As a member of UU Asheville you are encouraged to pursue and participate in your own faith journey and to share it with this community of others walking their own paths. It is an indvidual and collective journey.  We understand that faith formation means different things to different people, therefore we offer a variety of ways for you to discover where your personal path may take you.

Worship

Faith formation at UU Asheville begins with worship. There are a few opportunities to participate in worship: Sunday mornings, our first Wednesday Vespers, and a few of our small groups that facilitate opportunities in particular tradition.

Our Sunday worship services are varied in content and offer our congregants topics to think about and explore in a more traditional manner. From September through May, we offer two services every Sunday. The earlier service (9:15) is a Contemplative Service focused on time for quiet reflection. The later service is our standard “traditional” service. During the summer months, we offer a single service at 10 am.  

The first Wednesday of September-May, we offer a Vespers service which provides space to reflect on a relevant theme and some time to share in a potluck meal together.  

We also have member-lead opportunities for spiritual practices in the UU Buddhist Sangha and in the Blue Ridge Covenant of UU Pagans (CUUPS), both groups have regular opportunities to practice in community.  

Small Groups

Small group  ministry (our Soul Matters, UU Writers, and Creativity Matters groups) is a  mainstay of faith formation at UU Asheville. Our primary small group program utilizes the  Soul Matters  program materials.   Soul Matters groups provide mutual support and companionship in an intimate setting that fosters spiritual growth and mutual care. As a member of a group, you will delve deeply into monthly themes as you explore what those themes mean to you. Currently, these groups form in the early autumn (September/October), and meet monthly for a year. We also offer opportunities to join a drop-in group throughout the year.  

Classes and other opportunities

Throughout the year, we also try to offer Faith Formation classes, opportunities to explore religious traditions, various practices, and personal faith formation. One of the regular offerings is Life Abundant, offered by our Lead Minister, Rev. Audette. Keep an eye out for when these come up!

Explore more  Adult Faith Development opportunities here.

In addition to adult faith formation, our Faith Formation (C&Y Faith Formation) program for children and youth is a vibrant program that incorporates worship, community building, and collective liberation work (and play!). The C&Y Faith Formation   program provides several opportunities for children and youth, from preschool through high school, to learn about what it means to be a UU in our community and world. From anti-racism classes to comprehensive sex education (OWL – Our Whole Lives), our children are taught to be open-minded and critical thinkers.

Learn more about  Children and Youth Faith Formation here  and by watching these videos below.