VISITORS
Welcome to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta! We are a Unitarian Universalist congregation nestled in the Oneonta hills, about 30 minutes south of Cooperstown, NY.
Our Visitor Connections Team would love to reach out and welcome you to the congregation. Please fill out this form.
Our sanctuary, Chapin Memorial Church (named after the popular Universalist minister Edwin Chapin) is centrally located at 12 Ford Ave., with public parking available across the street. Our office building, known as the Olympia Brown House, is two doors down from the church at 16 Ford Ave.
We join together for services on Sunday mornings at 10:30AM. Children are always welcome to join in the service, and there are religious education classes and a nursery also available. Most services have a sermon, usually delivered by our minister or a guest leader. Sometimes we have guest speakers or hear from members of the congregation. You can see what the topic is this week by checking out this quarter’s Worship Schedule. Missed a service? You can find most of our sermons as podcasts here.
Members, friends, and guests are invited to gather after the day’s service in the Sanctuary and enjoy refreshment and conversation during our Coffee Hour. Many also use this time to meet with our minister, chat with a board member, or fill out a Connect Card for more information from the church office.
Our sanctuary is accessible with a wide ramp and double doors to aid those with mobility issues. Handicap parking is usually available right in front of our entrance on the street. Ushers and volunteers are available to graciously assist anyone in need of an extra hand.
Service animals are always welcome in our sanctuary. Therapy animals are also permitted, with prior staff approval.
The Unitarian Universalist Society is a Welcoming Congregation, accepting and affirming the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in our congregation. All members of the human family are truly welcome here.
PEOPLE OF MANY BACKGROUNDS
Guided by our faith in the worth and dignity of all, we build community that includes—a faith that welcomes you in your wholeness. Unitarian Universalists are people of many religious backgrounds, people of many racial and cultural backgrounds, people of many life experiences and identities.
“We are the certain and the seeking, the lifers and the newcomers, the beloved and the broken hearted, the insiders and the rejected, all of whom have found a home in the extraordinary, yet intimate communities of Unitarian Universalism.” —Melissa Harris-Perry, a lifelong UU and MSNBC host
People of All Genders and Sexual Orientations
Unitarian Universalism is a supportive and friendly home for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals, families, and communities. Always at the forefront of LGBTQ rights and inclusion, for more than forty-five years we have been ordaining LGBTQ ministers, leading LGBTQ-affirming sexuality education for young people, working for rights in society (including marriage equality), and promoting inclusion in our congregations.
People of All Ethnic, Racial, and Cultural Backgrounds
We are a community of diverse identities and backgrounds. Our Principles call us to build multicultural community and to challenge the systems privilege and power in society and in our hearts. Our work for racial justice and inclusion both celebrates and challenges: we celebrate the people of many cultures and identities who already find home in Unitarian Universalism, and challenge ourselves to open our doors ever-wider.
People of All Beliefs and Faith Traditions
We welcome many different beliefs, including yours! We have more than one way of experiencing the world and understanding the sacred, united by our principles and values. What we call our “Living Tradition” draws from six sources of inspiration from scripture to poetry to modern-day heroes. Learn more about how specific beliefs and faith identities, from atheists to Zen Buddhists, have found a home in Unitarian Universalism.
