constitutional Committee, fund-raising, or be the recipient of Religious Education, and what inspires these members and brings them closer to our "Beloved - [American Democracy and Solidarity](https://cucwestwood.org/services/american-democracy-and-solidarity/) - Worship Lead: Rev. Mark Cutolo As we prepare to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Inauguration Day, we'll pause to think about how we organize our democratic society. As the decades pass, we hear over and over about various culture wars in our country. The sermon will explore the roots of those conflicts and - [Good Enough](https://cucwestwood.org/services/good-enough/) - Worship Lead: Susan Springstead We strive for perfection, even though we know that it's ultimately unattainable. From an early age, we are encouraged to try harder, study longer, and focus more. To live up to our potential. And each step of the way, we're graded. Whether it's with a letter grade, or through acceptance to - [May Peace Prevail](https://cucwestwood.org/services/may-peace-prevail/) - During the New Year, people wish for peace around the world. In today's sermon, we'll learn more about the work of a community in the West Bank who, inspired by their faith, aim to bring light, hope, and peace to a troubled region. Service led by Rev. Mark Cutolo. Services in-person and online (click HERE to join - [All-Ages Winter Spiral Service: "A Flame in the Darkness"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-winter-spiral-service-embracing-the-darkness/) - Our annual service in the round gives us time to settle into the darkness of the season as our worship space is transformed into our winter spiral. Join our Family Faith Formation program as we celebrate the winter solstice and to lean into the mysteries of the darkness. The spiral will remain up during coffee - [The Beauty of Our Broken World](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-beauty-of-our-broken-world/) - December 8 is Bodhi Day, recognized as the day that Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment. The Buddha and his followers taught practices, including accepting the world as it is. This is not a resignation of the pain and suffering in the world but an acceptance that this suffering exists and that we can devote our lives - [Hanukkah Service - "Against All Odds"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/hanukkah-service-against-all-odds/) - Hannukah, the annual Jewish Festival of Lights, begins this year on the evening of December 25 and lasts through January 2. We revisit the ancient story of the Maccabees, at the center of this holiday, who fought for and won their religious freedom despite all the odds against them. Services in-person and online (click HERE - [Christmas Eve Service - "What We Need is Here"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/christmas-eve-service-what-we-need-is-here/) - Join us for a CUC tradition: our candlelight Christmas Eve service. Through story and song, we celebrate the divine that dwells among us this day and every day. This year's service will once again take place at the Westwood Community Center located at 55 Jefferson Avenue in Westwood, NJ. Services in-person and online (click HERE - [The Presence of the Holy](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-presence-of-the-holy/) - This time of year, the various holidays call us to set aside time to be present to the holy. Yet, many of our modern celebrations often distract us or keep us too busy to notice the holiness of all that surrounds us. This Sunday, we will take time to attune ourselves to the holy and - [We Can Do Hard Things, with Guest Rev. Charles Lofin with UU Faith Action New Jersey.](https://cucwestwood.org/services/we-can-do-hard-things-with-guest-rev-charles-lofin-with-uu-faith-action-new-jersey/) - In the domain of planning and policy, a "wicked problem” is one that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize. Classic examples of wicked problems include Climate Change, Educational Policy, Sustainability, and Income Inequality. How can our Unitarian Universalist faith perspective guide us - [Blue Holiday Service (Service of Loss & Remembrance)](https://cucwestwood.org/services/blue-holiday-service-service-of-loss-remembrance/) - Blue Holiday Service (Service of Loss & Remembrance). The holiday season can be particularly challenging for those of us facing the loss of a loved one. During this annual service, we gather to remember CUC members, personal friends, or family whom we have recently lost. This service is led by Rev. Andrée and supported by - [All-Ages Thanksgiving Service: The Healing Power of Gratitude](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-thanksgiving-service-the-healing-power-of-gratitude/) - Join us for our all-ages Thanksgiving service, where we explore, through story, song, and readings, how the practice of gratitude can help heal our relationships with each other and with the world. Services in-person and online (click HERE to join online) - [The Arc of the Moral Universe.](https://cucwestwood.org/services/womens-alliance-speaker-series-2/) - Who Bends it? We Bend It! Join us this Sunday. Service Lead is Rev. Dr. Anthony P. Johnson. Rev. Anthony P. Johnson is a parish and community minister, freelance writer, and community organizer/activist. He has had ministries on various coasts of the US and has taught sociology, church history, and the practice of ministry. He - [Healing Our Hearts](https://cucwestwood.org/services/tbd/) - Part