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The Current UUA President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, described "Building a Beloved Community" as:
"A community that practices a radically inclusive and compassionate, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural, multigenerational faith within, and acts powerfully in partnership and solidarity for justice and liberation beyond."
This concept of Beloved Community predates UU (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King cited it but it came before him as well) yet with the recent Article Two draft I have noticed this wording and references to Building a Beloved Community occuring across UU circles.
Has your congregation(s) discussed or explored what "Building a Beloved Community" means to them?
I appreciate your thoughts and responses 🙂
I’m a second year MDiv student at SKSM, walking/paving a path toward ministry (whatever that ends up looking like). SKSM does a great job fostering intimacy and rigor in the virtual spaces, but I’m sad to not have greater connection with other seminarians. I have a wonderful community of friends and family, but don’t feel like many understand the discernment and formation process I’m going through. Would love to hear if there are others who feel the same.
I live in brazil, and here we don't have this type of community :(
This may be a stupid question. But is there any body of scripture that’s specific to UU? I know it derives inspiration from multiple bodies of scripture but is there any text/holy book that only UUs claim?
This may be a stupid question. But is there any body of scripture that’s specific to UU? I know it derives inspiration from multiple bodies of scripture but is there any text/holy book that only UUs claim?
Firstly, good day to anyone who reads this. This is my first ever reddit post.
Over this past weekend I was on a rabbit hole on various topics of research, one of which was the famed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. While researching his work, I found a church he did in Oak Park Illinois which is called the Unity Temple. From there, I discovered UU, did a cursory search and for the most part, liked what I had found, and I'd even found a local church to which I went for service this past Sunday.
Now, I haven't been in a place of worship by choice in at least 20 years. As a child, I grew disillusioned with organized religion (baptized Catholic, loosely raised Christian). There are multiple things and reasons I could point out why I never stuck with it, but that isn't currently the goal of this post.
Now, I've lived a moderate, fair life which has had its own struggles, trials and tribulations as well as it's fair share of exceptionally awesome experiences and things. The one thing that really stuck to me was the intellectual melding with the spirit of "who/what are we?" and "why are we here?".
Now, I'm a fairly analytical person, I like to think, and most times often than not, I tend to over think and over analyze things in to ways that make sense to me. I look into history to see what people have done in various places and situations, and I learn from the past in order for me to live in the present and move forwards to the future. All my questions and answers are calculated off of research and learning, with the exception of the aforementioned spiritual questions.
I suppose in the easiest way of explaining, I believe in the Force from Star Wars, but not in the sense of how George Lucas wrote it, and not what the actual Jedi religion believes in. All people, all things, all beings, all matter and elements and everything is all interconnected in some way, shape or form. This fact is what I am certain of in my own way of understanding.
What I am looking for on clarification is, is the UU church right for me? Am I welcome (I know I am, but will others be there to help me in my search for knowledge and answers?). Is there anybody else who feels this way that can point me in some directions and help me focus my thoughts and feelings into a genuine way of exploitation that I can hold onto and draw strength and resolve from?
Sorry for the lengthy post, I will gladly explain more in the comments if there are any questions.
Thank you for your time.
Google and the official website turned up nothing. Thought I would ask here.
"Some of What I Learned on My Sabbatical: Reclaiming Time and Empathy"
Sunday, February 26, 10:50 am
The gift of sabbatical is supposed to be about time -- fallow time, time "on the balcony" of your own life, time to rekindle flames that burn low. What I found was a new thread in an ongoing tapestry I have been weaving about time and my struggles with and against it; and about empathy. The two are related.
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, Organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director
Shulee Ong, Camera; Jackson Munn, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Thomas Brown, Sexton; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
It was a really good experience! I particularly liked how the sermon brought in ideas from a variety of cultures. My little daughter, meanwhile, had a lot of fun in the childrens' room with other kids.
We go to a UMC church as well, and while it's very nice and very progressive, the congregation there is implicitly expected to all be Christian - and it shows through in the sermons and the prayers. I attend with my Christian spouse for the sake of family time, but I feel a bit out of place there as an Agnostic/Secular Buddhist.
