Congregation of Unitarian Universalists

Joining a Congregation

En Español

Membership Sunday

Prelude and Opening Words:   Handwoven  (the newcomer poem)   by liz james

because our faith cannot be found
in any book, or any temple
held deep, it is most visible
in the spaces between us
when our hands touch in greeting
when our voices interweave


so much a part of daily living
we forget there are people
who had never imagined
this is possible


who sit in the corner of a service
with eyes filled with tears
and dream of belonging here


what a tragedy
if even one melts away
unwelcomed, only because
we could not hear their dreams

Lighting the Chalice:

Lest we forget the great traditions of freedom and faith which are the heritage of humanity; lest we forget the parents, the teachers, the pioneers, the peacemakers, the bridge builders, the artists; and all who worked to provide this world we enjoy today: we light this chalice in remembrance.

For the hope of a better world, in which righteousness and peace shall prevail among the peoples of the earth, and in our work to recreate our world in peace which is the task of this generation in which we now stand, as well as for the courage and faith we shall need if we are to carry on this unfinished work: we light this chalice of consecration.

May each flame upon the altar of freedom’s faith shine in our hearts always, reminding us of the fearful places to which we may carry light and strengthening us in moments of doubt and discouragement.

May we not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. We are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are we free to abandon it.

Prayer: ( followed by a moment of silent meditation)

In the quietness of this place and in the Spirit of this Community in which we share and find strength let us pray. We invoke the presence of Love in our hearts, to share it today among us and then spread it to the world. Therefore, let nobody feel a stranger in this circle and may all feel welcome. Let us continue our prayer in silence.

Joys and Concerns: : (We throw a small stone into this bowl filled with water, to symbolize our thoughts, which move in circular rings eternally, like concentric waves.)

We invite you to share your joys and concerns since our last meeting

Story for All Ages:  (the children go to Religious Education at the end of the story and the adults sing "Spirit of Life" )

Hymn::    # 123  (STLT)   "Spirit of Life"   by Carolyn McDade (adapted)

Spirit of Life, come unto us,
Sing in our hearts all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in our hands, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold us close; wings set us free;
Spirit of Life, come to us, come to me.

Affirmation Reading:

It is a privilege to welcome you amonus. We hope at this time you will come to think of this congregation as your religious home. Ours is an ongoing and unfolding community. As you make your place among us, we invite you to bring your gifts and your insights, your joys and your hopes to our time together, here.

Welcome Reading:

We welcome you as fellow seekers in the journey to discover and live by the truths and values that give meaning to life. Here we agree to walk together in the spirit of mutual love and respect in fthe hope that together we will find spiritual growth, deeper understanding and a call to greater service. Our mutual efforts strengthen this congregation, and we are strengthened by it.

Affirmation by New Members:

I affirm my commitment to this congregation and the responsibilities that it entails. I welcome the path of this free Unitarian Universalist Congregation and its disciplines of tolerance, respect, acceptance and love. I enter this community willing to grow and ready to serve

Affirmation of the Congregation:

As you have affirmed your commitment to this church, we affirm our commitment to you. We invite you to take part in all that this community offers and to share with us your vision, your wisdom and your dreams. Welcome!

Recognizing that we are individual who need one another, we stand as a community held together by the promises we make and keep.

We promise to :

Share the ministry of our community through our gifts of time, talen and money,

Care for and support each other,

Celebrate our intentional diversity with joy and gratitude,

Attend to our differences with openness, compassion and trust.

Create healing by listening and speaking in the spirit of love.

Be steadfast in support of our community in times of disagreement,

Strive to live our Unitarian Universalist principles and congregational mission.

Discussion Theme: What does membership mean to me? Copyright Congregation Unitarian Universalist of Puerto Rico Domestic Non-Profit Corporation #6268

Most people belong to many groups in their life times, some are social groups, others, like scouting involve special interests. What are some groups to which you have belonged ? What did membership in a group mean to you? Is membership in a church different?

Benediction:

We do not all have to share the same views, but we must look for the common threads that bind us. This is the true definition of religion. This is what we all long for in these unsettled times. For of what use is it to nourish our spirit in this sacred space if we do not carry that nourishment home with us and share it with the rest of our family, our friends, our community and our world ? If, here, you have found freedom, take it with you into the world. If you have found comfort, go and share it with others. If you have dreamed dreams, help one another, that they may come true! If you have known love, give some back to a bruised and hurting world. Go in peace.

