*Brave Souls

I’m a Naturalistic Christopagan that has been getting involved with my local CUUPs chapter but am searching for a local UUCF chapter to supplement the Christo part of my practice alongside the Pagan. So far, I have been able to develop my Christianity by also attending an Episcopal Anglo-Catholic church as well as a United Methodist Church & I really enjoy them both. I was wondering if there is anybody else in my position & what were your experiences like attending Christian churches while remaining actively involved with the UUA in a non-Christian capacity? Or for those who are involved with the UUCF, do you supplement your practice with other denominations & if so, which ones?

I’m a Naturalistic Christopagan that has been getting involved with my local CUUPs chapter but am searching for a local UUCF chapter to supplement the Christo part of my practice alongside the Pagan. So far, I have been able to develop my Christianity by also attending an Episcopal Anglo-Catholic church as well as a United Methodist Church & I really enjoy them both. I was wondering if there is anybody else in my position & what were your experiences like attending Christian churches while remaining actively involved with the UUA to some degree or another? Or for those who are involved with the UUCF, do you supplement your practice with other denominations & if so, which ones?

The church I go to most regularly is in a bigger town, and there are plenty of kids. They have a kid come up to the front every week and open the “wonder box” and do a little lesson. It’s cute for the kids, inoffensive for the adults.

I went to a UU church in a smaller town yesterday, and they did a “time for all ages,” which seemed like the same thing. Only, it was obvious that every last person in that building could legally drink alcohol, you know? A woman in her 30s came up and opened the “wonder box”. Super awkward, because the activity was obviously made for kids, and we were all adults. Everybody played along, and seemed to have fun, but it just struck me as odd.

Does every church do this? Will they do this every week? My husband and I are thinking of moving to the town where this new church is - are they weird?

Hello everyone, I still don't know very much about unitarians, and I would like to know if it's ok for a Unitarian to read and believe in the Book of Mormon. More specific, someone who reads it and goes to UU Church because doesn't believe in the dogmas of the LDS church (considering they aren't 100% truthful to the Book). I would be very thankful if someone could answer this!

https://www.star-telegram.com/article278602294.html

Fort Worth police said Friday they are not classifying the arrest this week of a heavily armed man at a Unitarian Universalist church as a hate crime. A church official told the Star-Telegram that the man found inside All Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist on Wednesday had been attending services for a few months. Earlier that day, the church discovered he had brutally killed his dog on the property “We believe this was not an attack on the church’s progressive values, but the actions of a lone disturbed individual,” wrote Dan Sexton, board president of All Peoples Church, in an emailed statement.

Police initially responded to All Peoples Church, formerly known as First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church, at 1959 Sandy Lane in Fort Worth on Wednesday morning after they received a 911 call about a dead dog in a field behind the church, next to its community garden. A teacher at a private school that operates in the church building found the dog’s body and called police. Officers arrived to find the dog had been cut open and was surrounded by multiple bullet casings and a rifle. A church security camera recorded shots being fired around 3:45 a.m. Police returned to the church later that afternoon when they received a call about a man inside holding a shotgun and wearing ammo on his chest. He was immediately taken into custody.

The man has since been identified as 27-year-old Roman Collins, police said. Collins is being held in the Tarrant County Jail on charges of terroristic threat, cruelty to a non-livestock animal, and carrying weapons in a place where they are prohibited. In a statement to the Star-Telegram on Friday, All Peoples Church administrator Karl Thibodeaux wrote that he had found Collins in the doorway to the church’s library. Collins was wearing a tactical vest stuffed with ammunition and a holstered gun. A long gun lay beside him on a table, he said. The administrator said Collins told him he killed the dog, and that he was planning “further carnage.” The dog was later identified as Collins’ pet, the statement reads. Thibodeaux said that the children had left the building and the school had closed for the day, so he was alone when he heard Collins walk in the back door and “slip into the library.” The administrator said he went to see who was there, thinking it might be someone who arrived early for Wednesday evening choir practice.

