5/28/21 The name of this church has gotten bigger to me.  I remember this Church just being called River Road Unitarian Church.   There are many things about this church that hold meaning to me; as well as growth from the experience.     For starters,  River Road Unitarian Church was my very first church I went to.   I had no clue about other churchs and the beliefs that came from religion.   I had no idea how powerful hope, religion and above all else what YOU believe. Young minds can easily be bent by the wrong hands.  Some times by the good hands too. This is where hope and decision making come into play. More than once in our Sunday School Classes we were asked "why do we believe this? What do you think? We were also told to look things up for ourselves.   The ways of getting information were different back in the 1980's as a kid, but the message hit home. I never was a true believer in God, like many people I knew growing up around me, but I am not totally out of the picture either.   My parents went to church and there for by association my sister and I too. As a kid, having to go to church when you don't want to can be...annoying.  Welcome to the world of growing up.   I remember   learning the fundamentals of basketball as a kid. I remember playing on the old fashioned jungle gyms that are considered dangerous now adays and are pretty much non existent.   I remember my sister and I use to swing on the swing sets and sometimes  jump off them at great heights.   The adults discouraged this kind of behavior.   These thoughts came to mind as I looked at the now changed landscape of this Church. The church has expanded in size and  appearance too. However, I don't  know what the inside of the church looks like in some parts.  One of the first things I noticed were the steps going over the pants.  Long ago some people got poison ivy  walking through the grassy paths leading to the church.  Yeah, not the best way to start out your church Sunday. The wooden walkways are a nice touch to the church. Another bad way to start out a Sunday morning is not getting breakfast until after church.  I wasn't an early riser as a kid and missed some breakfast at home.  If I did end up eating at church,  the donuts and pancakes were almost always gone.  Eggs  were almost always left over.  I hated eating eggs along with ketchup. Sometimes I was able to get my hands on bacon to settle my hungry stomach. (Now that I just said that,  it makes me hungry) Many times I had to sit through church service with an empty stomach.  This was a lot harder to do. Many times after the first teachings of mass, the kids would head down stairs to learn more about the teachings of God.  I don't remember how old you had to be to stay for the second mass session, but I did attend some of them.  I can't say I was always the best behaved kid in Suday school.  I had my share of getting into fights or getting into trouble, but learned from these experiences though. From time to time we were lead into the woods for some fun hiking trips.  I remember climbing up a large hill, but we weren't allowed to go to the top of the hill without permission.   For some reason I think River Road Unitarian Church bought the land and property from the old camp that was there. Halloween and church bazaars were great times here.  I remember finding some great toys that someone else may have considered trash.  As the saying goes and all that.   At this church for at least three Halloween I can remember bobbing for apples was done.  I think I did bobbing for apples maybe twice in my life.  I don't think this practice is still done, but I could be very wrong. At some point I believe I came here one or twice without my parents.  Something happened and my parents had a falling out with the church.  It would have been nice to know what happened,  but I guess I will never know now. Finally,  I noticed that the church has a flown the Pride Flag and this is good. I certainly would not have seen such a thing in the 1980's.  I did not even know what gay meant except for the word happy. One shouldn't be ashamed on who they are attracted to.  *please do not turn that statement into something dirty*  Nevertheless,  I am glad of the changes I have see of this Church.    What I did not like seeing is the number of crushed cicadas underfoot.  Chances are it was done by more kids than adults.  Fear could have been a motive. Perhaps it time to teacher not to fear what they don't understand.  All in all, the inside from of the main church looks like I remembered it from when I was a kid.  I fo not remember anybody from this church.  I wish I did, but I do not. It was a nice trip down memory lane though. read more

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This is a place to regenerate your spirit, recharge your soul and rejuvenate your energy. Each Sunday I find inspiration and encouragement from the service through music, storytelling and the amazing Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd. Her sermons are provocative, challenging and brave. If you like Brene Brown, Anne Lamont or Pema Chodren, this is the place for you. The high school graduates of the religious education program are incredible individuals and the thread of commonality is their confidence, self-acceptance and open minds. Community service is at the heart of this faith practice and one is welcomed to participate or not in a wide variety of activities to heal the world. Highly recommend a visit! read more

