INFORMATION ABOUT   GLACIER UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP FOR NEWCOMERS WHO ARE THESE  UUs? We are a free church.  All people of goodwill are welcome. We impose no creeds upon ministers or members. We respect the insights which have been expressed within all the great religions of the world, because we believe that truth is not the monopoly of any sect.  Ours is a religion which garners truths from every corner of the universe, every era, every culture. While we are bound by a set of Principles, we leave it to the individual to decide what particular beliefs lead to those principles.  We encourage members of our congregations to develop their own religious wisdoms, truthful to themselves and respectful of others.  We welcome the discoveries of scientists, the perceptions of artists, and the contribution of all cultures to clearer understanding and fuller living.  In our fellowship we hope you will discover your own image of divinity and many pathways to enlightenment. Ours is a religion of deeds rather than creeds.  We honor the biblical injunction to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”  We believe we must take gentle, loving care of the planet, as well. We believe that you can, in whatever situation life finds you, think honestly and live nobly.  We believe that you can, even in the midst of tragedy or death, be a living affirmation of creative love.  We contend that all of us need a community of meaning to assist us in creating abundant lives.  Along life’s journey, we need spiritual companions who will comfort us when we are disheartened and challenge us when we are discouraged, tired or feeling lazy. We believe that the divine and human realms intersect in our worship services whenever we are taken to tears or laughter, silence or action, yearning or compassion.  We are sensitive to the sacred in the commonplace.  Here you may walk in the ways of truthfulness, service, holiness and love.   WELCOME TO OUR FELLOWSHIP We hope you will feel at home here and find this a friendly place. Try attending our services for several weeks,  since topics and format vary from week to week and  it may take a little time for you to become acquainted with us. In the pages which follow, you will find answers to many of the questions that newcomers often ask.  If you have questions which are not answered here, feel free to ask them at the after-service coffee hour, or see any Board member. WHAT IS DISTINCTIVE ABOUT THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH? Here are some of the leading principles: 1) What we mean when we speak of religion is our response to the basic questions as to what life is all about, and how it can best and most meaningfully be lived. 2) None of us is entirely self-sufficient.  We all need companionship and support in this enterprise of life. 3) Our personal integrity is, nonetheless, of supreme importance.  Each of us is a unique person with a unique path to walk in life and  with a unique contribution to make. 4) Religious community, therefore, needs to combine the shared aspirations and efforts of the group, with a respect for individual differences.  This is not easy.  In most places the price of community is conformity.  Unitarian Universalists reject this.  We do not freeze religion into creeds and commandments because we feel that firm beliefs do not have to be fixed beliefs.  We need room to go on growing. 5) We test the validity of our ideas and actions in free discussion among ourselves, in dialogue with those who take other points of view, and in reflecting upon what has been said and done by those who in past and present times have shown their ability to live deeply and fully. 6) Our doors are open to all who wish to share in this experience, no matter what religious affiliation they may have had in the past or have today. 7) Although the names “Unitarian” and “Universalist” carried different meanings a few centuries ago, we call ourselves Unitarian because we see a basic unity underlying all diversities.  We are called Universalist because we live in a universe, not a multiverse.  We want to create a harmony between all aspects of our lives and to express and honor this harmony in our religious faith. 8) Within this fellowship we join in celebrations, questionings and commitments as we attempt to express our religion in action for the enrichment of our own lives and the life of our world. The UU (Unitarian Universalist) way of life is considered more fully in Challenge of a Liberal Faith by George N. Marshall, and in Our Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism by John Buehrens and F. Forrester Church. WHEN DID THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MOVEMENT BEGIN? UU ideas have their roots in the past when humans first protested against conformity and any other tyranny over the mind.  In Western civilization in the 300’s AD, the doctrine of divinity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity (“God of the Father, God of the Son, God of the Holy Ghost”) were decreed, and all who disagreed were labeled “heretics”.  Many Unitarians were executed for their beliefs, including Michael Servetus, who was burned at the stake in 1553 for writing On the Errors of the Trinity. More than a hundred years before the affirmation of the trinity, the seeds of Unitarianism were planted by Origin, an articulate and prolific Egyptian Christian intellectual.  Origin, like the Unitarians, stressed the humanity of Jesus, and also produced the issue on which Universalism was based: he argued that there was no hell and talked of a Benevolent God who would offer salvation to all people. In 1683, the first Unitarian church to use that name was established in Transylvania, and King Sigismund decreed that “no one shall suffer on account of his religion”. In 17^th century England, though Unitarians were still outcasts, their numbers grew.  