*Closing circle of hands:

(Holding hands or link arms as you read the closing words together)

Extinguish Chalice:

And now we extinguish our chalice but not:
The warmth of community,
The spirit of gratitude,
Nor
The fire of commitment and shared compassion of this community.
The light of hope, hope for change that brings new blessings into our lives and the lives of those around us continues to burn brightly, we carry hope in our hearts until we are together again.

*Hymn:    Go now in Peace     

Go now in Peace, Go now in Peace,
May the Love of God surround you
Everywhere, everywhere, You may go



How to Convert to Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalism is a small but established religion that does not give its members set answers about what to believe. Its members work for a better world and enjoy a wide diversity of opinions . Many people come to Unitarian Universalism because they want a religion for themselves or their children that doesn't scare or patronize them, while still providing community and a chance each week to look at the "big picture" of life or engage with pressing social issues.

Steps

1. Know that you are not alone. Many people are Unitarian Universalists. You may have heard of "Unitarian" but not "Universalist." They used to be two separate religions but merged into one denomination in the early 1960s. Thomas Jefferson was a Unitarian (which later became Unitarian Universalism) and there are many more examples of famous reformers who came from one side or the other of the faith.
2. Understand that Unitarian Universalism is a non dogmatic religion without a creed that you must accept. In this religion, you are free to explore, refine, and change your religious beliefs. If you don't believe that others are similarly allowed to explore and express their own beliefs, you will probably find yourself uncomfortable in a UU congregation. "The worth and dignity of every person" is a common theme among UUs, who tend to support liberal causes. Although it is entirely possible to be a religious liberal and a political conservative, it can be a challenge to be a UU because the members generally hold very liberal views on such issues as economic fairness, gay rights, immigration reform, etc. Political conservatives may need to insist on their right to hold their own views and remind other UUs what it means to accept diversity.
3. Find a church in your area. This could be done by using Google Maps or visiting the website of the Unitarian Universalist Association . There are many UU churches around the world. Most congregations will accept you and are used to people visiting just to learn about their religion.
4. Ask questions. UUs love questions and the questioning spirit! That's why most of them came to this faith. After your first service, you will most likely have many questions. If the congregation has a minister, she or he will be glad to talk with you or make an appointment. If not, find someone to talk with at the social hour. They say, however, that "if you've seen one UU service, you've seen one UU service." Services can vary widely from week to week, even within one congregation, so find out the upcoming service topics, pick a few interesting ones, and attend more than once.
5. Sign the membership book. Once you decide that you want to make a commitment to the congregation, find out from the minister or one of your new UU acquaintances what you would need to do to become a member. There may be an orientation class to attend, or it may be as simple as signing your name to a membership book.

Tips

• Get involved right away! Your own initiative makes the difference in feeling connected to the congregation. Join an interest group, volunteer to help serve coffee during social hour, or find a committee on which you would like to serve. Financial support is also expected but the amount is left to the individual to decide. As you become more involved, you will usually want to pledge more towards the congregation's mission, activities, and operating expenses. After all, you'll want the doors to be open for the next seeker such as yourself!
• If you have "baggage" from bad experiences in other religions, such as your childhood religion, you may need to work to resolve those old feelings so that you can move forward in a positive way with your new religious community.

Warnings

• If you are homophobic, racist, sexist, ageist, or intolerant of any other broad classes of people, expect your views to be challenged. Unitarian Universalists were one of the first denominations to ordain gays and lesbians and to sanctify the relationships of same-sex couples in religious ceremonies. The denomination was also early to ordain women, and women ministerial school graduates currently outnumber men.
• Deliberately disruptive or disrespectful behavior will not be condoned. You'll find a lot of acceptance and interest if you're sincere, but if you just want to cause trouble, this will not be a good religious home for you.
• This is not an "anything goes" religion. You will not feel comfortable if, for instance, you denigrate other people or just want an audience for your favorite cause.

Related wikiHows

• How to Practice Unitarian Universalism
• How to Say a Unitarian Universalist Prayer
• How to Forgive Someone Without Using Religion
• How to Convert to a New Religion
• How to Get to a Higher Place Without the Need for Religion

Sources and Citations

• http://media.uua.org:8080/asxgen/Voices.wmv
• http://uua.org/aboutus/findcongregation/index.php

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Convert to Unitarian Universalism. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.





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