This week we went Universalist~
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| Mon, 10-03-2005 - 10:02am |
So this week, 17dd and I hit the Universalist church. This researching stuff has really been not only fun but very illuminating. **The only reference point that I have for organized religions is attending RC Churches and catacism, Lutheran for about 5 minutes and the same for visiting a Baptist church of my friends years ago. Not to mention many many prayer meetings that my mom took me to when I was around 12.
Well, the Universalist church differed from the Unitarian meeting by simply adding the Lord's Prayer, which I happen to really like, and it was a slight bit more organized than the Unitarian. Both services were somewhat more casual than I'm used to and definitely filled with love, acceptance and the strong presence of faith, hope and - sounds odd to say - but a sense of righteousness; a mutual belief system (like we're all on the same page). The Universalist church is also very inclusive of all religions, but clearly Christian based. I only heard Jesus's name uttered once throughout the service, and while there is a cross up on the altar, there is no crucifix and there was one picture of Jesus with all his disciples; no Mary, no Infant Jesus. This week's service happened to be about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and what they stand for - turns out they basically celebrate stopping, resting and taking a breath - a good long breath for release and reflection. Exactly what I needed to hear, to be honest.
Anyway, at the onset of the sermon, the minister (a woman-I really love that), read a poem about how we rush around in our day to day lives and then she weaved the special meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur into her message. It was very nice - I think I liked it better than the Unitarian but dd and I are still undecided.
DD said she thinks she may just go out and buy a yoga mat and meditate each morning....I told her that a nice walk in the woods may also help her connect with life and God as well. But she's agreed that we should check out some more churches/meetinghouses.
Just thought I'd share our experience.

My dd6 and I have attended a Unitarian Universalists church twice in the past few weeks. My religious background consists of being raised LDS (Mormon) but have been inactive for over 10 years now. The past 10 years have been spent with hardly any efforts or interest in figuring out just what I do believe. I took an online quiz at Beliefnet.com called Belief-O-matic and came out 100% UU. I had never even heard of it! Based on some research and attending I feel like I may have found a spiritual home! It's pretty exciting.
The only draw back so far is part of my reasons for seeking a church is for the social side of things. I've only lived in the state I do for a year and have found myself pretty lonely. this congregation I went to seems to be a much older crowd. I'm 31 and I would say there's a lot of 55+ folks there. Disappointing. However, we've only gone twice so i don't want to be too quick to judge it.
Our first service was really cool for me. It was so much more free spirited than any service I had ever been a part of. The Reverand (also a woman) gave a sermon on "Home" and what that means to each of us. That there is our childhood home, the home of our parents, out current homes and the *home* within us. It was very, very timely for me and I have been feeling very homesick.
What I love about UU is that it's not based on fear or guilt or shame and that is SOOO important to me.
Good luck in your search. I hope we both find our "home". :-)
wrtitten by irakrause@netzero.com in the mist of trouble you can be in
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will treat yourself written by ira krause if you write above email can send you more if not ok. petrhaps you will know we are living to gain LIfe and receive more truth to dispell more erros and have a genuine heart relationship to receive our needs and some wants from the magesties unlimited supply to receive and dispense under Holy Spirit Guidance. Now understand this there is a difference between religion and spiritual Life the unfoldment of reality and your resurection.////the capacity of many precious ones to preform (even though some errors will happen)For these precious doers that do not allow ignorance to control both in life and death.///////It is a known and proven fact that that the processes of life are operative.The conflict that arises in spiritual birth ,identified at the inflow of spiritual energies,enables the ego to take conscious mastery over the mental ,soul, and physical forces,establishing as a result the purity of consciousness essential to function the Christ Seed. The Christ seed is the physical result of the Christed ideas realized as living principles of being. That is to say thatideas of Truth .actualized in words and acts, react to form the essences of spirit, the principle of form being in the will of man. (thank you precious ones) When the will ot thought, word, and act is conformed to the Truth,Divine Will is identified, by which the spiritual essences developed are formed as the nucleus of the body to be.sent by irakrause@netzero.com////The goal of life is not marriage but love. Those who function God as love are
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Enjoy the journey!
Blessings on your journey. :) It's a special time to be a seeker. There is so much to learn and absorb and evaluate. Best wishes on finding just the right place for sacred practices. ;)
Hugs,
Gypsy
--"What is it like to be a witch?"
"It is like being a pumpkin. The Goddess picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then She cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. She removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc., and then She carves you a new smiling face and puts Her Light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
Osmama: I hope you find your new home in spirit also! This past sunday we attended a UU church nearer to our home. I don't think there was anyone under 60-65 in the place, which made my *almost* 18 y/o dd a little uncomfortable. There was really no specific sermon or minister present. They predominantly have guest speakers and one person leads the meeting (of only about 20 ppl) each week with whatever that week's topic happens to be. This week it was about 'saving our woods' and dealt with local sprawl, which is actually a topic of interest for me. This particular groups is obvious more politically minded, but I met this really great older woman - she was the coolest. She actually grew up near where I did in NY and she shared with me her philosophy about 'religion' and 'spirituality'. She says that she is on the mailing list for several churches and synagogues in her town and surrounding areas and she chooses where to go each week based on the content of each church's theme that particular week. She said she's been exposed to so much more than she ever would have been if she singled out just one place to worship. She said she does not prescribe to any particular sect or religion, however, she does have a strong sense of something greater than herself and the propensity to do right and be connected with the life all around her. I really liked her views. I've signed up for mailings at each church we've attended, so who knows, I may wind up like her.
Gypsy: Most of the past 15 years, my sole connection in regards to 'religion' has been pagan. I have my altar, I have my Goddesses and I do worship within my home. My younger dd likes to tell her friends that I'm a witch, which I'm not really...lol. I have studied Wicca, Green Witchcraft and Paganism, read Cunningham and the like. I feel my strongest connection with the Earth, Sun and Moon to be sure, however, I am seeking the community aspect of those connections. I really am feeling the need to connect with others on the same plane. For too long I've been a solitary worshipper and felt myself slipping away. I am feeling a pull, this may in fact be JUST the right time for me as my children grow and become thier true selves, leaving me more time to explore my own.
BB
"I really am feeling the need to connect with others on the same plane. For too long I've been a solitary worshipper and felt myself slipping away. I am feeling a pull, this may in fact be JUST the right time for me as my children grow and become thier true selves, leaving me more time to explore my own."
I think our spiritual journey is never stagnant. ;) I am a Solitary Wiccan, and there are times when I feel lonely for others who believe as I do. On-line connections help, DD & I do some ritual work together, also. I do have connections to other Pagans through our local Pagan store. They offer classes, and ritual events around the Sabbats as well. I just don't feel like I want to join a coven or a church such as the Univesalists that would not have a problem with my beliefs, but I do understand the desire to worship with others sometimes, too. ;) I Iike the individual connection that I have that permeates my life, but I do understand the desire to connect with others. For me, that's an occasional need rather than one that I want to pursue on a regular basis.
I think you are following your inner guidance and wisdom on your spiritual path. That is as it should be. :)
Gypsy
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(