Worship Survey Results
9/7/2026
A few months ago we conducted a confidential survey about our worship services. Thanks to those of you who responded. This is the follow up report on the results of that survey.
The first section of the survey asked you to rate several aspects of worship at Pacific Unitarian, like overall rating of the service, the quality of the sermons, the presence of spirituality, etc. For most of these questions, 90% or more were rated either good, very good, or excellent. For some, like Audio Visual, Joys & Sorrows, special needs support, and announcements, we received ratings a bit lower.
The good news is that the results contained few surprises. Our internal assessments align closely with your feedback; the areas where we felt we were succeeding, as well as those needing improvement, matched the survey responses.
It is encouraging to know that we are meeting your expectations in many areas. We are also well aware of the current challenges regarding AV, Joys & Sorrows, Announcements, and special needs support. Please be assured that plans are already underway to make improvements in each of these areas.
What’s Important to you
The next section asked you to rate what elements of worship at Pacific Unitarian are most important to you. All were rated as important, but some more than others. In order of importance, they are:
- Prayer/Meditation
- Reflection
- Moment for All Ages
- Welcome and announcements
- Offertory
- Affirmation of Gratitude
- Prelude
- Offertory Music
- Closing Words/Chalice Extinguishing
- Chalice lighting
- Call to Worship
- Reading
- Candles of Joys and Sorrows
- Centering Hymn
- Postlude
- Opening Hymn
- Singing Out the Children
We will use this ranking to decide where to focus our changes so that we can get the most improvement through our efforts.
Comments
The next section of the survey asked for your comments in several areas. Some comments included areas outside of the worship service itself. We looked at these individual comments and derived the following summary.
- Worship is mostly good
- Sermons are appreciated (good balance, good content, etc.)
- The service could be better organized
- You want sermons to challenge us
- More energy and more uplifting services
- Programs like Auction, Black & White, Luminescence, Holidays, especially Christmas were well liked.
- AV needs improvement (many comments on this both about in service issues and online issues. Online seems important to several folks.)
- Some want more activism, political work
- Some asked for more meditation, (at start, at end, use singing bowl more)
- Announcements not really anyone’s favorite but are seen as important
- Some asked us to engage more with new members during service, e.g., introduce them
- People requested more activities to mingle (e.g. Singles mixers, dinner with UU)
- Moment for All Ages should be more than just reading a book
- People asked for more spirituality including understanding of what it is
- More active help for those who are in real need (women, immigrants)
- Feeling of inclusion and fellowship needs to be improved
- Guest speakers with diverse viewpoints are appreciated
- Hall could look better
- Put words and music on screen or hand out hymnals
- Coordinate hymns with topic and use familiar hymns
- People would like more contemporary music
- Need more focus on pastoral care
- More social justice outreach
- Minister is good
- More on world religions
These survey responses have given the Worship Committee, the Board, and SEE guidance in planning both their near-term activities and their long term strategy development.
Once again, we thank you for taking part in this survey, as we continue to strive to implement continuous process improvements here at Pacific Unitarian.
The Worship Committee
Pastor Joshua Berg
Lee Ann Hart, Chair
Melissa Tyrrell
Darcy Carroll
Tracy Blender
Gary Hart
