August Unitarian Universalist Thread - All Welcome

[Adele_Mommy]

Welcome to the August support, community, information, conversation, and fun thread for UUs and UU curious.

Here is the link to the previous July Thread.

Come on in and say "Hi", ask a question, tell a story, or feel free to just lurk for awhile.

By the turning of the seasons we are barely halfway through summer, but local culture makes me feel like summer is winding down. My daughter goes back to school in just two and a half weeks. What does this time of year feel like and mean to you?

Here is a quote from my favorite source, Albert Einstein:

A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest--a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

Wishing you all a month of peace, joy, love, and harmony.

:

Adele

[Adele_Mommy]

: too many windows open!

It's a new month and time for a new thread! Come join us on the August UU Thread.

[siobhang]

subbing - skipping church today to go to the outlets (I am SOO going to UU hell. Um what would UU hell look like, anyhow?)

[Adele_Mommy]

I've heard it said that in UU hell no one will argue with you ever again!

[artgoddess]

Originally Posted by Adele_Mommy

I've heard it said that in UU hell no one will argue with you ever again!

that's funny!

[VisionaryMom]

Thanks to those of you (Adele and artgoddess) who commented on my issues with my church in the July thread. I'm going to send a message to the person in charge of our marketing to ask about using the newer ad campaigns.

Our church will be going to weekly services in September. Right now we're twice monthly. There are some concerns (money, mainly), but one of the things we're doing is having lay-led services twice monthly. We have someone who's training/interning (not sure of the right word) with our parent UU congregation to be a UU minister who's going to do our service once a month. We also have a woman who teaches at a regional seminary who will be leading once monthly, so there will be *some* consistency. Actually I'm excited to see how the lay-led services will go. We have some older folks with interesting pasts.

I've decided to lead a service about being an adult survivor of child sexual abuse. My point is that our experiences are what we make of them - a bit of a philosophical change for me. I'm nervous. I've never shared that information in a public forum. In fact very few people know...

As for summer, I feel the same way Adele. I'm so *not* ready for summer to be over, but we're gearing up for "fall." School starts August 26 for DC and me (I'm starting grad school FT!). Dance classes and soccer start next week! There's just so much coming up, and I honestly love the flurry of activity, but I'm a little anxious.

[Adele_Mommy]

Hi Brandi,

I'm glad to hear you have some ideas for things to do to help your church move closer to your "ideal church". I always feel better when I have an action plan!

I think it is courageous of you to lead a service on such a personal and traumatic topic. I bet your congregation will be moved and inspired. Good luck with your service and please let us know how it goes!

Adele

[siobhang]

Originally Posted by Adele_Mommy

I've heard it said that in UU hell no one will argue with you ever again!

bwahahahahahahahah

and of course there would be NO COFFEE!

[Stargirl]

subbing

ps- Adele: how do you still have a signature?

[Adele_Mommy]

Welcome to this month's thread, Stargirl.

I saved my signature off in a message to myself before they removed them, and then put it back after they were done with the maintenance. If you didn't save yours you can just make a new one now and it should stay.

[Stargirl]

Thanks Adele. I thought signatures were gone for good. I enjoy them so much as it gives a glimpse into the people that we meet here.

I am wondering if anyone has any promotional posters for Junior and Senior OWL that appeals to youth, particularly those in the broader community and not just our congregations. I know that it is a long shot, but any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Many thanks in advance!

[Adele_Mommy]

I recently joined the Religious Services Committee at my church. We do the behind the scenes stuff to help services run smoothly. Everything from helping lay leaders/speakers choose hymns to making sure the chalice has sterno. I am now responsible for scheduling young readers (kids) to read the children's story each week. It's fun!

Stargirl - I don't have any promotional posters for OWL and don't really know where one would get them. Sorry.

[Adele_Mommy]

Last Sunday was our minister's first service back from his summer break. I have been so looking forward to his return, but I figured the service couldn't possibly live up to the anticipation. Well - it did! :

The sermon was great - funny and inspiring as usual. And the service was so high energy. We are still on our summer schedule of just one service each weekend, so the room was packed. We even ran out of hymnals and had to share. No big deal. At the end the minister told us to put them down anyway and we were all clapping our hands and singing "I'm On My Way" I left so energized!

[Adele_Mommy]

Our Blending of the Waters service will be September 13. When is your congregation having this service, if you have it? What water are you planning to bring?

[Vojerleda]

we have our "water communion" in winter. That's when our congregation swells, and I don't have any water yet I should have collected some yesterday, when we had rain for a whole hour- the most rain for more than 5 months.

[Adele_Mommy]

That makes sense. I love that the most common UU rituals can be adapted to work best for each congregation and still be shared and recognizable to UUs all over!

[Adele_Mommy]

It's a new month and time for a new thread. Come join us on the September UU Thread!