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The Coffee House - the UU Fellowship Thread
- Thread starter Green Gaia
- Start date
lilithu
The Devil's Advocate
My understanding is that this is what this thread is for. It's a community thread. :hug:jamaesi said:
You're on my prayer list. (You have been for a while now anyway.jamaesi said:
) The fear is totally understandable. I hope it all works out as you (we) wish.:candle:
madcap
Eternal Optimist
Good afternoon. I'm exploring UUism, and stumbled upon this thread. Since I don't have any specific topics to discuss, it seemed to the best place for a first post.
I've attended the local UU church in my city for the past two weeks. Seems nice. I'll need to find a more active way of getting involved before I really know if it's right for me, but for now it's just nice to be attending some kind of service. I was raised as a United Methodist, and while I never really had any negative experiences there (other than boredom), I always resented being forced by my parents to go. Now that it's my choice -- and, as an adult, an hour doesn't feel like an eternity! -- it's a more fulfilling experience.
So...there it is.
I've attended the local UU church in my city for the past two weeks. Seems nice. I'll need to find a more active way of getting involved before I really know if it's right for me, but for now it's just nice to be attending some kind of service. I was raised as a United Methodist, and while I never really had any negative experiences there (other than boredom), I always resented being forced by my parents to go. Now that it's my choice -- and, as an adult, an hour doesn't feel like an eternity! -- it's a more fulfilling experience.
So...there it is.
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
Hi madcap! Welcome to RF and to the UU Coffee House! :coffee2:
What led you to exploring UU? What do you like about it and what are some questions you still have (maybe we can answer them)?
What led you to exploring UU? What do you like about it and what are some questions you still have (maybe we can answer them)?
madcap
Eternal Optimist
Thank you.
Well, I've been struggling since I was a teenager to figure out what to believe in spiritually. I used to deal with that by just ignoring the issue. Lately, though, I've started to feel turning a blind eye to matters of faith is irresponsible. I have strong opinions about ethics and morality, but what are they rooted in?
A friend of mine started attending a UU church a few years ago, and I was introduced to the religion by him (I don't know if he still attends though). In what I'm learning is an extremely common experience, I was shocked that I'd never learned about UUism before! It appealed to my interest in pursuing religious and spiritual thought without having a faith imposted upon me.
My girlfriend is Jewish, so I also started researching UUism as a possible shared fellowship we could participate in together. Alas, she's uncomfortable with the historical Christian roots (though I think she mostly just dislikes that our local congregation calls itself a "Church"), and also doesn't find much meaning in a faith that doesn't ask you to believe in anything specific. So that aspect of it may not bear much fruit, but at least she's happy that I'm getting something out of it.
It's funny, but as I've read postings from other newbies, I'm really struck by questions like, "So you believe in everything? Or you believe in nothing?" It's the personal nature of UUism that's so appealing to me. Where many people are put off by the lack of a creed, I see fantastic opportunity. It may be trite and cliched, but like Life, I see Faith also as a journey rather than a destination. It can and should grow and adapt. I'm not looking to commit to a set of beliefs for life; I'm just looking for a compass and the freedom of an open road. And I think UUs might be good traveling companions, even if we don't all get off at the same exit.
Questions? Hmm...well, I'd like to know why I never knew anything about UUism until my late 20's. Who's in charge of publicity?!
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
madcap said:
HA! That's a good one. There's a UU joke that goes something like, "UUs will take anyone who is smart enough to find them." I chalk it up to our historical (and current) aversion to proselytize our religion. But more and more I think UUs are talking about their religion in an effort to share what they believe so that others who may find it helpful in their journey may benefit as well. I believe we have a wonderful message of hope and life in the here and now and think we should be publizing who we are and what we believe in. Not in an effort to increase numbers but because we know by many of experiences that people are out there looking for us and just don't know we exist.
Well I decided to put U/U back into my profile. The reason why I didn't keep it there is because I don't attend a U/U church, but I agree with all of it's tenets and principles.
Is there anyone here who claims to be a Unitarian Universalist but doesn't attend a church?
Although I was thinking about attending a U/U church since my daugher is getting older. I think it would be a great idea, that way she could choose what she wants to believe in.
Is there anyone here who claims to be a Unitarian Universalist but doesn't attend a church?
Although I was thinking about attending a U/U church since my daugher is getting older. I think it would be a great idea, that way she could choose what she wants to believe in.
dbakerman76
God's Nephew
Tlcmel said:Well I decided to put U/U back into my profile. The reason why I didn't keep it there is because I don't attend a U/U church, but I agree with all of it's tenets and principles.
Is there anyone here who claims to be a Unitarian Universalist but doesn't attend a church?
Although I was thinking about attending a U/U church since my daugher is getting older. I think it would be a great idea, that way she could choose what she wants to believe in.
