Opportunities and Guidelines
At UUCSB, Sundays are shaped by the people who show up with open hearts and willing hands. From greeting friends and newcomers at the door, to creating beauty through flowers, music, and worship support, to sharing coffee, snacks, and conversation that nourish our community, every act of service helps make our congregation feel like home.
Our volunteers also help guide and inspire our young people, teaching them the power of love, kindness, and connection through shared experiences and community care. Sundays at UUCSB simply would not happen without people like you — people who give their time, creativity, and compassion to help our community thrive together.
Read on to discover the many ways you may contribute to successful Sundays at UUCSB and also access complete instructions where applicable.
Add a little beauty — and a little you — to Sunday Services.
Your arrangement can be simple, colorful, playful, elegant, or anything in between. And it doesn’t have to be flowers! Seasonal branches, fall leaves, pine sprigs, berries, squash, mums, or poinsettias all make wonderful altar decorations.
Feel free to use your own container, or borrow one of the vases in the labeled cupboard in the Green Room. We ask that all arrangements are placed on the altar table at least 15 minutes before the service begins.
After the service, you’re welcome to take your arrangement home or share it with someone who could use a little extra cheer by passing it on to our Caring Committee.
Thank you for helping make our Sundays warm, welcoming, and beautiful.
Coffee Hour volunteers help turn Sundays into community. They come a little early, stay a little late, brew the coffee, share tasty treats, and help create a warm, welcoming space where people can connect and feel at home.
Bring cookies, cake, fruit, veggies, or your favorite snack — and if you can, please include a gluten-free option so everyone can enjoy. Volunteers also help tidy up, wash dishes, and keep the good conversation flowing.
It’s a simple way to share care, kindness, and a little extra joy with the community.
Ushers help Sunday mornings feel calm, welcoming, and ready for worship. From opening the sanctuary and lighting candles, to greeting newcomers with a smile and handing out Orders of Service, ushers help everything run smoothly behind the scenes.
It’s part host, part helper, part quiet superhero — with a little setup, a little hospitality, and a lot of care for the community.
Some volunteer roles help shape the Sunday service itself — creating the flow, warmth, beauty, and spirit of worship each week. Whether helping guide the service as a Worship Assistant, singing with the Pick-Up Choir, or sharing music as a special musician, these volunteers help bring the service to life in meaningful and joyful ways.
No experience in “being on stage” required — just a willingness to participate, connect, and share your gifts with the community.
Religious Exploration volunteers help make Sundays meaningful, creative, and fun for our youngest community members. Through stories, crafts, conversation, and play, they help children explore big ideas like kindness, curiosity, love, and belonging.
Whether leading an activity or simply helping support the classroom, RE volunteers create a warm and welcoming space where kids can learn, laugh, ask questions, and be themselves.
The RE leader will prepare for and facilitate the lesson/activities for the week using “Soul Matters” curriculum, supplementing with additional stories/activities as needed. RE lead is responsible for engaging the children throughout the service, encouraging participation and thoughtful discussion.
The RE second is responsible for assisting the RE leader with teaching and activities during the service, as well as supporting the children with activities as needed, and assisting when children may need to leave the classroom (finding guardians, bathroom breaks, etc).