of our work in creating a new future together includes acknowledging and addressing all that we carry in our hearts, including those things which make our heart break for the world as it is and the generations that follow us. During this service we will engage in ritual and story that help us move - [Nation of Repair](https://cucwestwood.org/services/nation-of-repair/) - On the brink of a divisive and likely contested presidential election, we pause to consider ways we can reverse the growing divisions between us and move us toward repair. Are we beyond hope? Is such an approach pure imagination? Or is there a practical way for us to begin healing as a nation? Services in-person and online (click HERE to join - [Listen with Your Heart - Covenanting in Community](https://cucwestwood.org/services/listen-with-your-heart-covenanting-in-community/) - Our Unitarian Universalist Covenants represent intentional conversations about the values-based actions we expect from one another; they hold us accountable, challenge us to grow, and inspire a truly beloved community. When we practice heart-centered listening, our Covenants can also call us toward deeper relationships and be useful tools to resolve conflict. This service explores the - [All-Ages Blessing of the Animals: Listening To The Animals](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-blessing-of-the-animals-listening-to-the-animals-2/) - All-Ages Blessing of the Animals: Listening To The Animals—Join us for our all-ages Blessing of the Animals service, where we recognize and celebrate our connection with our animal companions. All pets and their human companions are welcome! Dogs must be leashed and, if required, muzzled. Smaller animals should be carried in kennels or cages or - [Voice Still and Small](https://cucwestwood.org/services/voice-still-and-small/) - Listening deeply to others can help us better understand the world around us. Listening to the still, small voice inside of us can help us better understand ourselves. During this contemplative service, we consider the power of connecting to the voice within. Services in-person and online (click HERE to join online) - [All-Ages Blessing of the Animals: Listening to The Animals](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-blessing-of-the-animals-listening-to-the-animals/) - Join us for our all-ages Blessing of the Animals service where we recognize and celebrate our connection with our animal companions. All pets and their human companions are welcome! Dogs must be leashed and, if required, muzzled. Smaller animals should be carried in kennels or cages or held securely. You may also bring a photograph - [A Year of Listening Deeply](https://cucwestwood.org/services/a-year-of-listening-deeply/) - The Jewish High Holy Days begin at sundown on Wednesday, October 2, with Rosh Hashanah and continue through sundown on Saturday, October 12, with the end of Yom Kippur. During this time of celebration for the Jewish New Year, we consider how deep listening can help us prepare for the year ahead. Services in-person and online (click HERE) - [UUA Climate Justice Revival](https://cucwestwood.org/services/uua-climate-justice-revival/) - UUA Climate Justice Revival - [The Invitation of Our Living Tradition](https://cucwestwood.org/services/the-invitation-of-our-living-tradition/) - Central Unitarian Church - [From Hostility to Hope: Change Ourselves, Change the Culture](https://cucwestwood.org/services/from-hostility-to-hope-change-ourselves-change-the-culture/) - From Hostility to Hope: Change Ourselves, Change the Culture - [Ingathering Sunday: "An Invitation to Community"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/ingathering-sunday-an-invitation-to-community/) - Ingathering Sunday: “An Invitation to Community” - [Summer Service Series](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-service-series-6/) - Join CUC for the Summer Services, led by our members! In-person only from June 16 through September 1. - [Summer Service Series](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-service-series-5/) - Join CUC for Summer Services, led by our members! In-person only from June 16 through September 1. - [Summer Service Series](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-service-series-4/) - Join CUC for the Summer Service Series, led by our members! In-person only from June 16 through September 1. - [Summer Service Series](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-service-series-3/) - Join CUC for the Summer Service Series, led by our members! In-person only from June 16 through September 1. - [Sumer Service Series](https://cucwestwood.org/services/sumer-service-series/) - Join CUC for the Summer Service Series, led by our members! In-person only from June 16 through September 1. - [Summer Service Series](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-service-series-2/) - Join CUC for the Summer Service Series, led by our members! In-person only from June 16 through September 1. - [Summer Service Series](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-service-series/) - Come join CUC for the Summer Service Series, led by our members! June 16 through September 1 There will be no online services during this period. - [UUA General Assembly Sunday Service: "Weaving Our Lives"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/uua-general-assembly-sunday-service-weaving-our-lives/) - Join us at our regular worship space in Westwood to view the Sunday service from the UUA General Assembly. We are all tangled up together in a great web of life that is woven with beauty and hardship, love and loss, thriving and struggle. How do we tend well to the weaving so that all - [Summer Services Begin: Summer Solstice](https://cucwestwood.org/services/summer-services-begin-summer-solstice/) - Join CUC members Susan Gempler, Stu Kautch, and Rev. Andrée in our first summer service as we celebrate the Summer Solstice. *Summer Services are in-person only.