About Us
Who we are.
We are a non-dogmatic congregation. We are focused on the effects we can have on the world around us, including through social action, justice, spirituality, love and mutual understanding.
We care about what you believe, what your questions are. But we do not seek to give you answers but rather walk with you on your journey as you seek answers.
We seek to create a better world through our actions.
Our Mission Statement.
Justice with Love and Joy, Open to Awe!
What Do Unitarian Universalists Believe?
In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart.
Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door: we join together on a journey that honors everywhere we’ve been before.
Our beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We have no shared creed. Rather we have a covenant and shared values.
We are united in our broad and inclusive outlook, and in our values, as expressed in our shared values. We are united in shared experience: our open and stirring worship services, religious education, and rites of passage; our work for social justice; our quest to include the marginalized; our expressions of love.
Unitarian Universalists believe more than one thing. We think for ourselves, and reflect together, about important questions:
We are united in our broad and inclusive outlook, and in our values, as expressed in our seven Principles. We are united in shared experience: our open and stirring worship services, religious education, and rites of passage; our work for social justice; our quest to include the marginalized; our expressions of love.
Learn more about Unitarian Universalists from a variety of beliefs and backgrounds: Atheist/Agnostic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and more.
Our Minister and Staff.
Minister, Rev. Molly Hammerhand
Rev. Molly Hammerhand (fae/they pronouns) has served as minister of FUUSS since July 2022. Fae has previously served as Youth Ministry Coordinator of First Unitarian in Rochester, NY; as the ministerial intern of the First Universalist Church of Auburn, Maine; and as a group facilitator, educator, and guest preacher at UU churches across the country. Born and raised in Maine, Rev. Molly grounds faer ministry in the theology of reciprocity and an inclusive, expansive sense of how Unitarian Universalism can serve the world.
To contact Reverend Molly, email at revhammerhand@gmail.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE, Tina Lesley-fox
Tina Lesley-Fox has been with our church as Lifespan Faith Development Director, and now Executive Director of Congregational Life since 2009. She has experience working with children, youth and parents in a variety of settings. She is also a national trainer of the Our Whole Lives comprehensive sexuality education program. Email her with any questions you might have.
To contact Tina, email at dre@firstuusyr.org
Office Admin, Julie Forget
Music director, emery schramm
Our History.
You can read a bit about our history by clicking here to read “One Hundred and Forty Fruitful Years” written by Rev. David Blanchard.
The Chancel Window.
The chancel window was given in memory of Marion L. Crowell by Chester D. Crowell and his son and was dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1961.
The rich symbolism of the window can be interpreted in many ways, for the function of symbols is to point beyond themselves to that which can never be adequately expressed in words. Thus the window can be an ongoing source of inspiration and meaning of all those who view it.
Around the outer circumference of the window are the symbols of the world’s great religions. At the top to the left is the Cross of Christianity. The Cross, a very ancient symbol which predates Christianity, is often seen as symbolizing the Tree of Life. It, of course, also represents the means by which Christ died in order to give others new life.
To the right of the Cross is the Mystic Rose, as a Christian symbol, usually thought as representing the Virgin as the purest, most beautiful thing in the Creation; in addition, it is sometimes used as a symbol of Christ.
Next, as the view proceeds to look around the circumference in a clockwise direction, comes the Wheel of Doctrine of Buddhism; its eight spokes represent the noble eight-fold path which if followed, leads one to the outer circle of enlightenment.
Then comes the Lotus of Hinduism, another very ancient symbol representing the creative source of all being.
The next symbol is the Menorah of Judaism; its seven candlesticks can be seen as the seven branches of the Tree of Life, and its candles giving off the light of freedom and hope.
The Sacred Shield of Islam follows, with the Moslem creed inscribed upon it in Arabic: “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is His Prophet.”
The Yin-Yang represents Taoism, although it is also sometimes associated with Confucianism and Buddhism; it signifies that the contrasting sides of reality are not in conflict, but rather complement each other, giving rise to the creativity that leads to all existence.
Finally, there is the Double Ladder of Joy of Confucianism, with its five rungs suggesting the five duties that Confucius taught. The fact that these ladders are placed side by side, is symbolic of the great Confucian principal of reciprocity: “Do unto other as you would have them do unto you.” Thus the climb up the ladder is never made in isolation, but in the company of others.
The open book in the center of the window can be thought of as representing either the Judeo-Christian Bible or the sacred scriptures of all the great religions- the revelations of the past. The Torch behind it symbolizes the ongoing nature of revelation and the light of new truth- the revelations of the past and the future. The Maltese Cross, with its arms reaching out from the center of the window to the four cardinal points, serves to bind the whole together and symbolizes the inter-relatedness of unity of all Being.
The window in its entirety can be regarded as a symbolic representation of contemporary Unitarian Universalism – evolutionary nature, its inclusiveness, and its openness to all sources of wisdom and truth, both ancient and modern.
