What do you see when you walk into our church?  If you come on a Sunday you probably see your friends, ushers, greeters, musicians, and service participants chatting and rushing around.  It’s all familiar, and friendly, and fun.

But if you were a visitor these people wouldn’t yet be your friends.  If you came on a day other than Sunday there might be no one to answer your questions.  Is this a church?  What is Unitarian Universalism?  Do these people share my values?  What do they do together?  Who’s the minister?  Is this a somber place or a joyful place?  Will I and my family be welcome here?

In worship, we’ve been talking about identity.  I think we’re missing a great opportunity by not using our building to speak a clear message of who we are.  I don’t think of our church as a “bare white walls” and half-empty bulletin boards kind of congregation.  That’s not who we are on Sundays!  We are sending a message, just not an accurate one.  As we work to answer the question, “Who are we?” let’s also think creatively about how our building and everything people see at our church can better represent our identity.