I don't attend a physical church instead I'm a part of the Church of The Larger Fellowship . Its the UUA's ministry to isolated religious liberals. It was actually started back in 1940's as an outreach to people who were in areas where there were no Unitarian churches. I love the monthly newsletter.The podcast is incredible, and they offer some great online courses. All of the UU churches in my area are a half hour or more from house. That and the fact I always seem to be working Sunday mornings at 11 am makes actual church membership an impossibility.
BrandonE
King of Parentheses
Hey guys. I don't have much time for the forums anymore, but I thought I'd drop by and say hello.
I've missed two Sundays in a row now (out of town trip, then a sick child), so I'm missing church. Thankfully we have an adult RE class I'm participating in right now on The Road Less Travelled which is turning out to be challenging and rewarding. I'd read the book before, but I must have read it in my sleep for all I got out of it before compared to this time. Wow.
Also, we recently had a service followed by a workshop led by Phil Jones, who does services and workshops at UU churches and other locations around the country on sound/spirit connections, and specifically how to use the didgeridoo for meditative practice. I participated in the workshop after the service (which 2.5 hours and an associated $20 fee), and it was really great. I was interested primarily from a musical aspect as I enjoy world music and have been specifically interested in the didgeridoo for a while. The meditative aspect of it was really easy to get, even though I have no personal practice or history of meditation. If you're interested in more info, see his website at http://www.philjonesmusic.com/workshops.html
Anyway, I hope everyone is well.
Brandon
I've missed two Sundays in a row now (out of town trip, then a sick child), so I'm missing church. Thankfully we have an adult RE class I'm participating in right now on The Road Less Travelled which is turning out to be challenging and rewarding. I'd read the book before, but I must have read it in my sleep for all I got out of it before compared to this time. Wow.
Also, we recently had a service followed by a workshop led by Phil Jones, who does services and workshops at UU churches and other locations around the country on sound/spirit connections, and specifically how to use the didgeridoo for meditative practice. I participated in the workshop after the service (which 2.5 hours and an associated $20 fee), and it was really great. I was interested primarily from a musical aspect as I enjoy world music and have been specifically interested in the didgeridoo for a while. The meditative aspect of it was really easy to get, even though I have no personal practice or history of meditation. If you're interested in more info, see his website at http://www.philjonesmusic.com/workshops.html
Anyway, I hope everyone is well.
Brandon
jacquie4000
Well-Known Member
I have actually found a UU church in my area which surprised me, I am going to attend next Sunday to see what it is like.
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
Hey Brandon, it's good to see you again! I'm glad you're doing well. I hope the sick kiddo is better now. :foryou:
Jacquie, that's great! Let us know how it goes and what you think!
I'm freezing my *** off today. I'm moving a couple weeks and was hoping the heating oil I purchased at the beginning of the year would last until the move. Nope. It's out and I can't get a truck out here until this afternoon, and it's cold. I'd go out, but I know as soon as I did, the oil man would come by and leave again because I wasn't home.
Jacquie, that's great! Let us know how it goes and what you think!
I'm freezing my *** off today. I'm moving a couple weeks and was hoping the heating oil I purchased at the beginning of the year would last until the move. Nope. It's out and I can't get a truck out here until this afternoon, and it's cold. I'd go out, but I know as soon as I did, the oil man would come by and leave again because I wasn't home.
jacquie4000
Well-Known Member
I'm freezing my *** off today. I'm moving a couple weeks and was hoping the heating oil I purchased at the beginning of the year would last until the move. Nope. It's out and I can't get a truck out here until this afternoon, and it's cold. I'd go out, but I know as soon as I did, the oil man would come by and leave again because I wasn't home.
That is to funny not that your cold. But it happend to me on Saturday. The main problem was I have an underground tank I thought I had enough to last for awhile yet.
We had a bad snow and ice storm last week, so it was quite fun trying to dig out the spot where the opening to the tank was. Plus shopping for someone to deliver on a Saturday that was not going to charge me an arm and a leg.
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Green Gaia
Veteran Member
jacquie4000 said:
My problem has been finding someone who will deliver less than 100 gallons. I'm moving, and don't want to fill the tank, I just need enough to get through a couple more weeks.
I will be SOOOOO glad to not be dependent on this oil for heat and hot water anymore. Yay electricity! lol OH, and I have a plan to hopefully install some solar panels at my new house once I can find some and afford them. Yay!
jacquie4000
Well-Known Member
When are you moving? You can always dump cans into the tank. I can not remember the name they gave me now. But it comes in 5 gallon cans. Not sure of the cost if you call an oil company they can tell you.
Green Gaia
Veteran Member
2-3 weeks. I did find some to deliver the amount I want, but it's not who I usually use, so I don't know how much they are going to charge me per gallon.jacquie4000 said: