Welcome!

If you are searching for a religious home that is guided by a quest for truth and meaning, not by a set creed or dogma, we invite you to discover Unitarian Universalism. We are a caring, open-minded religious community that encourages you to seek your own spiritual path. We are the First Unitarian Church of Orlando, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation.  We are a welcoming spiritually engaged community and the home of liberal religion in Central Florida since 1912. Sunday Religious Education classes for children and adults are held 9:30 - 10:30 AM. Sunday Worship Service starts at 10:45 AM and is followed by coffee and conversation in our social hall.

Our Bond

Unitarian Universalists search for truth along many paths. Instead of centering our religion on specific beliefs, we gather around shared moral values that include the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Ours is a convenental faith, asking for our mutual trust and support as we grow and explore. We celebrate our religious pluralism, which enriches our faith. We celebrate the exploration of the sacred and divine, found through differing practices, teachings and experiences.  The following are the pillars of our bond at First Unitarian Church of Orlando:

Our Seven Principles

We affirm and promote:

Our Vision We are a dynamic, democratic, and diverse religious community, committed to lifelong spiritual growth and compassionate service.     Our Missions To be a challenging and inclusive worship community To develop, nurture, and share our religious beliefs and practices To support life passages and struggles  To promote social justice and model ecological responsibility To live our values and Unitarian Universalist principles To create a larger Unitarian Universalist presence in the community To celebrate our connections with creativity and joy

Our Living Tradition 

The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:

 
Our Seven Virtues Covenant
(Adopted by the membership 10/15/2000)

In order to do my part in creating the Beloved Community at First Unitarian Church of Orlando, I agree to cultivate the following virtues:

GRATITUDE: An embracing response of the heart to the richness and abundance life offers daily; thankfulness for the natural, rhythmic cycling of it all; the heart of a generous prayer cast wide.

GOODWILL: The intention to look at one another with living, rather than accusing, eyes and hearts.

MORAL COURAGE: Standing fast in support of religious or social convictions, particularly when doing so may result in ostracism, censure, threats, or harm; the soul work of learning to act in spite of fear.

CREATIVE FIDELITY: Walking together without a map, always acknowledging each other’s freedom to change.

HUMILITY: Being grounded in what is most essential, speaking gently, transcending self-will, and being honest about who we are.

CIVILITY: A voluntary way of living and relating that respects others and reasonable societal norms, listens carefully, and may ask sacrifice and trust for the sake of the larger good.

COMPASSION: Being in union with others in their passion and suffering; the spiritual discipline of opening our hearts and deepening our awareness of the interrelatedness of all things and expressing that awareness in the work of healing and service.

Our Hate Free Zone Statement
(Adopted by the membership 11/17/2002)

Our community is a hate free zone and that means we:

Our Charitable Work

A portion of our church budget each year goes to worthy organizations who do work that exemplifies our seven principles.  One example is our Share The Plate program.  We have an ongoing food bank collection of nonperishable goods which is delivered to Second Harvest Food Bank regularly, we collect school supplies for needy students at Howard Middle School, and we host quarterly Blood Drives. 

The Alliance, which has met weekly since the 1920's, contributes both time and money to various charities, including Coalition for the Homeless, Habitat fot Humanity, and Semoran Food Pantry.

Our Minister!

Note: Rev. Roberta is serving as interim minister at First Unitarian Church of Orlando for the program year 2009-10.

Rev. Roberta Finkelstein is a life-long Unitarian Universalist. She was raised in the Community Church of New York where she was in the "Cradle Roll" as an infant and remained active through high school. She taught Sunday School with her mom and was inspired by the brave example of her youth minister, Rev. Richard Leonard, when he answered the call to join the civil rights march in Selma. Her early UU experiences taught her that the church could and should be a place of prophetic witness, courage, and transformation. Ministry is a second career for Rev. Roberta. She was a nurse and certified nurse-midwife. She has a BSN from Binghamton University and her MSN from Georgetown University. Her midwifery practice centered around high-risk pregnant adolescents in Washington, D.C. During her nursing years Roberta and her husband Barry were active lay leaders in the UU Church of Arlington, VA. Her call to ministry emerged out of those years of professional care-taking and church volunteer work in all aspects of congregational life. She earned her M.Div. from Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC. While a student she served as an extension intern minister for the Bull Run Unitarian Universalists for 2 years. At graduation she accepted the invitation to serve as their part-time consulting minister for another 5 years. At that point they had grown from fewer than 50 members to 125 and they entered the Extension Ministry Program of the UUA. Rev. Finkelstein then became the New Congregation Minister for the Unitarian Universalists of Sterling, VA where she remained for the 5 years of that appointment and then was called to be their settled minister. Following that settlement she was the Interim Minister in Frederick, MD for a year, then went to Portsmouth, NH.