Thibodeaux told Collins he had to put something in the office. He left the church through a side door and drove to a nearby member’s house to call 911. He told police that Collins had made threats about killing people. Dozens of law enforcement officers responded quickly, and the arresting officer told Thibodeaux that Collins was waiting by the front door with a gun and said he was waiting for people to arrive, Thibodeaux wrote. Collins, who according to court records lived about a mile away from the church, does not appear to have a prior criminal record in Tarrant County. He’s being held on $200,000 bond.

Police had the Fort Worth Fire Department’s Bomb/Arson Unit sweep the church, its courtyard and Collins’ car following his arrest. The police department’s SWAT team also searched Collins’ home with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. When officers searched Collins, they found a shotgun, a large knife, a handgun and several loaded magazines, police said in a news release. Inside his truck, they found a rifle that had been converted to accept handgun magazines.

According to court records, defense attorney Lesa Pamplin was appointed to represent Collins. She declined to comment Friday. This incident isn’t the first crime that’s occurred at area Unitarian churches in recent months. In July, Plano’s Community Unitarian Universalist Church was firebombed when someone tossed an accelerant in front of the church and set it ablaze. No one was injured during the incident, but the front door and foyer sustained damage.

Just a few weeks earlier, the Plano church, which like other Unitarian churches affirms the LGBTQ community, had been trolled by anti-LGBTQ YouTubers who pretended to be gay and made fun of the church, the Dallas Morning News reported. There’s still no word on who set the Plano fire. A spokesperson with Plano Fire-Rescue said Friday that the investigation is ongoing. Plano authorities said last month that their initial investigation didn’t find a connection between the video prank and the fire. A representative for the Community Unitarian Universalist Church told the Star-Telegram that they never found out who started the fire — the little evidence they had from eyewitnesses didn’t provide answers.

The national Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston said in a statement Friday, “We are in close contact with the Fort Worth congregation, and our thoughts and prayers are with them in this difficult time as they respond to the incident in their community. Unitarian Universalists believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people, and we invite everyone who shares our values into our spaces of worship. “We urge everyone to prioritize the safety and well-being of their community,” the association said. “We believe this is a moral requirement — and that it is everyone’s job to keep communities safe. Unitarian Universalists will continue to uphold our values and commitments to principles of welcome, acceptance, inclusion, and belonging.”

hi guys!! i grew up attending a UU church in houston every sunday from ages 3-17. when i went off to college in DFW, i lost my church home.

right now i’m trying to decide between the UU Church of Oak Cliff or the Denton UU Fellowship. anyone been to either of these and have good experiences?

going to a new church as a young adult is nerve-wracking to me, i’m used to attending the sunday school and getting to know everyone that way. not sure how to get to know people through just attending services 😅

https://youtu.be/n7mrDuPxOWE?si=-LiryzC-3_UvH2N4

We often recoil at the phrase “Christian Values”. But what we object to is a certain interpretation of them. Do we have any problem with REAL Christian values?

Filmed in the sanctuary of First Universalist Church of Rochester, New York on August 13th, 2023

​

I've tried to find one, but haven't come into any luck doing so.

Edit: I have already ascertained my regions Unitarian Universalist ministries.

The first question is whether you can be strongly against humanism and still be a member of the community. I've seen a lot of people mention humanism as one of the main things to do with the community but I'm not a very big fan of humanism.
The second question is what's the community consensus on hell? A lot of the faiths that are common in Unitarian Universalist community have some concept of hell but I imagine it would be a bit of a taboo subject to talk about.

By which I mean, are UU atheists usually (or expected to be) tolerant and respectful of the religious beliefs of other members? What has your experience been, either as an atheist or as a religious member of a UU congregation?

I’m not Christian or a theist but I do follow a particular religious tradition. I attended a discussion group last weekend, and the conversation devolved into atheists equating religion itself with fundamentalism. I don’t understand how that could be acceptable in a church setting, even if that church has no shared creed. I’m new to UU but have attended every week for the past couple months. I really didn’t expect to get the sense that other members are actively anti-religious or unwilling to honestly engage in interfaith dialogue. Is this an anomaly?

Clearly this is a subjective post, but this experience affected me, and I’m genuinely wondering if anyone has insight into what is typical of a UU church and whether this is a norm I just have to accept if I want to keep attending.

