Worship at the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is about relationship. Unitarians are inspired by care and concern for one another, for the world-wide human family, for their natural environment, and for their relationship with Mystery, or Wisdom, or God. Their weekly service connects them to what’s deeper, wiser, and more compassionate than their usual preoccupations, … Continue reading Unitarian Worship (#106)
Every individual is on a spiritual journey. For some, the journey is an exciting adventure; others barely acknowledge it. Members of the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship respect each other’s journeys and beliefs. They want everyone to feel free to map that journey for themselves. The routes they take may vary as much as human characteristics … Continue reading Unitarian Journeys [#105]
Since members of the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship don’t have a common creed, can they believe whatever they want? Well, yes and no. UUs certainly are free to form their own beliefs about the nature of reality and their meaning or purpose in it. And they do. Ask any individual UU, and you’ll find that most have clear beliefs about many of life’s ultimate questions. And, for other questions, they are still discovering which beliefs resonate with them and which do not. Would they, therefore, say they believe … Continue reading What UUs Must Believe [#104]
What do Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowshipers say about their faith? Here are some examples: “Our faith celebrates the beauty, diversity, and goodness of all creation—all life. We believe in love and compassion for all—and in using what we learn to make the best choices we can.” “UU is people who covenant to treat one another … Continue reading How UUs Describe Themselves [#103]
People new to the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship often remark about the integrity of its members. When Peter Van de Bogert thinks back to the dimly lit interior and thick stained-glass windows of his childhood church in Maine, he recalls that his parents’ infrequent Sunday attendance contrasted sharply with their message that church was important. … Continue reading Unitarian Integrity [#102]
People at the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SUUF) don’t want to disappoint newcomers. So they discourage several expectations. For example, don’t expect to hear at SUUF familiar spiritual platitudes, sermons that point to one religious belief as the solution to all problems, or affirmations of age-old ways of thinking. SUUF isn’t a place for easy, … Continue reading On Expectations [#101]
Besides knowing a faith’s creed, it’s also useful to know what ideas its adherents reject. For example, visitors at the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SUUF) will be uncomfortable if they don’t value sex. That’s not only the act of sex, which they do take seriously as a spiritual aspect of life. By sex, SUUF includes … Continue reading On Sexuality [#100]
The Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is a welcoming place. But it’s not a good fit for everyone. For several reasons, people might want to look elsewhere. One reason is assuming that “Unitarians can believe Anything they want.” Of course, Unitarians admit that their beliefs differ from those of most other religious groups. As Daniel Kanter, Minister … Continue reading Limits to Unitarian Beliefs [#99]
Unitarian Universalist Rev. Joel Miller still remembers the “covenant” of the Columbus, Ohio congregation in which he grew up. It began: “Love is the doctrine of this Church; the quest for truth a sacrament; and service is our prayer. We dwell together in peace, seek knowledge in freedom, and serve all people in fellowship…” These … Continue reading On Living Touchstones [#98]
Members of the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship care about improving the community and country in which they live. But most don’t do it just by siding with one candidate or another during an election campaign. Instead of simply being loyal to a political party, they call their approach “Standing on the Side of Love.” Love … Continue reading Standing on the Side of Love [#97]
