First Unitarian Church

The first thing I noticed about First Unitarian was the building, and the first thing I noticed about the building was that it does not look like a church. It could be a village hall, a cultural center, or a library. It is a low, square building made of concrete and framed by tall, old trees, across the street from the public library. It looks substantial, but understated, with no steeple or huge stained glass windows. The sign that identifies it as First Unitarian Universalist Church is small and set back from the street in a separate glass and metal case.

The sanctuary is in the center of the building. The entryway does not lead directly into it, but instead routes people to entrances on either side. Because other rooms open off of these passageways, a newcomer can wander a bit before finding the way to the sanctuary. When I first visited on a Sunday morning, I was a bit confused by the layout, even though I had been in the building before.

It was easy to wander about without drawing any attention. No one spoke to me as I entered the church, although after the worship service several people sitting next to me welcomed me and invited me to come back again.