I really like praying for stuff and the idea of heaven and it gives me a lot of comfort and happiness but I haven't been allowed to join any Christian sects because they all said the rest of my beliefs aren't compatible with their religion. I like stuff from Gnosticism, Taoism and Buddhism too, mostly the stuff that relates to philosophical pessimism and individualist stuff. I really like reading philosophical nihilist, pessimist and individualist books and philosophy and it comforts me as much as my spiritual stuff but my issue is that almost no spiritual communities tolerate those sort of beliefs. I wanted to know if I'd be allowed to join a Unitarian Universalist church or community to pray in and find people to make friends with because I'm worried they would turn me down too because some of my beliefs go against things that basically every religion agrees on.

I was raised in a very religious, conservative, homophobic family and while I've never formally joined or even been to a UU church, I like to jokingly say to myself that I'm a non-practicing Unitarian.

When I was in college I developed a huge gay crush on a guy and it basically forced myself to accept that I was gay.

So I had this dream and I nervously go to this UU service in a beautiful old church. Everyone is really nice and wearing bright colors. It all seems very chill, both "religious" and very relaxed. I sit down and I noticed my crush from college is sitting across the aisle from me. At some point there's some prayer where everyone stands up and links their arms over each other's shoulders and I get to connect with my crush.

He smiles like he recognizes me but doesn't say anything. After the prayer we sit down and he joins me and leaves his arm around my shoulder. At first my brain goes to how wrong this is (even though I've abandoned my former religious identity 15+ years ago), but I then realize we're at a UU church and I'm able to relax and just enjoy the moment. It becomes one of those dreams you don't want to wake up from and even when you do, you're left with this incredibly happy feeling. That feeling me and my friend are able to enjoy just sitting in the pew.

He just smiles at me and I rest my head on his shoulders and then I woke up. I wish this actually meant something other than that I still have a deep seeded crush on this guy, but I still thought I would share about my first time going to an UU service.

Even though this was obviously just a dream, the affirmation and openness of the UU church reaches people in unique ways and for that I'm thankful. 🙂

My wife and I are looking for an LGBT affirming religion/church in our area and people have told us about unitarian churches. But I'm not going to lie when I tell you I don't understand alot. We both grew up southern Baptist in North Texas. We are practicing pagans but I've been feeling a pull back to Christianity. My path is at a "x" right now. Because I believe so much of both religions.

Can someone send me in a good direction?

So I was attending my first UU Sunday service and was seated in an awfully big hall considering there was only 5 of us there, including the minister and piano player. I later asked during morning tea why the church was so empty, and the minister explained that the congregation used to be overwhelming atheists and agnostic, but the minister I was speaking to was a conservative who believed Unitarianism to be an exclusively protestant form of Christianity, and so expelled all the humanist because they were going to "takeover the place". I was dumbstruck upon hearing this considering UU has the reputation as "the most liberal denomination of Christianity". It was especially awkward considering I'm a secular pagan who believes Yeshua was merely a mortal philosopher. On top of this, this white minister complained that schools in my city were "completely Chinese now" WHILE SITTING NEXT TO, AND EATING FOOD MADE BY, CHINESE PEOPLE. I feel really guilty I didn't say anything then, and feel so unlucky considering this is the only other UU congregation in my entire country except one on the other side of it. Oh well, looks like I'll just have to worship at my shrine again...

Did you have, have you attended, or have you officiated a UU wedding? What did the ceremony, verbiage of ceremony, and exchange look like?

I am a newish (3 years) member but have not attended another UU officiated wedding and I’m just curious what the script would potentially look like if we had the pastor of our church lead it and I want to find verbiage/a script I feel passionately about.

Thanks in advance!

https://sbskochko.medium.com/dont-trust-the-uumuac-74c0c8a47021

https://sbskochko.medium.com/dont-trust-the-uumuac-74c0c8a47021

https://sbskochko.medium.com/dont-trust-the-fifth-principle-project-46c11facd8fc

Are there any in particular?

*Almost forgot to mention, a lot of the UU churches around here do more informal services or group outings in the summer. From what I understand, it comes from back in the day when everyone in Massachusetts would vacation to the Cape in the summer. Not sure if this goes on elsewhere.

Joined a UU this past year and went all year. Really changed my life (35, atheist). They have some summer activities on Sundays, and I have gone to a couple... But my spirit is really aching for a full service.