* - [Everything Out There and Everything In Here](https://cucwestwood.org/services/everything-out-there-and-everything-in-here/) - This Sunday's service will be led by CUC member John Freund. The stories we create in our heads almost exclusively describe our struggle to encounter reality and settle its conflict righteously, truthfully, and definitively. Maybe the best way to move through Life is not to define it so much as to tell a story that - [All-Ages Flower Ceremony: "Renewing Our Commitments"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-flower-ceremony-renewing-our-commitments/) - Join us for our annual Flower Ceremony. Everyone is invited to bring a flower to add to our communal vase. During the service, everyone will be invited to choose another flower to take home with them. For those of us who dried flowers from last year's ceremony in Paramus, be sure to bring them with - [Transformation and Renewal: A Celebration of Family Faith Formation](https://cucwestwood.org/services/transformation-and-renewal-a-celebration-of-family-faith-formation/) - This Sunday, we celebrate milestones in the lives of our members and friends that represent transformation and offer us renewal: two of our youth group members are bridging, we present this year's Batson Award, we offer a child dedication, and we celebrate the end of another year of Family Faith Formation Programs. During this service, - [We are All in this Together - Annual CUC Stigma Free Mental Health Awareness Service](https://cucwestwood.org/services/we-are-all-in-this-together-annual-cuc-stigma-free-mental-health-awareness-service/) - We are all in this together. CUC's Annual Service on stigma-free mental health awareness, we can work together to allow each other to thrive. - [Embracing Difference](https://cucwestwood.org/services/embracing-difference/) - This week's service explores pluralism, its relation to diversity and inclusion, and its significance for us as individuals, a congregation, and a faith movement. - [CUC Youth Group Service (All-Ages)](https://cucwestwood.org/services/cuc-youth-group-service-all-ages/) - This Sunday, our CUC Youth Group leads our service and shares their experiences during their recent trip to visit our sibling congregation in Prague. - [Coming of Age Service](https://cucwestwood.org/services/coming-of-age-service/) - Coming of Age Service—This special service, led by our Family Faith Formation program, features our Coming of Age students sharing their credo statements. It is an opportunity to both support and learn from some of the youth in our congregation. - [Women’s Alliance Speaker Series Presents:](https://cucwestwood.org/services/womens-alliance-speaker-series/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) “The Boneheap in the Lion’s Den: Poetry, Pain, and Perseverance,” featuring Maya J. Sorini. Maya J. Sorini is a narrative medicine scholar, medical student, essayist, and award-winning poet. Her first collection, The Boneheap in the Lion's Den, won the 2023 Press 53 Award for Poetry and was a semifinalist for the 2024 Poetry Society - [All-Ages Earth Day Service: "Sacred Connections"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-earth-day-service/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) The Earth is not just our home; it is our very source of life. It provides us with the gifts necessary for our survival. It serves as a source of beauty and awe. It continues to surprise and humble us. Join us for our all-ages service celebrating the sacred connection with this ancient planet we - [Honoring our Interdependence Web](https://cucwestwood.org/services/sunday-service-3/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) Buddhism teaches the deep connection we hold with all other living beings. Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh refers to this concept as "interbeing." Today, we explore the question of what it would be like to live each day of your life honoring your connection to all living beings. We will also hold our - [All-Ages Easter Service: "Hope After Despair"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/easter-service/) - Join us for our All-Ages Easter Sunday Service as we revisit the story of Easter and its inspiring message of transformation. The CUC Choir performs. - [The Power of Difference](https://cucwestwood.org/services/sunday-service-2/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) Life includes constant change. Change itself is not inherently good or bad; it just is. But not all change is good for us. We are learning this lesson as a global community as we confront the impact of climate change, for example. To survive and grow as human beings, we must learn when to go with the - [The Heat of Transformation (Recognition of Ramadan)](https://cucwestwood.org/services/recognition-of-ramadan/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) The Islamic holy month of Ramadan began on March 10 and continues until April 9. This Sunday, we explore how the practice of Ramadan invites its observers into a time of