Let Us Wander Where We Wander

The church was once the place where great art was commissioned, performed, and displayed but Unitarian Universalist churches grew out of the Reformation. The Protestants wanted simple services with little embellishment and that was the tradition the Puritans brought to America. That tradition influenced UU liturgy well into the twentieth century but the times they are a-changin'. While reason may have been the driving force in the formation of early UU churches many people of this age desire a spirituality that is embodied. They want to express themselves emotionally as well as intellectually. They want to experience revelation in beauty as well as in words. They want to engage the sacred with all their senses as well as with their minds. It is time to renew the important relationship between the church and the arts. The arts are a vital way for a church to further its mission with its members, friends, and community. This work explores how all the arts can become part of a vibrant church and deepen its commitment to beauty and meaning, spiritual growth and healing, and social justice through a dedicated ministry of music and arts.