"Voices of a Liberal Faith" video was created by the Unitarian Universalist Association to give people an introduction to Unitarian Universalism.
Hear Rev. Margie speak about our community and our faith.
To learn about our Newcomer Orientation, click here.
Welcome to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook
A spiritual home for individuals, couples, and families of diverse religious and social backgrounds. A place to worship, learn, sing, and pray as you nurture your spirit and help heal our world.
Unitarian Universalist? What's that?
Unitarian Universalists, or UUs for short, are people who:
- Seek truth and meaning in their lives
- Encourage others on their path to truth and meaning
- Play an active role in making their community and the world a better place to live
What types of beliefs does a Unitarian Universalist have?
UUs are united by seven principles. Each Unitarian Universalist congregation affirms and promotes:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
These principles allow us to come together and grow as individuals and as a religious community.
Are all Unitarian Universalist congregations the same?
While we are united by our seven principles, each congregation is as unique as the individuals who make it up.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook (UUFSB) is an inclusive and open-minded community that provides a spiritual home to people of many different beliefs and from many different backgrounds. UUFSB belongs to the 1,000 member Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and is the largest Unitarian Universalist congregation in central Suffolk County. We are a certified "green sanctuary" (adhering to and supporting environmentally favorable practices) and a "welcoming congregation" (intentionally welcoming to GLBT persons).
Our worship services draw inspiration from numerous sources of wisdom, both religious and secular. UUFSB's programs have a strong focus on family and community.
What are the services like?
Services are a time for us to come together and reflect on issues and ideas we care about. Our services are 60-75 minutes long and begin at 10:30 every Sunday. They are led by our minister, by one of our members or by a leader or thinker from outside our Fellowship.
Each service is unique and gives us a chance to reflect on our values and perspectives about spiritual, ethical, moral, and social justice issues, as well as how to cope with life's changes and continue to grow as people of purpose who help to heal the world.
Our services also include a wide range of inspiring music. On any given Sunday you may hear our choir, a folk group, individual vocals or instrumentals. Our members love their music and feel it is an integral part of the worship service. This is demonstrated through the songs and music chosen by our members to support the sermon and give additional meaning to the service.
What about children? Do they sit in on the Sunday services?
Children are a treasured part of our congregation. While the children participate as part of the larger congregation on special occasions, they usually can be found in our Religious Education wing during the Sunday service. With classes led by members of the congregation, each Sunday our children learn about a wide range of different religious traditions, explore the meaning of the seven UU principles, and are encouraged to seek their own spiritual truth. Each age appropriate lesson is geared to meet the unique needs of the younger members of our Fellowship.
How do I know if being a UU is right for me?
You like to ask questions, so that's a great start. We encourage you to attend several services to experience the full range of worship that occurs at our Fellowship. Each service is followed by a conversation and coffee hour. This is a great time to talk to our minister or speak to members of our congregation about any questions you may have about being a Unitarian Universalist in our Fellowship.
How do I become a member?
If after attending our services and talking with our members, you feel you have found a religious home, please speak with our minister or a member of our Membership Committee about joining the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook. You'll be asked to sign our membership book which affirms your belief in the principles of Unitarian Universalism. In addition to monetary contributions, members are encouraged to support the Fellowship by sharing their time and talents.
How can I find out more?
To find out more about our congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook, you can continue to explore this website. You may also subscribe to our newsletter or contact our Membership Committee at .
You can find additional information about Unitarian Universalism at www.uua.org.
Church of the Larger Fellowship ...
If you are interested in Unitarian Universalism, we hope you’ll visit us to learn more. If attending our services doesn’t fit your life, you might want to investigate the Church of the Larger Fellowship, a virtual congregation of Unitarian Universalists, with more than 3,500 members around the U.S. They hold online services on Sundays at 8 p.m., and on Mondays at 9 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. You can find them at clfuu.org.