River Road is a welcoming, open-minded, spiritual community, a place where you can live your values. On Sunday mornings, you'll find inspiring and thought-provoking sermons, superb music, and friendly people. Unitarian Universalists believe that each person has the right and the responsibility to form his or her own religious convictions, and that this is best done as part of a nurturing, challenging community. This is a family-friendly congregation, offering quality religious education for children of all ages, including a vibrant program for teens. read more

My wife and I began attending RRUUC in 1993 so our six year old son could benefit from its outstanding religious education program for youth. We became members in the year 2000 and we have been actively involved in its racial and social justice activities ever since. If you are looking for a welcoming congregation, deeply committed to translating its humanistic spiritual philosophy into making the world a better place, please check out the RRUUC website and if you find it of interest please join us at a Sunday service. We look forward to meeting you. read more

My husband and I visited RRUUC 20 years ago with 3 small children in tow, no knowledge of Unitarian Universalism, and a suspicion of organized religion based on our childhood experiences. We found an amazing congregation that nurtured our family, reinforced our values and provided a safe, welcoming, and inspiring space. Twenty years later we are still inspired by this amazing congregation, superb minister and staff, and strong sense of community. We understand the benefits of a religious/spiritual community that allows us to believe what is right for us and supports us in that journey. Our now adult children tell us that their experience in RRUUC religious education is one of the greatest gifts they have ever received. read more

River Road is a welcoming, open-minded, spiritual community, open and welcome to people of all faiths. The sermons on Sunday mornings are not geared toward any specific religious group but rather to people with the openness and willingness to respect each other's believes while searching for their own spiritual growths in their religion/belief of choice. The sermons are always, thought-provoking sermons, the music superb, and the people are warm and welcoming. Unitarian Universalists believe that each person has the right and the responsibility to form their own spiritual convictions in a nurturing community. RRUUC is a family-friendly congregation with quality spiritual education for children of all ages from preschoolers to young adults. read more

When I first came to this church I was a Lutheran in the lurch. Then River Road popped up to say, "Try us out--our pastor's gay!" And so I brought my toddler girl to give this UU thing a whirl and found a place where I could stay, a place for which I gladly pay. At River Road, you can... come as you are or who you'd like to be come every Sunday or one out of three sing with the choir or sing through the service we won't judge you don't be nervous ask a hard question give a soft answer (look! in the chancel there's a barefoot dancer) sign everybody up for religious education we all seek together for the celebration we tell the old stories to make us wise when the seniors graduate everybody cries take a ride, cross the bridge to the Fellowship Retreat dunk a cookie in your coffee chase a bear among the trees you don't need a weatherman to feel the hurricane there's a storm of social justice pouring down like rain and out in the garden where the roots hold close wings flutter free above a wintertime rose Now I'm a member of this church-- The UU in me has emerched. And yes, this is a broader way-- much broader than who's straight or gay. My toddler girl--and boy--are grown, they're kids who make this place their own. At River Road the more we change, the more at core we stay the same. One hour a week, or maybe two: think who you want to be and what you want to do, what kind of world you want to live in today... because today leads to tomorrow; we live on the edge of the first day of the future. And that's why I pledge. read more

A great church with friendly people and lots of chances to do good in the world. Come join us!

River Road is a unique place graced with an amazing minister who each week inspires by her words, a compassionate Associate minister who connects in deep ways with the community, and a dynamic community of members who are interesting, committed to social justice, open minded, and welcoming. The youth program is thriving, and the Adult education programs are stimulating and well attended, and members are active on various committees that respond to issues of the day. It is a vibrant place committed to the inherent dignity and worth of every person, and a respect for the interdependent web of life. read more

The first time I walked into the door, I felt welcome. The sermons are thought provoking and spiritual, delivered by a minister who is one of the finest I've heard. It's a family friendly place, where my kids feel really at home. The youth and children's programming is terrific. The music is wonderful. This place has truly become my spiritual home. It is a fantastic community to be a part of and grow in spirit, fellowship and service. read more

We were looking for a community to join that is open-minded, with strong values to help reinforce what we'd like our kids to learn. What we found is a welcoming home with a powerhouse of an inspirational ministry. Reverend Nancy is an amazingly moving speaker, inspiring congregants to be their full selves. Reverend Louise is calming and an excellent storyteller. All of the members and other ministry have been warm and helpful. We are happy to find a community to grow with! read more