The UU, meanwhile, mentioned the Buddha, and Greek philosophy, and other roots of humanity's beliefs in something greater and unchangeable. There were no Bible verses quoted and no Biblical prayers chanted out loud (things I've been uncomfortable with since my deconversion from Christianity). Instead, I felt very acknowledged and seen and reminded of the good of humanity. :)
The one sad thing is that our UU church (by comparison to the well-funded UMC) is small, and doesn't have as much in the way of inspiring music. However, I'll be interested to check out their events and groups outside the Sunday service. Seems like there are good volunteer options and family activities.
Anyway, just wanted to come here and say that I'm glad Unitarian Universalism exists, and thank the community as a whole for being so open-minded.
So I'm now looking into this faith and started reading a pocket guide book on Kindle, and
Wow
I haven't read much information, but. Maybe this is what I've been looking for?
I think I looked into it previously, but saw that UUs would take things from scripture, and decided to explore Satanism for a bit. But. This seems to really draw me in. More than the idea of Quakerism did. The principles UUs share and the sources of info, and the fact that the congregation is all for loving others and bettering humanity. It seems awesome.
I may have found my spiritual home.
Not completely sure yet, but we'll see if that's the case :)
I also love that all religious backgrounds are accepted. This just seems wonderful so far.
I realize this may vary from congregation to congregation, or even person to person, but I'd there any communal framework for the practice?
"Mourning and Celebrating"
Sunday, February 19, 10:50 am
At a recent trip to the DeYoung Museum, to see the exhibit by Black South African artist Lhola Amira, I was made aware of (at least) two parts of the righting of the heart and mind around our shared human history.
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Sam King, Worship Associate; Shawnette Sulker, Soprano; Mark Sumner, Songleader; Jon Silk, Drummer; Wm. García Ganz, Pianist
Shulee Ong, Camera; Eric Shackelford, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Thomas Brown, Sexton; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher; Ralph Fenn, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour
EDIT: Thank you for the detailed and helpful responses, everyone! I think we'll try going next weekend and see how it goes :)
In your experience at UU churches, do they have some type of childcare or Sunday school for little kids? Mine is 4 years old and doesn't like sitting through church services. She currently does Sunday school at a very liberal Methodist church (instead of staying at the service), but I was hoping to introduce her to UU sometime. Is it accomodating to children?
I looked up UU, even congregations in my area and their websites. Kinda got a grasp, but not really, like the actual belief system, if there is any? A UU explanation for dummies would be appreciated.
I'm fairly new to UU, and I'm very new to pagan practices of just about every kind. My local UU is trying to put together a celebration of Ostara and is asking for input on what members would like to do and see...
I'm interested in joining but I'm admittedly feeling a little overwhelmed. I don't exactly "subscribe" (for lack of a better term) to any particular religions or belief systems and am not terribly familiar with the practice of spiritual traditions so it's all just a bit daunting. If anything, I guess The Prophet by Khalil Gibran would be my spiritual reference guide if I had to choose?
Do any CUUPS members out there have suggestions on where I could start? I know this should be fun but unfortunately I have quite a bit of anxiety over it. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
I am curious to get some perspectives from folx of this "Beloved Community" on wether they are, or are not, attending GA this year (either in person or virtual).
I have attended virtually twice over the years, but I am weighing in going in person (there definitely is significant financial costs involved even with the scholarships).
I have spoken with some members of my congregation and they only seem vaguely aware of GA/many seem relatively uninterested.
It's interesting to me a Universalist offered convocation held 100 years ago still holds the record of most attendance (5,000+ per David Robinson's book) compared to around 2-3k in person today (though zoom probably increases this number?)
Though for a faith of over 200,000, 3k is 1.5%, which still seems a small percentage).
Please share your thoughts!
I recently left a high demand religion (mormonism) and while I don’t miss being religious I do miss the community. I attended UU once and really enjoyed it. However, I’m not super anxious to join another church at the moment. How long can I keep attending before being expected to become a member? What does membership look like?