As much as I love the community and people I've met, and I've enjoyed playing with the choir on percussion... I really really do enjoy just sitting in the back, soaking up the sermon and music. I love people but social things are hard for me... Let's just say I skip coffee hour a lot!

I'm curious if there are any good online services you'd recommend? I'd love to watch live if possible. I'm floundering a little without my weekly "spiritual calibration" as I call it. I do mediate and practice mindfulness, but it doesn't entirely fill the void.

Unitarian Universalist?

Haven't seen this question posted before. I've seen allot of posts lately about undercover universalist and ultimate reconciliation church members inside infernalist denominations. Are they open to ultimate "Christ-centered" reconciliation?

I'm not currently a member of UU?

Has anyone found UU to be more open to Jesus Christ-centered Ultimate Reconciliation?

Has anyone else in UU churches considered universal reconciliation?

Why or why not?

There's a Unitarian Universalist church close to where I live. Except I'm a trinitarian and believe Jesus Christ to be the only true path to/of salvation. No wrong or right answer, just an honest one.

CONTEXT:

​

By some estimates, as many as 46% of UUs are atheists.

here

In 1997, the Unitarian Universalist Association surveyed more than 8,000 active UUs and found that humanists — a category that includes agnostics and atheists — constituted 46% of the membership.

The most recent nationwide survey to ask that question was conducted in 1987 by the UUA Commission on Appraisal, which found that 7% of Unitarian Universalists picked "atheist" over other options, including "humanist." Going back even further, 21% of Unitarian Universalists in 1979 said that the concept of God is irrelevant or harmful, down from 30% in 1967.

According to a 2001 report in The Christian Century, a study by Ohio University professor James Casebolt found that 18% of Unitarian Universalists whom he polled in Ohio, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania considered themselves atheists. By comparison, a 2002 City University of New York study found that just 0.4% of all Americans say they're atheists.

Kennedy, D. (2003) 'Are You with the Atheists?'. Unitarian Universalist Association. Available at: here.

​

EDIT: This question encompasses all types of irreligion, including those who approach UU as a secular religion, from a social scientific standpoint, syncretists, etc.

​

​

EDIT: More studies.

​

According to a 2001 report in The Christian Century, a study by Ohio University professor James Casebolt found that 18% of Unitarian Universalists whom he polled in Ohio, West Virginia, and western Pennsylvania considered themselves atheists. By comparison, a 2002 City University of New York study found that just 0.4% of all Americans say they're atheists.

Kennedy, D. (2003) 'Are You with the Atheists?'. Unitarian Universalist Association. Available at: here.

Moreover, this study (page nine, figure seven) exhibits further contrastive trends in "religiosity" between the 'general' American population versus the UU population:

As Figure 7 shows Unitarians are less religious and by far more secular in their outlook compared with the general American population. Nationally, 37% of American adults regard themselves as “religious” and 38% as “somewhat religious,” namely 75% of the adult population. This is in contrast with only 37% of religious outlook Unitarians. Furthermore, the ARIS sub-sample indicates that 39% of Unitarian regard themselves as “secular” and 19% as “somewhat secular” in outlook whereas only 10% of adult Americans describe their outlook as “secular” and 6% as “somewhat secular.”

Interestingly, the Unitarian pattern tends to closely resemble that of American Nones, those who profess no religion among whom 40% regarded themselves “secular” and 13% as “somewhat secular” in 2001. However, the Nones perhaps not unexpectedly have a smaller proportion with a “religious” outlook (only 8%).

Even more interesting is the finding that the UUA pattern (58% secular) also somewhat resembles that of America‟s Jews (i.e. persons who identify as Jewish-by religion). Among these “religious” Jews, 44% describe their outlook as “secular” or “somewhat secular.”

Kosmin, B. A., and Keysar, A. (n.d.) Unitarian-Universalists in the United States 1990-2008: Socio-demographic Trends and Religious Patterns, A Report Based on the American Religious Identification Survey. Trinity College, Hartford Connecticut. Unitarian Universalist Association. Available at: here.

