Shared Blessings
Gift of the Week: July 22, 2009
Who Gave It: 17 Unitarian Universalists (UUs)
Who Got It: Unitarian Universalism
How Much: Priceless
How It Happened: As a religious body, we are beginning a new fiscal year, under the leadership of a new President. It is worth taking pause and counting our blessings.
That is just what the Stewardship and Development team did in May—as the comprehensive Now Is the Time Campaign was coming to a close—when they asked our donors not for financial contributions, but for words from their own lives and hearts.
On May 15th, on the day of the 48th anniversary of the merger between Unitarianism and Universalism, an email greeting was sent out to approximately 9500 households. In part, it read:
On May 15th, 1961, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations [UUA] came into being. Today we thank you for all your many gifts that have sustained the work of the UUA these 48 years and invite you to share your stories of Unitarian Universalism with us. Please share a story of how Unitarian Universalism has touched your life.
Seventeen UUs took the time to respond. Here are some of them:
- The “feeling of inclusiveness, unconditional love and sharing all for the greater good is the essence of UUism and to it I am bound eternally.”
- “I attended the Unitarian church before the merger and was dedicated there as an infant… [From Sunday School,] the idea that I had the right to choose my own beliefs gave me the feeling of empowerment and the appreciation of nature made me feel love was all around even when people didn't express it. When times were rough, I had this to hold on to.”
- “UUism has meant two things: the ability to pursue faith-based social justice; the recognition of atheist-humanism as a valid religious belief.”
- “As a fourth generation Unitarian—my faith as a UU has never been stronger as it has since my affiliation with my current church…Here we live by our covenant, Love is the teaching of this church, it's quest for truth is our daily task."
- “After being raised in a dogmatic Christian church, UU opened my eyes to the realities of life.”
- “The bottom line is that the UUism is about deeds not creeds, so my own personal journey, beliefs and growth as a person never feel compromised by the Church."
- Unitarian Universalism “has been the one constant thread throughout my life. I was christened (yes, christened)…at All Souls Unitarian Church in Washington, DC, in 1934.”
- “We arrived at Birmingham Unitarian Church with four young boys to try Unitarian Universalism…As I now approach 90, I'm prepared for whatever comes, including that final exit. Unitarian Universalism has given me that strength, and a lasting faith in myself, my lover and my children. One cannot ask for more.”
- “My son, Sean Spivey, was 10 and in the Boy Scouts and saw the Religion in Life patch with the Chalice. He came home and asked ‘Mom, what is that? Whatever it is, I'm that!’ We found the UU Church of Ft. Lauderdale... One of the gifts of being a UU is honoring young people…Sean had cystic fibrosis and died at 16. Unitarian Universalism was a profound blessing to him and to me.”
- “More than 35 years ago, after a life spent as an unchurched agnostic humanist…I ‘found religion’ in a small Unitarian fellowship in Arlington, TX... I do not know what we would have done without UU—it's the center of our lives and a major part of our identity.”
- “I have been a member of CLF for over a decade... UUism allows me to be who I am and in a world that constantly asks us to conform, being accepted as I am and valued just because I am; [this] reminds me not to judge.”
- “Thank you UUA for giving me a spiritual home (at last). I found you … (from) the web site called beliefnet.com... I did some research on the web and found out where the nearest UU (congregation) was... What an astonishing and very, very pleasant surprise it was. This was where I belonged! I loved (love) the people and the freedom to believe what was true to me, was incredible. Each week gets better; I can’t wait till Sunday.”
- “My partner and I had been looking for a church to attend, and a religion to call our own…When we stumbled upon the UUA website, we both nearly cried from happiness. We have shared our new religion with everyone we know, and it has made us feel even more complete and happy. We no longer feel as if religion is something that we cannot partake in, and are extremely excited to become active members in our UUA community.”
The Stewardship and Development team is deeply grateful to those who offer us their stories, as we go about the business of supporting this faith. They inspire us daily to strengthen Unitarian Universalism and make more robust its presence in the world.
Responses cited above are from these friends.[1] Your comments can be added into the mix by going to "Share a Story or Blessing in Your Life."
Happy Anniversary!
Notes
- Gay Phillips, Austin, TX; Joyce Dowling, Brandywine, MD; Charlie Reed, Huntington Beach, CA; Vince Patton, Alexandria, VA; Evan Armstrong, Spokane, WA; Anonymous, Baltimore, MD; Denis A. Whittaker, Gainesville, FL; C. Edwin Howard, East Lansing, MI; Mary Teslow, Franklin, NC; John I. Blair, Arlington, TX; Anonymous, Woodstock Valley, CT; Sheila Hinchliffe, Bluefield/Princeton, WV; Anonymous, Newport, KY
Last updated on Monday, October 5, 2009.
