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John 1:1-2 3 and 14: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
"What Prepares us for Sunrise?"
Easter Sunday, April 9, 10:50 am
Easter morning with its tradition of Sunrise Services is about the good news of life resurrected. You can hear that as the story of Jesus as told and passed down, as a reminder of the natural cycle of seasons, or as a metaphor for so much of life that moves from loss to new beginnings and to loss and new beginnings again and again. But like cheap grace, Easter without the days and nights before it, resurrection without loss doesn't make sense. What happens in the in between of all that that we need to remind ourselves of and then celebrate?
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Richard Davis-Lowell, Worship Associate; UUSF Handbell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, Organ; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Jason Park, Trumpet; Bill Ganz, Piano
Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Jackson Munn, Camera; Thomas Brown, Sexton; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
I really need advice and please be brutally honest. I am relatively young, female, latina from a working class background in South America.
I dropped out of college once, I only completed a semester, and that was among Strikes and an abusive relationship (no one's business, I know). Even though after the Strike, I had some really nice grades, I never looked back and applied to other University, where I got my undergrad degree in Education (3.64 GPA)
My GPA isn't good, but for some reason people always believe in me. I'm a really big mess, and I have dipped my feet into several religions and ideologies. Some people say I am a good writer. In a very particular and random way, I've found American Transcendentalism, and then Early 19th Century New England Unitarianism, then Unitarian Universalism. That has been a huge part of my life, in a way. I have already translated a 1838 book -actually a transcribed lecture - by William Ellery Channing, which I consider to be my first "baby". I am -currently- somewhat familiar with the work of Earl Morse Wilbur, too.
I have made true and disinterested connections with important scholars in New England, I have presented at the Thoreau Society and I am a volunteer at a UUA program that deals with International Relations, Interfaith Relations and Diversity. I can't help but dream about HDS, but I think it is too late for me, because just when I found a way to channel my passion and start having a reason to make deliberate efforts, I realized I have this tarnished past to carry as a burden. It is sad, because I think I would be possibly an unexpected candidate, since there is NO UU tradition where I live. Oh, and I also work as a volunteer in my local community sharing what I've learned from Unitarian History books with people that don't speak English. I'm also a part of Liberal Faith Social Justice programs. My country has been through a lot regarding authoritarianism and fundamentalism, so we're trying to make a difference. I know I can apply to other schools, but right now I am mostly worried about HDS.
Even if I get another degree at home, and get stellar results, and then hypothetically almost ace the GRE, is it still impossible ?
I was raised Catholic, but I’m non-practicing. I don’t agree with most of the Catholic ideology and I always felt negative after leaving mass instead of uplifted. I’m a mom to two toddlers and I’m starting to consider how I’d like to incorporate religion into their lives. I think it’s important for kids to be raised with some kind of belief system with the freedom to eventually choose for themselves what they believe. I really like the UU philosophy, but it seems like my local branch is mostly pagan leaning. I’m completely accepting of pagan beliefs, but I still lean more toward Christianity ( I believe in some aspects of the Christian god, believe in heaven, hell, and purgatory). Is it possible to raise kids as Christian UU’s within a mostly pagan congregation?
I grew up without religion or religious education. I tried reading the Bible when I was younger, just to see what all the fuss was about, but got so turned off by Lot and his daughters that I didn’t continue. I feel self-conscious of the allegories in western literature and culture that I don’t fully grasp because I don’t know the stories of the Bible. I want to try to understand where fundamentalists are coming up with their way of thinking. I want to understand history better. I want to know what the Bible really says, not what people say it does. Now 4 years into being a UU, I want to give it another shot, read the whole Bible, and approach it critically, like in a Jefferson Bible fashion. Has anyone else made this journey to tackle the “big book”? Is there a commonly agreed upon version, or one that religious scholars typically use? Any recommendations for making a read-through meaningful or successful?
Went to my first UU service today, it was the first time Id been inside a church of any kind in ~10 years. It was an emotional experience, but I really enjoyed it! The sermon was lovely, and had just enough spirituality/god mixed in with the more humanist/secualar philosophical notes, for me at least. Just wanted to share my experience. The one thing that gave me pause was I seemed to be one of the youngest people there, other than children (im in my late 20's). I was a little hopeful there would be a younger crowd, but I know religion of any kind is a tough sell nowadays.
