About Our Church
The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston (UUCR) celebrated our fortieth anniversary in 2010, marking the date when a handful of Restonians began meeting to create a new liberal religious congregration in northern Virginia. Originally known as the Reston Community Church, in 1986 the name was changed to more clearly communicate our connection to the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. The church has made its home in the woods on Wiehle Avenue since 1972. In the spring of 2010, the members of UUCR called Erin Gingrich to be our new minister.
Unitarian Universalism is a historic religious tradition with roots in the European Protestant Reformation and New England Congregationalism. Over the course of time, our liberal Christianity has broadened to include influences from many other traditions and religious sources. We claim to be a values-based religion rather than a belief-based religion. We affirm seven principles that guide our living and six sources of inspiration for personal beliefs. Please refer to Beliefs & Values for more information.
Our History
UUCR has offered a liberal religious alternative to the Reston area for over forty years. In 1970, a group of local Unitarian Universalists founded the church as the Reston Community Church, engaged a minister, and financed our multi-purpose building.
The church grew and prospered under the activist leadership of the late Rev. John M. Wells, with involvement in local social and civic projects through its association with the Reston Interfaith organization.
In the fall of 1986, we changed our name to the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston to emphasize our denominational affiliation.
Since the late 1980s, five settled ministers have served UUCR: the Rev. Tim Haley; the Rev. Gretchen Woods; and the Revs. Dennis Daniel and Sydney Wilde, co-ministers, who retired in 2009. Rev. Erin Gingrich became our current settled minister in August 2010.
Over the years, UUCR has continued to be very involved in social action projects in the local community, particularly in cooperation with Reston Interfaith and The Closet in Herndon. For several years, we have hosted an annual Alternative Gift Market in early December in support of various international aid projects and local charities. In recent years, UUCR has offered its members opportunities for personal and spiritual growth in a lay ministry program and for interpersonal relationships through covenant groups within the church. In 2008, UUCR became a UUA certified Green Sanctuary congregation. The congregation has increased and enhanced its programs and activities and has just completed a building expansion project to provide more classroom and meeting space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What times are worship services held?
9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. during the fall, winter, and spring, though occasional exceptions are announced in advance on our website, newsletter, and with e-mail blasts.
10:00 a.m. during the summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day).
Who leads your worship--a minister or other professional?
We have an ordained minister who leads the worship life of the congregation. However, on any given Sunday the service may be led by the minister, a lay leader, a guest speaker, or a combination of these. We encourage visitors to attend services more than once to get the full flavor of our worship life.
Are your worship services formal or informal in feeling and style?
Our religious services are not especially formal in feeling, though we have a similar structure of worship from week to week. Some might say we are 'low church' in style. You are welcome to attend any Sunday and we encourage you to dress comfortably and casually all year round. Visit Worship Life for a full explanation of our services.
Can I bring children to church with me or do they meet at a separate time?
Yes, children typically join parents in the worship service for the first fifteen minutes, then go to religious education classes for the remainder of the worship hour. The middle-school student class meets only at 9:30 a.m. The high-school youth group usually meets on Sunday evenings. Call or send a note to the Director of Religious Education if you have any specific questions about the classes. Also, please visit Children & Teen Religious Education for additional information.