"All of [Theodor Seuss Geisel’s] books written for children were also written on a level for adults. There are large social and political implications," said Ortman, parish minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair.

The influence of Dr. Seuss on the open-minded Unitarian Universalist religion inspired the local congregation to make it the focus of its annual event.

For the fourth consecutive year, the congregation will host a Dr. Seuss-themed community event, the UUville Community Fair, this coming Sunday, Sept. 7.

It will be held for congregants and the public in the Montclair Community Pre-K playground, diagonally across the Valley Road/Church Street Circle from the congregation, from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Face painting, games and pony rides are among the activities.

In addition to the array of fun, some congregation members are expected to show up in "Cat in the Hat" costumes.

The motivation, however, is deeper, and for Unitarian Universalists is as inherently familiar as finishing the rhyme, "One fish, two fish, red fish …"

The Unitarian Universalist religion holds justice, equity and compassion as some of its core principles. So it’s befitting that congregants would find, to an extent, truth and meaning in Dr. Seuss stories, based on life experiences that address fear, being lost and afraid, struggling between right and wrong and people who walk in and out of other people’s lives.

"We put [Dr. Seuss] out there so that parents and children can have a vehicle that will hold them in conversation that will show them how to be engaged in meaningful ways in their lives," Ortman said.

The significance of it all, however, will take a more playful approach during this Sunday’s event.

"It’s a welcome back from the summer, and it’s a way to give people information about all the things that were doing and to get the members of the congregation more involved," said Nick Lewis, president of the congregation’s board of trustees and the 3rd Ward township councilman.

The congregation hosts at least 20 outreach committees that address various issues including racism, social justice and gay rights. Committees also foster singles groups and adult education courses.

The fair gives committee members an opportunity to make their initiatives known to other congregants who are not particularly involved.

"We are sort of trying to get that information out to people better than we’ve been doing," Lewis said. "A relatively new member might not even know what we do."

While obtaining new members is always a benefit to the survival of a congregation, it is not the goal of the event.

"It’s nice to get new members, and I think we probably will. Someone will wander by and check it out and say, ‘Hey, I think I’ll go next week.’ But that’s kind of a side benefit," Lewis said.

Visitors are also welcome to attend the 9:30 and 11 a.m. worship services at the congregation on Church Street, a block away from where the fair will take place.

The services will feature the annual water communion, when members will share where they have traveled during this past summer and mingle offerings of water gathered on those trips. The collected water is poured into the church garden after Ortman recites a blessing.

Lewis said the water communion and fair should help galvanize members of the congregation.

"This is really more for the people in the congregation. We want them to be more involved."

Contact Tanya Drobness at drobness@montclairtimes.com.