The Coffee House - the UU Fellowship Thread (churches, experience)

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Bennettresearch

Hi Maize. I am from (gasp) Seattle. I don't drink Starbucks! does that make me a heretic?

Nah, you would fit right in. Orthodox UUs don't drink Starbucks; only free-trade. I'm the heretic because I actually like Starbucks.

Yes, yes, I know they're a big chain corporation and crowd out the family-owned coffee shops, but I like the taste of their over-roasted coffee dammit! Besides, Starbucks treats their employees very well. Even part-timers get health coverage. And I've tried all the locally owned cafes in my area and they just don't make good mochas.

Originally Posted by Bennettresearch

I guess I misunderstood what UU was. I though it said Yoohoo.

UU, Yoohoo, I'll answer to either.

btw, pleased to meet you, bennettresearch. Interesting handle.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Maize

"Church of All Souls" is growing on me too. But an across the board change seems unlikely. I wonder how many would support the change?

What are you guys talking about?

Hey Maize, when are you coming to visit my All Souls church in DC? (as opposed to the hundred other All Souls churches across the nation) I even have a futon for you to crash on if you need it. Heck, I'll even buy free-trade coffee. (Tho you'll have to make it yourself as I am the world's worst coffee maker and wouldn't wish to subject you to that.)

We had our Home-coming Sunday at church today, after the slow summer months, and the place was packed and rockin. It really did feel like coming home and I was thinkin that I wanted to share that with more people. Not that other UUs don't have their own dear spiritual homes, and I would like to visit them too!

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Nozem

Hello, I am living in Hove, England and am interested in Unitarianism, have also visited the local Unitarian Chapel in Brighton, 2-3 miles away, www.brightonunitarian.org.uk
I notice from their publicity literature that the first Unitarian congregation meeting ever took place in a room at Essex Street near The Strand in the City of London on 17th April 1774. I was wondering if the 17th April is marked at all by today's Unitarians.

Can't speak for all Unitarians but it's not observed by us. I'd say that by far the biggest holiday for American UUs is Martin Luther King's birthday, with Earth Day maybe being a distant second. I think that there are some significant differences between American UUs and British Unitarians and Universalists (not that we don't also have some significant commonalities).

So the first meeting was in 1774? What about the Unitarians in Transylvania? I'm pretty sure they predate 1774 and find it hard to believe they never had a meeting. Are they refering specifically to the congregationalist tradition?

More importantly, did you enjoy your visit? And even more importantly, welcome to RF!

[Green Gaia]

I've never heard of bubble tea... I'd try it though.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by lilithu

What are you guys talking about?

Hey Maize, when are you coming to visit my All Souls church in DC? (as opposed to the hundred other All Souls churches across the nation) I even have a futon for you to crash on if you need it. Heck, I'll even buy free-trade coffee. (Tho you'll have to make it yourself as I am the world's worst coffee maker and wouldn't wish to subject you to that.)

We had our Home-coming Sunday at church today, after the slow summer months, and the place was packed and rockin. It really did feel like coming home and I was thinkin that I wanted to share that with more people. Not that other UUs don't have their own dear spiritual homes, and I would like to visit them too!

I'm hoping to make a weekend trip up to DC sometime this Fall when my son has a 3-day weekend and I'm not teaching RE that Sunday. We want to do the whole Smithsonian and touristy thing... and yeah visit All Souls on Sunday.

We had our Ingathering yesterday as well, did the whole Water Cermony thing, my son loved it. Any chance to get up in front of everyone and talk, he's there! Too bad no one can understand half the things he says, I had to interpert, lol. We went to the early service, not too packed, but busier than it was in the summer and the 11am service was said to be packed.

[Green Gaia]

Autumn Prayer

by Barbara Pescan, parish minister,
the Unitarian Church of Evanston, Illinois

May the glory of the passing away of autumn
lie about us
fresh gold
for a time.
And when the dark comes, and the cold
may we remember how today we stand in glory,
how we walk in bounty
heaped upon earth’s dark carpet,
how we move knee deep in abundance
flung against night’s winter curtain.
We are thankful for it coming
and for its passing.

Let it be.

This reading is taken from our hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition, #656

[Nozem]

Hello, I am living in Hove, England and am interested in Unitarianism, have also visited the local Unitarian Chapel in Brighton, 2-3 miles away, www.brightonunitarian.org.uk
I notice from their publicity literature that the first Unitarian congregation meeting ever took place in a room at Essex Street near The Strand in the City of London on 17th April 1774. I was wondering if the 17th April is marked at all by today's Unitarians.
Can't speak for all Unitarians but it's not observed by us. I'd say that by far the biggest holiday for American UUs is Martin Luther King's birthday, with Earth Day maybe being a distant second. I think that there are some significant differences between American UUs and British Unitarians and Universalists (not that we don't also have some significant commonalities
So the first meeting was in 1774? What about the Unitarians in Transylvania? I'm pretty sure they predate 1774 and find it hard to believe they never had a meeting. Are they refering specifically to the congregationalist tradition?

More importantly, did you enjoy your visit? And even more importantly, welcome to RF!

************************************************** ************************************************** ****************
Thank you for your welcome Lilithu.
Yes, I had read that Unitarianism can be traced back to Transylvania in the 16th century so I will enquire further, perhaps the publicity material for the Brighton Unitarian Church meant the first British Unitarian service.
I have been back and gain something from being there- and hope to be able to offer something in return. I find the hymns with very obvious Christian reference points hard to get used to. From talking to a regular member originally from Manchester ( Northern England), it seems that there is a difference between the regions of Britain, with the North being more Christian orientated.

[lilithu]

Namaste Nozem.

Originally Posted by Nozem

I have been back and gain something from being there- and hope to be able to offer something in return.

That's a great attitude! In our congregation we find that the members who get the most out of church are the ones who, like you, look to see what they can give back. Service is an integral part of spiritual practice.

Originally Posted by Nozem

I find the hymns with very obvious Christian reference points hard to get used to. From talking to a regular member originally from Manchester ( Northern England), it seems that there is a difference between the regions of Britain, with the North being more Christian orientated.

Last Sunday at my church, the first song that the choir sang was "There is a balm in Gilead," a classic Negro spiritual. I happened to be sitting in the front row and I swear that the soloist was looking straight at us as she sang, "My Lord! my Lord! He can move mountains! and He can cure cancer!..." My pagan, non-theist friend who was sitting next to me leaned over and said, "well, what's taking him so long then?" I must admit that it was a little unnerving. But then the next song that the choir later sang was "Imagine" by John Lennon. When the soloist (a different one) got to the part, "imagine no religion; it's easy if you try; nothing to kill or die for; above us only sky" my friend leaned over again and said, "That's what I love about UU, that I can be in church and still hear that."

The point of my story is, even if the Christian language is a little unsettling to you, bear with it, at least for a while. Hopefully, you will find that you share ideals with the congregation that transcend your differences.