Attending services for the first time?
We have three worship services every week. On Sundays, we have in-person services at 9:00 am & 11:00 am in our Sanctuary, with a livestream of the 9:00 am service offered over Zoom. We offer a virtual Vespers service every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm.
- Sanctuary Worship every Sunday at 9:00 & 11:00 am. These services, led by our ministers and a lay leader, are intergenerational and include live music and a homily. Masks are required indoors.
- Livestream on Zoom every Sunday at 9:00 am Mountain Time. If you are unable to join us live on Sunday, you can watch our services later here; or listen to them as a podcast here. Sunday’s services are usually posted by the following Monday afternoon.
- Virtual Vespers each Wednesday at 7:00 pm Mountain Time. These short (25-minute) services offer a midweek respite with readings, music, meditation, and prayer. Small-group conversations are also offered after each service.
How to Join Us
Virtual – We are using Zoom for our online gatherings and meetings. We stay updated with the latest security releases of Zoom and take all steps necessary to ensure a safe experience for all with no disruptions. If you’re new to Zoom get started here. You are welcome to join anytime and from anywhere!
In-Person – We are located at 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE, at the corner of Carlisle and Comanche. Map & Directions
- Parking –Our campus has two parking areas, one off Comanche on the north edge of the campus (which extends into the business park to the west) and the other off Carlisle on the south side. Our accessible parking is in the lot off Comanche. The south lot is larger and a short walk to the Sanctuary and other buildings.
What to Expect
In-Person – As you approach the sanctuary, you will see our Hospitality & Inclusion Team on the front steps. They will direct you to our Welcome Table, where you can pick up a name tag and grab a visitor card to fill out during or after the service – you can turn the card in after the service and receive a visitor packet and gift. Once you enter the Sanctuary foyer, ushers will show you into the sanctuary and offer you an Order of Service that includes information about the church and our activities and groups for the upcoming week.
Our service generally consists of music, readings, meditation, an offering, and a sermon. One of our two ministers is usually in the pulpit, but on occasional Sundays, we have a guest speaker or a lay-led service. We enjoy a wide variety of musical styles and guest musicians every week.
Virtual – Once you join the Zoom meeting you will be in a “waiting room” until one of our virtual ushers lets you in to the meeting. Everyone is muted during the service except for those speaking or performing. If you can, turn on your video so we can see your face. To make it easier for ushers to keep our meetings safe, please rename yourself with your full name and, if you’re comfortable doing so, your pronouns. The ushers and technical team will use the chat feature on Zoom to give instructions about how to change your name or get technical assistance.
Accessibility
We are committed to making our facilities and programs fully accessible for all.
- Our virtual services use real-time closed captioning and have a live transcript available, as well.
- There are fully accessible restrooms available in our sanctuary building and meeting rooms.
- We have a T-Coil loop installed to use with your own hearing assistance devices, or you can borrow a device at the Welcome Table.
- We have large-print copies of the order of service and hymnals available at the Welcome Table.
- There are cut-outs for wheelchairs in the Sanctuary seating area.
- All of our buildings are accessible via ramps, and our Sanctuary has automatic doors available.
- The church is located on the ABQ Ride Bus System. The #5 bus comes north from downtown. Click here for Sunday bus schedules.
What to Wear
Virtual – Pajamas, if you like.
In-Person – Our dress style is varied, but in general more casual than formal, with an emphasis on comfort – although pajamas might be awkward.
Attending with Kids?
- Our in-person services are intergenerational. We don’t mind the noises children might make during the service. If you’d like to keep your children with you in the Sanctuary, please do. We have a children’s activity table located in the back corner of the Sanctuary with room for caregivers to sit nearby. We also offer a Family Room off the sanctuary foyer with toys, comfortable chairs, and a livestream of the worship service if your family needs more room to move around.
- We offer a religious education program for elementary students at 10:00 am that includes a short educational time, music, and a song. Supervised playground time is available at 11:00 am for anyone who chooses not to join their grown-ups in the worship service. Visiting children are always welcome and their caregivers are welcome to stay and observe as much as they like.
- We have an All-YoUUth (middle school and high school) meeting each week at 10:00 am. You can email our Youth Programs Coordinator, Alana Rodriguez at youth@uuabq.org if you would like more information or to attend.
After the Service
In-Person – After the service, pick up a cup of coffee or tea in the social hall and visit our Membership & Connections Table where you can visit with a volunteer and pick up information about the church, Unitarian Universalism, and the different groups and programs at First Unitarian. The Hospitality & Inclusion Team can introduce you to other church members as they congregate after the service.
Virtual – After the service, you can stay in the meeting for smaller break-out sessions for our Virtual Coffee Hour. If you don’t leave the meeting, you will be placed in a “room” automatically with others. We hope you will stick around and introduce yourself. Even if you don’t stick around for a social time, we encourage you to fill out our visitor form online. You can request more information and sign up for our email list.
Have more questions? Contact our Director of Congregational Life, Laira Magnusson. She will be happy to introduce you to First Unitarian!