Login
Does anyone here have experience with Second Unitarian in Chicago? I live on the north side and am considering checking it out.
Hi there! I’ve recently started exploring UU churches in the area and it feels like a good home for me. I’ve been exploring all over the area (I’m in Boston) and while I’ve attended lovely sermons, I’m having trouble finding a congregation that has people my age (I’m in my 30s). Everyone at Sunday service seems to be over 60. I wonder if Sunday service may just not be the right place to start? Anyone in the are (or in general) have any advice?
I am an ex-Christian and I have religious trauma related to that. I went to an in-person UU service for the first time Sunday. I got teary-eyed multiple times because I was quite awestruck. I’ve never had the experience of walking into a sanctuary that displays pride flags or hearing the Reverend invite trans and GNC kids to join the Girl Scouts troop during announcements. I had a wonderful time overall, but I have a few concerns. I can mostly handle hearing the word “God” and there was no mention of Jesus. The Bible was used during the sermon (Genesis), but its validity was questioned in a way I can appreciate. I am just wondering… is UU the wrong place to leap to, in general, if I want no associations with Christianity whatsoever? Or could I potentially find a different church that doesn’t reference the Bible? I am atheist-leaning, definitely humanist, but mostly still figuring it out.
I am also thinking about the perpetuation of Christianity and wanting to avoid that. This article encapsulates my thinking perfectly: https://brill.com/display/title/37153 To me, secular and liberal Christians are still perpetuating the harm of all other Christians, or they would drop the religious moniker altogether. I am wondering if I’m being hypocritical by being UU. Also, I’m really sorry if I offend anyone by writing this post. Thanks for reading.
Hello, as the title says I'm trying to remember the UU book I was given to read for my Coming of Age journey though the UU church. It was black, and it had a chalice on it or maybe flames on it. I believe it had a history of the church, but don't remember much more than that.
I'm revisiting books of my late adolescent and young adult life. I stepped away about a decade ago from the UU church after attending a few years and then going off to college. Then work kept me from attending due to the hours I had been delt, then COVID hit, but recently I felt something come over me, and I'm wanting to reflect on things in my life.
I'll be elated if anyone knows what I'm talking about and I plan on attending my first UU service again very soon.
Im asking this in good faith but as a Jew I do not trust UU and dont really understand it. From my perspective, like Jews for Jesus, its essentially a Christian org that pretends its not despite having ministers, churches, celebrating Jesus, ect. I like all the left-wing aspects of UU but I have a hard time not seeing it as another way for Christians to destroy minority religions by assimilating them. I also find the using of our and others religious ceremonies and symbols and stripping them of their religious significance, presenting them as set dressing for a mostly Christian audience is offensive. Please correct me.
“Across the Veil”
Sunday, November 6, 10:50 am, Worship Service Livestream
This is the time of year of the Pagan celebration of Samhain, and the Christian (no doubt borrowed and adapted!) witness to All Souls and All Saints, and to the celebrations of Día De Los Muertos in Mexico and across Latin America. All of these community and religious ceremonies and sacred times begin with the Samhain idea that at this time of year the veil between the living and the dying is thinned. It is a season, therefore, for reaching across that veil and pulling those we have loved and lost, their spirit and their legacy, more intentionally into our world for a while.
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, Organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Laurel Sprigg, Soprano; Brielle Marina Nielsen, Mezzo Soprano; Wm. García Ganz, Pianist
Shulee Ong, Camera; Jackson Munn, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager; Kelvin Jones, Sexton; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
I especially want to hear from latecomers to UU: what was the moment you realized UU wasn't just something you do on Sunday, but had become an integral part of your life, your relationship/marriage, your family?
I think it hit me when I quoted a hymn to comfort my partner. She was feeling guilty about a struggle we'd had the night before. I had already forgiven her, but she was having trouble letting go. So I quoted #637, A Litany of Atonement: "We forgive ourselves and each other; we begin again in love."
It clicked for her, and I realized I was using words of comfort in much the same way I saw other religious traditions doing.
I get the impression Unitarians are more liberal, but do you tend to affiliate with a political party, or is it more about just accepting people?
“Living with the Trouble”
Sunday, October 30, 10:50 am, Worship Service Livestream
The saga of our relationship with the nightly raccoons, as a metaphor for learning to live with the troubles in life.
Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, Organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Ben Rudiak-Gould, Soloist; Laurel Sprigg, Soloist
Jackson Munn, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
I’ve been attending UU lately, and I’ve enjoyed it, so I feel it’s important to start contributing financially because I’m getting something out of it, but I want to find some financial transparency before I do.
September 15, 2022
The Article II Study Commission is excited to share a full draft of Article II (PDF, 3 Pages) for feedback. The Study Commission's outreach team will be hosting Zoom feedback sessions in the first half of November, along with gathering feedback through a forthcoming online form for individual comments.
The Study Commission will present its final draft to the Board in January for inclusion on the agenda for General Assembly 2023. It will then be the subject of mini-Assemblies before the initial vote at GA 2023. If it passes that delegate vote by a majority, it will require a 2/3 majority vote at GA 2024 to become the new Article II of the Bylaws.
This draft makes significant changes to Article II. We invite you to read it using one of the practices we have started following in our work:
It will be ideal if you can hold suggestions until the online form is available so that they can be more easily gathered and read. But do feel free to direct questions to [changemanager@uua.org](mailto:changemanager@uua.org)
“What Fuels These Fools?”
Sunday, October 23, 10:50 am, Worship Service Livestream
What makes Fools “faithful”? More than anything it is a willingness to hang in there, even when it seems like not much is changing. Futility, rather than fuel, seems to be what’s on people’s minds these days, but the Fools are committed to the faithfulness of fidelity and steadiness, keeping on even when it seems rather ridiculous to do so. Carmen Barsody and Sam Dennison, two long-time Faithful Fools, bring us their reflections on what it takes to keep on keepin’ on. As Faithful Fools ready to celebrate 25 years of reflection and engagement, and Carmen and Sam will share their 25th year questions and insights with us.
Carmen Barsody; Sam Dennison; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Mark Sumner, Pianist; Richard Fey, Songleader; Rosalie Alfonso, Percussionist; Jon Silk, Drummer; Bill Klingelhoffer, Percussionist; Michael Yamashita, Hula; Ka'ala Carmack, Pianist, Vocals and Ukulele
Eric Shackelford, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Kelvin Jones, Sexton; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
Can Atheist, Agnostics & Pagans be members of the unitarians, do they have to renounce their old position and embrace the new position or do they retain their own position and identity in the group?
I am a former Baptist pastor who “left the faith” and now hold to beliefs that are most similar to UU. I currently work as a Hospice Chaplain, but would like to become ordained so I can work in a hospital setting. I have my Master’s from a Southern Baptist seminary, but wasn’t sure how this translate over to UU ordination. Also, I have not yet settled into a UU congregation as my family is still processing my change and I’m taking things slowly. I’ve visited a few, but haven’t been consistent in one. Is there a minimum amount of time in a church that is needed before ordination?
“Being Alive”
Sunday, October 16, 10:50 am, Worship Service Livestream
For months we struggled with the confinement required to avoid Covid, then the numbers went down and we began to move around again. Some said it felt 'Alive' again. What does being alive mean now that many of us now have more freedom?
Rev. David Sammons, Minister Emeritus; Wonder Dave, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, Organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, Pianist
Shulee Ong, Camera; Jackson Munn, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Remigio Flood, Sexton; Kelvin Jones, Sexton; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher; Ralph Fenn, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour
All UUs are invited to post as comments various stories about UU churches, UU Ministers, and sermons by them.
WWUUD stream 
