Faith Without Borders: Spiritual Support
Congregations provide spiritual support to brothers and sisters around the world by including them in their spiritual practices. During worship, in meditation, through prayer, while singing, preaching, and in many other ways, Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations can extend themselves, spiritually, to brothers and sisters around the world.
UU congregations are invited to use the following check-list as a way of evaluating the inclusion of Spiritual Support in their international engagement.
- We include a global chalice lighting during worship once a month (or more often).
- We employ an international theme in worship 4 times per year.
- We often include specific groups of people from all over the globe in our thoughts and prayers.
- We sing hymns with international themes/lyrics/tunes.
- We celebrate international engagement accomplishments during worship.
- 25% of our congregation understands the theological basis of our international engagement.
- 50%
- 100%
During nearly every worship service the international commitment of our congregation is expressed. If your congregation fulfills two or more of these examples of offering spiritual support, you’re well on the way towards integrating this aspect of international engagement. Please consider choosing one or two additional elements to grow into over the next 1-3 years. If there are other ways in which your congregation is providing spiritual support internationally, please share them with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) International Resources Office (IRO).
Resources for Spiritual Support
- The International Council of Unitarian Universalists (ICUU) Global Chalice Lighting is updated each month and distributed by email. You can receive the latest version by subscribing to iNews from the UUA. It is also available on the ICUU website or from the UUA website.
- There are many resources that can provide assistance in creating excellent internationally-themed worship services. The UU Service Committee (UUSC), for example, provides internationally-themed resources for UUSC Sunday and for the Guest at Your Table program every year. The UU Partner Church Council (UUPCC) offers a long index of internationally-themed sermons on its website that can certainly provide inspiration.
- Remembering international relationships during prayer and meditation is a powerful way of extending your congregation’s spiritual support. The UUA and the IRO occasionally provide mediations and prayers for congregational use.
- Singing the Living Tradition contains many compositions with international themes, some with tunes and/or lyrics written by Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists from all over the world, including #’s: 8, 28, 56, 59, 78, 159, 171, 172, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 182, 185, 188, 191, 227, 305, 322, 332, 352, 398. When including a hymn with an international theme during worship be sure to call the congregation’s attention to its origin and the reason it was selected.
- Congregational worship is a perfect opportunity to lift up and celebrate international engagement. Highlight how your congregation and its international partners share spiritual gifts, express generosity, overcome differences, and grow in commitment to each other. In a similar way, a prophetic voice during worship can be invaluable for building commitment to international engagement.
- Please contact the IRO for materials that help develop an understanding of the theological basis of international engagement.
- Congratulations if your congregation expresses its international vision every week! Please share your story.
For more information contact international @ uua.org.
Last updated on Wednesday, June 11, 2008.