Does the unitarian universalist church require its members to pay a tithe (10% of your earnings), if they do; can you explain how does the money is being use, like does the money goes to charity or is it use to help the needy or is spent on the church?

https://secure.everyaction.com/p/RaDgToPCokW21_ufsIS2nw2?emci=67c8fff8-f32a-ee11-b8f0-00224832eb73&emdi=27113209-f72a-ee11-b8f0-00224832eb73&ceid=6250877

The 2023 Action of Immediate Witness Stop Cop City calls on all UUs to join ongoing organizing efforts. "Cop City" is a $90 million militarized urban warfare training complex, proposed by the Atlanta Police Foundation, Atlanta City Government and a committee of over 40 corporate donors. The planned site is in a predominantly Black neighborhood and will destroy 381 acres of remaining green space in Atlanta. Join us to phone canvass calling potential volunteers to recruit a mighty team to hit the streets! No experience is necessary + calls can be made from anywhere! It will be helpful if you have both a phone + a computer. Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/stopcopcity/event/570830/

​

In case anyone was wondering where to donate to the Plano, Texas UU church that was firebombed. There is no specific fundraiser but I dug up their overall "giving" link.

https://www.communityuuchurch.org/uua/connections/giving/

I have a 3 year old daughter who has expressed interest about my parents' church, a church of Christ. I have quite a bit of emotional baggage from growing up in the church of Christ because it's very hellfire and brimstone, which just doesn't seem kind to me. There is absolutely no way I would allow my daughter to be part of such a hateful community.

Also, when I say emotional baggage, I mean I still have nightmares about being forced to go back to a church of christ. My mother stopped talking to me for a bit when I stopped going because she was sure I was condemning myself to Hell.

I'd like to show my daughter what a church is like, and the UU seems like the best fit. However, while I logically appreciate what I've read of the UU online, I'm still pretty nervous. Can I have some reassurance that UU churches aren't homophobic, racist, classist, and thinks everyone but them is going to Hell? What does a service typically look like? Is there a way I can prepare my daughter for what to expect?

Anti-LGBTQ YouTubers trolled a progressive Plano church. It was firebombed weeks later No connection has been established between the attack and the church’s appearance in the video, and Plano police are still investigating whether the bombing is a hate crime. Weeks before the Community Unitarian Universalist Church of Plano was damaged in a firebomb attack early Sunday, members of the church welcomed four strangers — one of them carrying a camera — with hugs, smiles and the promise of a judgment-free fellowship. They didn’t immediately know they were being trolled and baited by a group of influencers who frequently take videos of themselves pranking progressives and liberals. The video, titled “We acted LGBT at LGBT Church,” has garnered nearly 200,000 views since it was posted to YouTube on July 12. No connection has been established between the posting of the video and the firebombing of the church, which resulted in damage to the building’s doors, but no deaths or injuries. A spokesperson for the Plano Police Department, which is investigating the arson, said in a statement Sunday the department “cannot confirm this as a hate crime at the time.”

But in a statement on Facebook about the attack, the church alluded to its appearance in the video, which it says was filmed during and after its Sunday service on June 25. The church called the YouTubers a “hate group” and said it has been “reviewing building security and working with the Plano Police Department since the intrusion.”

While a motive behind the Plano attack has not been discerned, the Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD tracked more than 350 incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault motivated by anti-LGBTQ rhetoric in an 11-month span beginning last June. Texas saw the third-highest number of anti-LGBTQ incidents in the country.

In North Texas, gatherings frequented by members of the LGBTQ community, such as drag shows and pride events, often draw armed protesters, including members of extremist groups.

The video begins with two men, Cassady Campbell and Bo Alford, standing in the church parking lot, acting out stereotypical caricatures of gay men — both use pronounced lisps and limp their wrists — and vowing to “expose” what they described as the church’s false teachings. The pair say they are in front of a Unitarian Universalist church, but don’t specify it’s in Plano.

Inside, they are greeted by several congregants who welcome them with handshakes and hugs.

“I’m glad you guys are here,” one of the church members says with a smile. The church member briefly describes part of the Unitarian Universalist ideology — there is no heaven and no hell and what happens to one person after death happens to all people.