Often they were led by men and women who found their way into the history books for reasons other than their religious activities:  John Milton, Florence Nightingale, Isaac Newton, and John Locke, for example. In America in the 1770’s, a Universalist named John Murray brought the message of a loving God and of universal salvation to these shores. A scientist and Unitarian minister, Joseph Priestley, after harassment and near lynching in England for his liberal views, established the first openly Unitarian church in America in Philadelphia in 1794. In the 19^th century, both Unitarianism and Universalism became associated with causes of social justice, a concern that endures to this day.  Susan B. Anthony, Julia Ward Howe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Clara Barton were among the prominent members. The Unitarians and Universalists shared first a philosophy of religious tolerance and religious questioning.  Later they shared resources such as religious education materials and a joint hymnal. Finally, on May 11, 1961, they combined their organizational strength by becoming the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations of North America.  Today “there are still questions to be asked, views to be heard, a journey to be shared...the paths have merged but the road goes on.” HOW MANY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS ARE THERE? There are over 1000 organized congregations in North America, comprising over 200,000 individual members--plus 80,000 in Rumania and Hungary, 10,000 in Great Britain and Europe, and small groups in India, the Philippines and Nigeria. SOME LITERATURE USES ONLY THE TERM “UNITARIAN”.  WHY? Churches in Canada and in the rest of the world have chosen to call themselves simply “Unitarian”. WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN? The mission of our Religious Education program is to help children feel part of a loving and supportive community and to encourage development of their religious, ethical, and philosophical understanding.  Children from three years to teens are placed in classes by age group, and there is child care for younger children up to age three.   WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SERVICE COMMITTEE (UUSC) TO THE CHURCH? The UUSC was founded in 1940 to rescue Jews and others from Nazi persecution.  In 2005, Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum in Israel designated the Rev. Waitstill Sharp and Martha Sharp Gogan “Righteous Among the Nations” for their UUSC work.  They are only the second and third Americans to be so recognized. The UUSC establishes partnerships with local social organizations and provides financial and technical support for projects without any theological strings attached.  The UUSC does not proselytize but leaves its beneficiaries free to follow their own faiths. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE “FLAMING CHALICE”? This is a symbol which has grown in importance for UUs during the past half-century, though churches in other countries may have their own traditional symbols, too. The chalice was designed during World War II by an Austrian artist, Hans Deutsch, in gratitude to the Unitarian Service Committee for helping him to escape from the Nazis.  It depicts a stylized chalice from which a flame arises, burning the holy oil of helpfulness and sacrifice, and spreading warmth, light and hope. Both the chalice and the flame are ancient religious symbols that have gathered around them a wealth of meaning over the centuries.  Thus, they link our religion with many universal elements and traditions in the history of human aspirations. WHAT ARE THE WIDER AFFILIATIONS OF GLACIER UU FELLOWSHIP? The UU movement is organized at various levels.  At the national level we are affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), headquartered at 25 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts.  Website: www.uua.org Within the UUA, we are a member of the Mountain Desert District (MDD) - congregations in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico – a total of 37 churches and fellowships. More locally, we are affiliated with regional UUs (congregations in Missoula, Helena, Bozeman and Billings) known as MAUUA—Montana Area Unitarian Universalist Association. All these groups hold conferences to which delegates from our congregations are invited.  The groups may provide some financial assistance and also help with organizational, educational, and spiritual resources and support. Each year, our denomination holds a week-long General Assembly (GA) to determine the UU agenda and focus for coming years.  UUs feel pride in their democratic participation in these sessions – delegates from each church and fellowship are able to vote on all issues. HOW CAN I BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS FELLOWSHIP? Fellowship Councils are open to anyone interested in attending.  Dates and times are announced in our newsletters (and are also posted on the web at www.glacieruu.org).  If you provide us with your e-mail address, we will inform you of schedule changes and additional events. In a small fellowship, as well as in a larger church, some initiative must rest with the newcomer wishing to become more fully involved.  If you have come to see what we are like and wish to go away quietly to consider what you have seen and heard, your wishes will be respected.  We encourage you, though, to remain after our services for coffee hour, where you can meet members, share your experiences, and ask any questions. There is reading material we can give to you if you wish to learn more about UUs.  Anyone on our Board or on the Membership Committee would be glad to discuss with you how you might fit into our GUUF life. IS THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH ANYTHING LIKE THE UNITY OR UNIFICATION CHURCH? No, although the names do sound similar.  