Unitarian Universalists see their unique and ongoing place in the spectrum of faith traditions as involving a “sacred fire.”

They view their commitment to social justice as sacred.  And their motivation to contribute burns from within, rather than requiring ignition from an external source.

In other words, their values don’t depend on commandments from on High as recorded in an ancient scripture.  To feed a hungry child, correspond with a prisoner, assist a youth to succeed, or advocate for voting rights connects them to what’s holy, as surely as anything they do at their religious services.

They meet the divine when they mindfully see, touch, and hear others, especially those struggling to affirm their inherent dignity despite being marginalized by mainstream society.   UUs’ sacred fire burns most brightly when they bring their belief in people’s inherent holiness, or in the universality of human nature, to their encounters with others.

And they don’t do this work separately from people of other faiths.  Their religious tradition involves partnership.  They view their own sacred fire as inseparable from a comparable commitment lying deep within many others who cohabit the interconnected social web of which they are a small part.

The Sedona Unitarian Universalist Fellowship’s membership is growing rapidly.  They’ve nearly doubled the size of their congregation over the past 15 months.  But increased numbers within their ranks is just one path to serving as a strong public witness.  It’s accompanied by partnering with adherents of other faith traditions who have similar values.  Both approaches depend on deeply felt practices of welcome and hospitality, as well as recognizing that people on many other paths also possess that same sacred fire.

May 26, 2023