self-transformation. - [Music Sunday: "Music and Meaning"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/music-sunday/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) Join us for the annual Music Sunday, featuring the work of the Choir, Matt Anderson, John Freund, and Robert René Galván. The service will include a variety of music and readings from across the world, as well as an original song by our own John Freund. - [The Times They Are A-Changin](https://cucwestwood.org/services/march-3-service/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) Changes in our world are not new. Major societal, cultural, religious, and technological shifts mark human history. We are in the middle of such a change now, but the pace of change and the number of rapidly changing things can create a sense of chaos. How do we make sense of such change? What - [Generosity Sunday - "Forward in Faith"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/generosity-sunday-3/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) Join us for Generosity Sunday, celebrating our future together as we enter a new chapter of our congregation's history and kick off our annual stewardship campaign. Members of our Stewardship team will be available after service to assist with making pledges for the 2024-225 congregational year. - [Leadership Sunday](https://cucwestwood.org/services/leadership-sunday/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) CUC's Leadership Development Team offers a service celebrating leaders in our congregation. - [Justice, Equity, and Democracy](https://cucwestwood.org/services/justice-equity-and-democracy/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) Some say the 2024 presidential election is a fight for democracy. What does the state of our democracy teach us about equity and justice? What are we called to do about it as people of faith? What can we use as our guidepost when so many with different views claim to hold the truth - [All-Ages Black History Month Service - "Justice & Equity"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/black-history-month-service/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) Join us for an all-ages service celebrating Black History Month. We will explore events and figures from Black history and consider what they have to teach us about justice and equity. - [Love and Liberation](https://cucwestwood.org/services/sunday-service/) - Services in-person and online (click HERE) Wrapping up a theme of Liberating Love for the month of January, we explore the intersection between Love and Liberation. Can working towards our Collective Liberation be considered a spiritual practice of love? We'll examine specific examples of such love as applied to some of the challenges we currently face as a global community. - [Seeds for the New Year](https://cucwestwood.org/services/seeds-for-the-new-year/) - Services in-person and Online (click HERE). Join us this Sunday for a special service created by the UUA as a shared service across congregations. It'd include a video sermon by UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt. During this service, we'll explore: What seeds are you planting for the new year? How are you weaving your magic into your relationships with - [All-Ages MLK Service—"Embodiment of Love"](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-mlk-service-embodiment-of-love/) - Services in-person and Online (click HERE). On the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, we will explore his definition of love and the ways his legacy teaches us to embody that love in creating a Beloved Community. - [Love is at the Center](https://cucwestwood.org/services/love-is-at-the-center/) - Services are in-person and online (click HERE). This Sunday, we begin exploring our monthly theme of "Liberating Love." The latest articulation of Unitarian Universalist values in the proposed Article II revisions of the UUA bylaws lists transformative love as the central value of our faith tradition. We'll explore different types of love, what role love has played in - [Mystery of Time and Time of Mystery](https://cucwestwood.org/services/mystery-of-time-and-time-of-mystery/) - Guest Service Leader: Lily Carayannis Services in-person and Online (click HERE). The New Year's is fundamentally a celebration of time. It is one of the few holidays where we are not celebrating a specific event but the very concept of a "happening" at all. Through reflection on different experiences of time, both human and non-human, we will reflect - [Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: Making Room for Mystery](https://cucwestwood.org/services/christmas-eve-candlelight-service-making-room-for-mystery/) - Services in-person and Online (Click Here). Please Note: No Sunday Morning Service Join us for a CUC tradition: our candlelight Christmas Eve service. Through story and song, we celebrate the Christmas Holiday and its message of the birth of hope in the most unlikely places. This year's service occurs at the Westwood Community Center at 55 - [All-Ages Winter Spiral Service: Mysterious Darkness](https://cucwestwood.org/services/winter-spiral-service/) - Our annual service in the ground gives us time to settle into the darkness of the season as our worship space is transformed into our winter spiral. Join our Family Faith Formation program as we celebrate the winter solstice and lean into the mysteries of the darkness. - [Hanukkah Service:  Mystery in Wartime](https://cucwestwood.org/services/hanukkah-service/) - This