“The essential point is, the bad things you do are not so infinitely, eternally bad that there’s an eternal damnation for it,” the member explains. Different Unitarian Universalist members are welcome to their own interpretation of the afterlife. The YouTubers are encouraged to take a hymnal, read about the church’s teachings and enjoy food with other members.

Another church member, who described herself as a lesbian who was once married to a man, explains that she came to the congregation “sad and broken and disillusioned, and this community put me back together and gave me strength.”

“Were you turned on to your husband at all, like were you into him, or did you just kind of do it?” Campbell asks the woman. She responds the question was inappropriate.

The pair is told they’re not allowed to record a sermon but do so anyway — interrupting it with shouts of “Yas b----!” and “Slay queen!” Eventually, both men drop the act and explain they’re in the church to “plant the seed” of what they describe as they Bible’s true teachings. After the reveal, church members tell them they’re lovely and polite and thank them for visiting.

Alford has published several videos of him antagonizing people at pride events, including LGBTQ-friendly churches. In one video, a congregant forcibly removes him from a church.

Campbell frequently posts videos of himself harassing women in public places, including gyms, shopping malls and grocery stores. In one recent video, he walks behind a woman at a gym and starts exercising with a weight while breathing deeply in her ear. “Daddy’s so pumped up right now,” he says. The woman tells Campbell not to talk to her and he laughs while walking away. In another video, he hits on women shopping in a Wal-Mart and then calls them ugly after being rejected.

In a phone call Monday, Alford said he was “shocked” to learn of the bombing.

“That church, I thought we had a very good connection. I have no hostile feelings toward any of them,” he said. “They were all very open and willing to talk. Nothing but good words to say for them.”

Alford said he didn’t regret any part of the video.

Campbell did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Monday.

Jodie Zoeller-Bloom, the past president of the church who is currently leading the congregation while its current president is out of town, said the church would not comment aside from its statement posted to Facebook.

Sunday wasn’t the first time the church has made headlines. In 2017, somebody stole a pride flag that was flying outside the church and replaced it with an American flag, leaving a note saying there are only two genders.

A pastor encouraged the thief to “have a conversation” with members of the church.

Source: Dallas News https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/07/24/anti-lgbtq-youtubers-trolled-a-progressive-plano-church-it-was-firebombed-weeks-later/

So I'm a lapsed UU (if that's even a thing) in the sense that outside of a few services at the Boulder church I haven't attended in several years. I certainly uphold the principles in my life and lately have been missing the community. The Boulder church wasn't for me for a variety of reasons but I am looking for a new community. I currently live closest to the Jefferson Unitarian Church and am not afraid to just roll in on a Sunday but I was curious about the opinions of UUs in the area as there are several options.

I am looking for a place that practices radical acceptance in all aspects and is active in social justice. I know that sounds like any UU congregation but I hope you understand what I mean. For context: I am a cisgendered male who was raised in the church from a very young age. Now in my mid-thirites I again desire a community of open and honest discourse.

Thanks for the help and if you need any clarification on what I'm looking for just ask!

I'm a longtime UU and in college. Because I'm a student, I don't work very much, and I make minimum wage at a work-study job. While I have enough money that I'm not at the ramen-noodle phase, I'm not able to give at church more than a few dollars a month.

My church does so much for me. They took me in when I came up to college and knew no one. They showed me love and support when I needed it, and they gave me a community.

Now, they're moving to a different location and hoping to build a new sanctuary, which I know isn't cheap. I feel bad that I don't give more, but I am nervous to give more on a financial basis.

Would offering my time as a volunteer be comparable? I know it wouldn't help with money, but hopefully I could be of some assistance. I know one of the childcare providers is leaving soon, and that's a paid position (minimum wage for an hour and a half a week) so if I take that position I might donate from that wage every week. But we'll see.

Hello,

Does anyone have any recommendations for UU churches in the Denver area?

Thank you

so. i discovered unitarian universalism and i found that i wholeheartedly agree with everything that it stands for and i really wanted to join. unfortunately i live in a small polish town so there aren't any congregations near me or even in my country. so i started to look for ways to get engaged online. i was hoping to find a community of interesting people open to new ideas who would help me grow as a person. this is not what happened.

i requested a link to join an online meetup of unitarian universalists in europe, but i was never replied to. today i attended a zoom meeting of yuup. it was fun, don't get me wrong, but there was only like 15 people there and 1/4 of them were mods. i was sent a link to a discord server that is mostly dead and has a rule against dm-ing people.

so here i am asking: am i doing sth wrong, or is this it?