We have sometimes been confused with either the Universal Life Church or the Unification Church (“Moonies”), whose beliefs bear no resemblance to ours. There has been some confusion, also, over the name “Unity” because a few Unitarian churches in England and the U.S. used that name before the present-day Unity church was founded. HOW LONG HAS THIS FELLOWSHIP BEEN AT ITS  PRESENT LOCATION? Glacier UU Fellowship moved to 1515 Trumble Creek Rd. in March, 1998.  Our fellowship has been in existence since the mid -1960s and had rented various meeting places in the Kalispell area.  In order to purchase our building, GUUF members purchased shares and formed an LLC.  Our shareholders are now repaid and we are paying off a mortgage.  We are grateful for generous friends who have supported us along the way. HOW IS GLACIER UU FELLOWSHIP SUPPORTED  FINANCIALLY? By contributions of its members, well-wishers, and memorials.  When a budget for the year is adopted by vote of the membership as a whole, a “fair share” for each member is determined. At each service we pass a collection basket and each donation is appreciated. Aside from an individual’s annual contribution to UU organizations to which we belong (UUA, MDD and MAUUA), there is no set requirement for making a financial pledge to become a member of GUUF.  Each year in the spring, the fellowship conducts an informational and financial canvas of its members and friends in which they are invited to offer suggestions, volunteer their time for various committees, and indicate in what way they will contribute during the coming year. This information gives guidance to the Board and enables the Treasurer to draw up a realistic budget.  HOW IS THIS FELLOWSHIP RUN? It is run entirely by its membership, guided by a Fellowship Council (Committee heads) and a Board of Trustees that is elected annually. Each UU church decides how it is run. Care of the building and grounds, caring for one another, Sunday services, music, decisions about services, membership issues, Religious Education, social events, the Newsletter, social concerns, fundraising activities, food and refreshments and all else are accomplished by fellowship members.  Small and democratic organizations like ours depend upon the involvement of many people. DO YOU HAVE A MINISTER? From being lay-led for many years, in recent years we  have called three ministers to our Fellowship. Rev. Julia McKay is now serving as Minister to our fellowship. UU ministers may serve as teachers, guides, preachers, counselors and administrators.  About half the ministers employed in UU churches are women. WHAT IS A “WELCOMING CONGREGATION”? Unitarian Universalists have long called for the full inclusion of  LGBT people in religious community and in society at large.  Compared to other denominations, we have by far the highest percentage of openly gay and lesbian clergy. Our UUA has concerned itself with LGBT issues since the 1970s.  At that time the UU General Assembly enacted resolutions in support of LGBT people and their particular needs, including services of union and more education on HIV/AIDS. At Glacier UU we feel pride in having become a “Welcoming Congregation” in 1998 after following a comprehensive program concerning LGBT issues and becoming pro-active concerning gay rights in our church and in society-at-large. As we open our minds and hearts, we become more willing to take a stand in the face of willful or ignorant homophobia.  And we become willing to make public, as part of our religious practice, what we believe—that the human family is one, and that the love which binds us is greater than the fears that divide us. WHAT IS BEACON PRESS? Beacon Press, a major publishing house, operates under the auspices of the UUA to publish books that express the full range of concerns held by Unitarian Universalists. A SPECIAL NOTE TO VISITORS AND THOSE SEEKING                                                                                                                                                                          MEMBERSHIP We welcome new members.  Becoming a member expresses your commitment to this fellowship and to the larger Unitarian Universalist movement of which we are a part.  Before signing our Membership Book, we ask           that you: (1) Review and be in agreement with our By-laws; (2) Make a pledge of your time and a financial contribu-        tion (see our Treasurer); (3) Participate in services, lead children’s Religious Education programs, help with child care, social events, greeting, building/grounds maintenance and clean-up, publicity and fundraising, social outreach, refreshments, etc;  Express what you want and need from us, and then help us work to arrange it.  We’re pleased to have you visit and delighted if you stay and join us in creating a spiritual community committed to the continuing search for truth. To become a member of the Glacier UU Fellowship, please see a the Membership Chair or a Board member.                                                                    We are a welcoming, supportive fellowship that nurtures        the spiritual, intellectual and social needs of our members   of all ages through the open inquiry into inspirational experiences, diverse beliefs, and religious traditions. UU PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSES We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: ·  The inherent dignity and worth of every person; ·  Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; ·   Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual     growth in our congregations;  ·  A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; ·  The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process    within our congregations and in society at large; ·  The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice    for all; ·  Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which    we are a part. Glacier UU Fellowship 1515 Trumble Creek Road (P.O. Box 2778) Kalispell, MT   59903 (406) 755-9255 www.glacieruu.org This pamphlet was adapted from brochures published by the Unitarian Church of Vancouver BC, the First Unitarian Church of San Diego, and the UU Fellowship of  Missoula.