year, we will be celebrating Hanukkah, the annual Jewish festival of lights, amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Despite the conflict, we will light our menorah, reflect on the story of the Maccabees, who are at the heart of this festival, and consider the valuable lessons we can learn from them during times of war. - [Blue Holiday Service](https://cucwestwood.org/services/remembrance-service/) - During this annual service, we gather to remember CUC members, personal friends, or family whom we have recently lost. - [World of Mystery](https://cucwestwood.org/services/mystery/) - What happens when humans lose our ability to experience mystery and wonder? - [Mikki Baloy on Animism: Relating to the Other-than-human](https://cucwestwood.org/services/guest-speaker/) - Our guest speaker shares about Animism. An often-overlooked spiritual path, animism is a practical and truly universal perspective. - [The Unexpected Gifts of Generosity.](https://cucwestwood.org/services/all-ages-thanksgiving-service/) - Join us for our annual All-Ages Thanksgiving Service. This Sunday we speak about The Unexpected Gifts of Generosity. The CUC Choir performs. - [History & Generosity: Reflections on Why History Matters](https://cucwestwood.org/services/history-and-generosity/) - Women’s Alliance Speaker Series Presents: History & Generosity: Reflections on Why History Matters, with guest speaker Nora Lessersohn. - [Practicing Generosity](https://cucwestwood.org/services/practicing-generosity/) - This Sunday, we'll consider the power of various practices of generosity and the collective gifts that they bring to the world. - [Community Sunday: Hackensack Riverkeeper](https://cucwestwood.org/services/community-sunday-hackensack-riverkeeper/) - Each congregational year, we set aside a few Sundays to both celebrate and support a community partner. This Community Sunday, we feature Hackensack Riverkeeper. - [Failing Gracefully: Cultivating Humility & Growth](https://cucwestwood.org/services/failing-gracefully-cultivating-humility-growth/) - In a culture where success and achievements are often glamorized, the tendency to shy away from failure is all too common. Join us as we explore the radical art of failing gracefully. - [Our Shared Ministry](https://cucwestwood.org/services/our-shared-ministry/) - This Sunday, we explore the idea of Shared Ministry, a way of acknowledging that the ministry of our congregation belongs to all of its members, not just its minister or select lay leaders. - [Honoring Our Spiritual Ancestors](https://cucwestwood.org/services/honoring-our-ancestors/) - Honoring Our Spiritual Ancestors. This Sunday, we will explore the spiritual ancestors of Unitarian Universalism and beyond and the values they have handed down to us through the generations. - [All-Ages Blessing of the Animals](https://cucwestwood.org/services/blessing-of-the-animals/) - Join us for our all-ages Blessing of the Animals service, where we recognize and celebrate our connection with our animal companions. All pets and their human companions are welcome! - [Acts of Radical Welcome](https://cucwestwood.org/services/acts-of-radical-welcome/) - Acts of Radical Welcome - [Welcome to the New Year! A Service Honoring Rosh Hashanah](https://cucwestwood.org/services/service-honoring-rosh-hashanah/) - Holy Day of Rosh Hashanah. - [Welcome to Westwood! - CUC Ingathering and Water Ceremony](https://cucwestwood.org/services/welcome-to-westwood-cuc-ingathering-and-water-ceremony/) - Our first offiicial service of the year in our new temporary worship space at the Women's Club in Westwood. Our annual CUC picnic will take place at the Women's Club following the service. ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://cucwestwood.org/category/uncategorized/) - [News](https://cucwestwood.org/category/news/) - Breaking news from CUC ## Event Categories - [Social](https://cucwestwood.org/events/categories/social/) - [Fundraisers](https://cucwestwood.org/events/categories/fundraisers/) ## Speakers - [Rev Andrée Cornelia Mol](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/rev-andree-cornelia-mol/) - [Rev. Andrée Cornelia Mol](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/rev-andree-cornelia-mol-2/) - [Erol Delos Santos](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/erol-delos-santos/) - [Nora Lessersohn](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/nora-lessersohn/) - [Mikki Baloy](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/mikki-baloy/) - [Lily Carayannis](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/lily-carayannis/) - [Robert René Galván](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/robert-rene-galvan/) - [Alie Christopher](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/alie-christopher/) - [Dana N. Moore](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/dana-n-moore/) - [Rev. Mark Cutolo](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/rev-mark-cutolo/) - [Beth O'Connell](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/beth-oconnell/) - [Women's Alliance Speaker Series](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/womens-alliance-speaker-series/) - [Ghana Imani Hylton](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/ghana-imani-hylton/) - [John Freund](https://cucwestwood.org/speaker/john-freund/) ## Service Topics - [CUC](https://cucwestwood.org/topic/cuc/) - [Welcome](https://cucwestwood.org/topic/welcome/) - [Services](https://cucwestwood.org/topic/services/)