"You Are Loved"
Sunday, April 2, 10:50 am
If folks from theologians to psychologists to wise elders are correct, love comes first. For all of us to be fulfilled, healthily liberated to be our full selves, we have to know and believe we are loved, for ourselves, as we are. How does it inform how we live, to take that necessity seriously?
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Allen Biggs, Percussionist; Tommy Kesecker, Percussionist; T. Mychael Rambo, Soloist; Mark Sumner, Songleader; Bill Ganz, Pianist
Eric Shackelford, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Thomas Brown, Sexton; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher
Hi, all. I’m new-ish to my congregation, which is the first church I’ve joined as an adult. I’m really enjoying the community, the minister, and UU-ism in general.
My congregation has been without a settled minister for a few years. We finally found one who we like, who likes us back, and all parties want to make it official. Later this year we’re holding a settling ceremony and I’d like to get our new minister something to show my appreciation of their work and the positive impact they’ve made.
Would getting them a gift be appropriate? And if so, what kind of gifts would a minister like/use/appreciate? I get that everyone is different, but any ideas would be useful.
Thanks so much!
Title says most of it.
I'm curious about the UU church. What is it like? Do they require financial contributions? I'd be willing to give sometimes since it's likely how the church survives, but I can't do 10% of my income like I did as an Adventist.
I miss the community of the church. I can't really hang out with my old friends without hearing all about end times bull crap and Ellen White this and Ellen White that.
I do not want to be a part of another Christian church. I'm an atheist now, religion in general seems toxic to me. But the UU church does interest me. Those who have experienced it, what can you tell me about it? Would it be a good fit for an atheist or would the church of Satan be a better option?
I am a late 30s Dad with a couple of kids (6 and 4). Haven't done church since I dated a preachers daughter in high school. I am not exactly socially adept. My wife works Sunday mornings and I am the religious nutter anyway. I already felt like I made a bad impression as I went to online UU meetings for my local UU during the pandemic; even joined up. But I got cold feet and had some personal issues come up when I was all set to make my appearance and canceled about a month out. They didn't get the message apparently as they were expecting me.
I eventually went once late last summer but it was super awkward as I have never done social events with just me and the kids before. My kids didn't want to separate from me, so I went to the kids class with them. No one really talked to us. I felt a bit weird about an interaction with my 3 year old daughter and a Church lady getting on to her almost immediately for what was honestly something extremely minor. We are a "Good Inside" family and never really get on to our kids about anything. Tears were shed... awkwardness.
I really want my kids to get the OWL and RE education, but I just haven't had the will to try again. I am also not sure what I want personally out of, or what I can give to the UU if anything. I am not sure if I can really handle the heavy socializing that seems to be what Church is about.
Anyway, how should I approach this whole Church thing? Thanks for any pleasant replies.
"What Need One?"
Sunday, March 26, 10:50 am
Shakespeare’s King Lear asked the perennial question, "What need one?" I remember it from high school AP English class. Mrs. Laster, who was a force of nature — and put the class at 8 am to discourage the lazy, the dilettantes, the weak — drove it home. The question, that is, not the answer.
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Jordan Ong, Canvass Testimony; Reiko Oda Lane, Organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Bill Ganz, Pianist
Shulee Ong, Camera; Jackson Munn, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Thomas Brown, Sexton; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher; Ralph Fenn, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour
I'm a member of the UU church in downtown Anaheim, California. Since COVID started, we've been meeting on Zoom. Now we're holding hybrid meetings, on Zoom or in person. Eventually, we're going back to meeting strictly in person, no firm date yet. You might be able to find a Zoom service, maybe ours.
hello! i recently found out about UU and joined this sub just barely. it's been great investigating so far.
i'm exmormon (PIMO, if you know what that means) and I've been burned really bad by trusting the religion i was raised in. UU seems so wonderful right now but I want to take my time to determine if this is what i really want to try or not.
i guess the main reason for my hesitance is the rampant sexual abuse, transphobia, and cult tactics in my local community. i don't want to experience that again without tools to cope and report it.
i'm very lost on where to find potential resources for this issue. i greatly appreciate the lgbt friendly tags for the local services but it's all a little overwhelming trying to get info on the more actionable of UU's safety tools.
if anyone has any advice or could offer guidance on how to better understand the formatting of the links in the about section that would be great! and thank you for your time.