This morning in church we were warned of a new wave of right wing protesters disrupting UU services in progress. I don’t doubt it but I couldn’t find any more info upon googling. Can anyone fill me in more or redirect me?

Hello there!

I suppose the tl;dr is that I'm feeling split between remaining an active UU while also finding my way (back) into a progressive Christian church (MCC) and I'd love any insights if y'all have any :) Especially if you split your time between communities or are a "hyphenated UU"

Background, I grew up Baptist - nothing much wrong with it, just a few theological points as nonnegotiable for me compelled me to look elsewhere, and that's when I found UU and became a very active member (I ran my college ministry for a couple years). Maybe ironically, being UU helped me find my confidence in my theism and I'm eternally grateful.

Recently, I decided to try out a progressive Christian church in town and absolutely love it so far, but I feel I'm also losing my connection to UU - I still identify at least partly as UU, and the UU churches in the area are nice enough, but they just don't have that home feel I had back on the east coast.

Is this something y'all have experienced before? Do I maybe need to rethink how I navigate this, or is my time in UU starting to close? I'm feeling a bit in limbo and would love some feedback or advice.

EDIT: Also of note is I do follow the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship, but they haven't been active at all lately, which I suppose is also fueling these feelings :/

I am very interested in Unitarian and Universalist history and was wondering if there are any good, well-researched podcasts or audiobooks that others would recommend?

Hi everyone! My partner and I are thinking of checking out a UU church for the first time. We like the idea of being part of a spiritual community that puts more of an emphasis on shared values and social responsibility than your personal beliefs. We're in Central Mass so there are a lot of congregations to choose from. We're just a bit nervous about the social expectations. We want to dip our feet and explore at our own pace, but we're worried that as newbies, we’ll be love-bombed by well-meaning folks who are trying to make us feel welcome. We're queer/GNC and I have physical disabilities, so we tend to stand out in a crowd. It's not a bad thing, but we're kind of concerned that because you all are so inclusive, we might end up being the ones you want to make *extra* welcome. 😄

We’re autistic, so it takes us a bit longer to adjust to new situations. We'll have to get used to the physical environment, learn the liturgy, and figure out the norms of this new subculture. With all that going on, the prospect of being approached and chatted up by random strangers is a bit overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong, you all seem genuinely friendlier and more inclusive than any other religious group I’ve encountered, which is awesome, but also a bit intimidating. We watched a livestream where the Passing of the Peace took five whole minutes, and this one old lady went from pew to pew hugging as many people as she could. I've never seen anything like it! It was equal parts adorable and terrifying. 😂

I think it would really help if we could get some insight into the unwritten social rules of UU communities so we can be prepared. How do people typically interact with each other before, during, and after services? Ideally, we'd like to just hang back and observe during our first few visits. Is there a way we can politely defer socializing until we feel more comfortable without coming across as rude? We're not big on physical contact, so would it be possible to opt out of hugs during the Passing of the Peace? My partner has trouble sitting still, so would it be acceptable if they brought a sketchbook to keep their hands busy? We definitely don't want to be disrespectful, but it might help them stay focused. In terms of social demands, which would be less overwhelming, a small suburban church or a mid-size urban one (generally speaking, I know every congregation is different)?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

hi! i’ve been interested in unitarian universalism for a little over a year now and am looking into going to a service at my local congregation. i’m personally agnostic but i love hearing about other religions and grew up in a non denominational church and miss the community environment. i’ve also gone through a lot of trauma and loss and am looking for comfort from that, which i think being in that environment could help me with. i just want to know what to expect and how people in the congregation tend to react to new members?

Randomly enough, I heard of this for the first time on a random reddit post lol. So I decided to go Google it and honestly I really fell in love with it! I found a church near me that I might try out. But I'm definitely excited!

