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]
People in all faith traditions have had mystical experiences, including members of the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Therefore, they consider the potential for having such experiences inherent in human nature. Mystical experiences have four general characteristics: ineffability (they defy expression in words) noetic quality (they provide deep insight) transiency (they don’t last long, though their … Continue reading On Mystical Experiences [#96]
Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (SUUF) members have much in common. All are brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers, who have traveled unique paths through life before coming together. Although diverse in age, ethnicity, gender, and spirituality, they all want to make a difference for their world and themselves. Their theological beliefs may vary, but they share … Continue reading What Unitarians Have in Common [#95]
With the coming of Spring, we’re inspired to spend more time outdoors enjoying nature’s colorful annual renewal. Most faith traditions focus on studying a scripture indoors. At the Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, we “worship” in the outdoors, as well. A central UU principle expresses our deep “respect for the interdependent web of all existence of … Continue reading On Nature [#94]
An active Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship congregant recently died after a short illness, stunning those who knew him. Although we know death comes for us all, we also know that we each have a unique life and offer something to this world that will never exist again. Before death, we are available to travel the … Continue reading Death and Grieving [#93]
