Music is a vital and joyous part of UUCSJS. It helps us make a connection between our minds and hearts as individuals and helps build community. We sing enthusiastically from both hymnals. Every service includes live music, and you might hear guitar, drums, flute, clarinet, accordion, banjo or penny whistle on a Sunday morning in addition to piano. Our choir meets Sunday mornings at 9 am, and sings in the worship service about twice a month. In addition to fellowship and fun, choir members learn proper vocal technique and improve their music reading skills.

Music Director Barbara Miller loves discovering new gems by contemporary UU composers through her participation in the UU Musicians Network (UUMN).

We have all-music services about once a year provided by UU musicians from the UU Musicians Network including Jim Scott, Matt Meyer, Peter Mayer, Pat LaManna, and the DeMasi Brothers. The CORE of Fire Dance Ministry has presented wonderful worship services and workshops for us.

We have offered Singing Meditation sessions for most of the past seven years. (What is Singing Meditation? (PDF))

Our music program has provided a UU musical presence at Peace Rallies, a nursing home, Peace Pilgrim celebrations, and a 9/11 Community service. We have presented A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual six times and invite the community, repeatedly garnering our largest attendance of the year.

On occasion, we welcome our children and their families to participate in a Family Choir. We learn songs with minimal rehearsal, which occurs during RE time and briefly after services. Parents also work with the children at home using recordings to help them learn the songs. Here is We Are Family by Wally Kleucker at a service presented by the multicultural group that met in 2014:
You Tube video

If you are interested in participating in music at UUCSJS in any way, please contact me Barbara Miller at uucsjsmusic@gmail.com.