For background info, I was raised nondinominational Christian but I definitely feel disconnected from it/Christianity in general tbh, along with a disconnect with my old church (think people who are very conservative while I'm definitely liberal. It put a bad taste in my mouth). I definitely like some Christian beliefs, like 'love everyone' is definitely a motto of mine, but some things I've totally just rejected. I've definitely been 'lost' and questioning and like... religion searching. So it was crazy just happening upon this randomly, as I never heard of 'Unitarian Universalist' before, but it seems like it might be a good fit for me.

What else should I do besides just reading the website? Are there any other resources I should look at? Any books or other media I should look into?

Also sorry this was long. If anyone has any advice or tips or experiences they want to share, I'd definitely appreciate it!!!

UUs generally do not seek converts, but it seems so many are unaware of what we have to offer and are pleased to discover us. Can we have suggestions on how to appeal more to the public?

Hi! I’m new to UU but really love it Are there any discords I can join? Thanks!

Nearly two weeks ago, I nearly died. I have been homeless for over 6 months, and I'm barely coping with the end of a trauma- Bond relationship. I have been questioning my future, and seeing no light at the end of my tunnel for quite some time. After having stayed up a couple days on stimulants, having been unbearably depressed, and I had received yet another rejection from my unrequited love object, I was given a large amount of opiates; visibly, far more than my tolerance. I honestly can't remember if it was on purpose or not, but I just snorted the whole thing, and in hindsight I remember thinking oh my, that was a bit too much. 5 minutes later, it took effect and I was out.

I remember waking up on a hospital gurney, nurses and one cop all looking at me. I was, frankly, rather pissed to have woken up. I was told that I had not been breathing for nearly an hour, and it had taken a whopping of 17 of Narcan to revive me. This is an astronomical amount of the lifesaving drug, more than anyone had ever heard of being administered. But, nonetheless, my life had been saved and I was still on this planet. I went through a period of numbness, followed by some sort of epiphany, and flow-state of energies.

I had thought, "maybe there's a reason that I meant to be kept alive." Well, apparently there was.. well, maybe. I had learned that a fellow homeless man, also a long-term close friend of mine, had a painful infection. He is an IV drug user, and due to sensitive skin, had sores on his arms and legs. Apparently, has a left leg had gotten severely infected. Fate had it that I ran into him, while driving a friend's van. I told him please let me take you to the Urgent Care Clinic. Reluctantly, he went, and they told him to go directly to the ER, and that his leg may have to be amputated! So I insisted that we go half an hour south to a far better Hospital than the crap one in our city. The owner of the van was reluctant, but I insisted. He's been there for about 6 days now, and they're still pumping him with antibiotics. I was told today that he had gotten a Nasty form of encephalitis, and That I had saved his life.

By all means, I should not have survived that overdose. It's quite an anomaly. Is it possible that this is the universe at work, and that I was not meant to pass on yet, because I had a duty to selflessly save someone else's life? Either way, it's an emotional thing to hear, especially after devaluating my own life so much. I'm very glad he's alive...I have left the city, and when he is healthy enough to be discharged, is joining me for a new start in a much better area.

I’ve just started looking at new churches (leaving the lds/Mormon church after being in it for 11 years - and grew up Catholic). And I love the beliefs and principles this church has. Especially how there isn’t one set way to believe and how inclusive it is.

I’m thinking I might find a local church near me this Sunday to attend. But what are your services like?

Folks:

As a gay man, I would love to meet other gay men at our UU (Bellingham, Unitarian Fellowship in Bellingham, Washington).

I have been frustrated over the years that although there is a fair number of lesbians at BUF (short for Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship) as well as lesbian couples being formed here; there are virtually no gay men.

I had a vision late one night that a way to solve this problem is to advertise our being open and affirming; putting classified ads in the male gay publications.

Be aware that I am only thinking about this and getting feedback from folks like you; I have not purchased nor placed any advertising yet.

I would like to know if any of you have tried this and what kind of results are you seeing? It it worth it?

Since this is myself doing this with my own money and not that of the fellowship, I ccould only afford classified ads.

Any thoughts?

Thank you

Love

Mark Allyn

Bellingham, Washington

Our fellowship is about to have lots lay-led and younger adult led services. We ate looking to shake things up a bit and move away from the typical format where people listen to a sermon for 30 minutes. What have your churches and fellowships done that was different?