Rev. Roberta has served our UU movement in a variety of ways. She was on the UUA Commission on Appraisal for 6 years and CENTER (Continuing Education Network for Training, Education and Renewal) for 4 years. Most recently she was the chair of the UU Action Network of New Hampshire, a state-wide social justice organization.

Rev. Roberta has been married to her husband Barry since 1974. They have one son, Danny, a product of the Religious Education program in Arlington, VA. Danny recently delighted his parents when he announced his engagement to his long time girl friend Jessica Wintfeld. Danny and Jess live in Arlington, VA where he grew up.

Roberta and Barry have two badly behaved cats named Bonnie and Clyde and one well behaved dog named Pepper. They are delighted to be here and are enjoying discovering the Orlando that is not related to the mouse!

Rev. Roberta looks forward to a fruitful year of mutual ministry with the First Unitarian Church of Orlando as you navigate this interim time and move forward into your future.

Our Minister Emerita!

The Reverend Marni Harmony was the minister of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando since 1988. Her educational background includes a BA in Religion fromTufts University ; a ThM in Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care from Boston University School of Theology; an MSW with a major in Marriage and Family Studies from theUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ; and a D.Min (Doctorate of Ministry) from Columbia Seminary. Her dissertation was titled "The Challenge of Nontraditional Families to the Church."

Raised Unitarian Universalist, Marni has a deep love and commitment to our faith tradition and to promoting healthy, intergenerational faith communities. After her ordination in 1974, she spent a year each as a hospital chaplain, an interim minister, and a college chaplain. She also spent a couple of years as a psychotherapist after receiving her MSW. Before being called to Orlando, she served as minister of Unitarian Universalist churches in State College, Pennsylvania and Brookfield, Wisconsin. Marni lives with her partner Nancy, their two cats and their dog Gus. She is the mother of a grown son (Kyle) and the grandmother of Kyle's children,Asia and Ethan. Marni is a longtime student of eastern religions and has a great love for aspects of each of the world's great religions. Her own spiritual path is strongly influenced by Buddhism. She took early Buddhist vows in 1989; then formally received the Buddhist precepts in 2001. "I believe the minister's role is to support each individual's religious and spiritual journey by encouraging, challenging, and providing opportunities for education and exchange. I also believe the minister can help create a congregational climate in which theological diversity can be welcomed and can thrive. Together, we learn to live into the great questions and the occasional discomfort of sometimes living without great answers! I also believe that we gather as a faith community (vs. a secular one). I hope that each person brings a commitment to keep deepening their understanding of what is holy and sacred, regardless of the language used."

Note: Marni retired from First Unitarian in June 2008 and was awarded the title "Minister Emerita."

1. What is appropriate dress for a service?

"Business casual" probably describes it, although you'll see everything from shorts and jeans to dressier wear. We live in Florida, so?be comfortable!

2. Can children attend the service?

We have a vigorous children's Religious Education program from 9:30 - 10:30 Sunday, for children aged 3-15. Children join their families for 10:45 worship, through the "Words for All Ages" segment. Most children then choose to go to playground or children's activities; there is a nursery for infants and toddlers. We also have a "Wiggle Room", where babies or toddlers and a parent might prefer to rock, play or be fed, while viewing and listening to the service through the window.

3. Should I expect to make a donation on my first visit?

Our church depends on the generous stewardship of our members and friends. However, all first time visitors are welcome as our guests, and may let the collection basket pass by.

4. Where can I learn more about Unitarian Universalism in general?

Go to the website of our national association - Unitarian Univeralist Association

Our History

Orlando Unitarian Universalists can trace their roots back to 1912, when Reverend Eleanor Gordon was the first minister to a church formed with 21 members. Building Unity Chapel in 1913, the group shared literary and spirited discussions, fostered by transplanted Unitarians from up North seeking liberal religion in Central Florida. Property in an orange grove at the corner of Robinson and Hampton east of town was purchased in 1954. The congregation moved from Lake Eola to this property (our present site) once children's religious education classrooms and a social/worship hall were built in 1958. Gore Hall was completed in 1963 and served as a worship facility for many years. The current modern sanctuary was dedicated in January of 1995.

Photos and a more detailed history of our church.  

Visitor Table

We would love to have you join us at our Sunday service. There is a greeter who can help you with a name tag, a newcomer's packet and directions around the church. Join us following service, for coffee and conversation in Gore Hall, across the patio. Folks will be at the Visitor Table, ready to chat, and answer questions you might have.