Growing up UU meant there was never only one right way of doing things -- whether that meant building dreamcatchers, designing thank-you cards, or drawing pictures of what God might look like.

Growing up UU meant that as a child, even with my own extended family living halfway across the country, I never once in my life have felt unloved. When UU's run into each other around town (especially when you are a "UU Child"), they often engage in a sort of odd, exceedingly joyous, exceedingly celebratory display of affection that to-the-unfamiliar may seem somewhat over-zealous. You'll get used to it.

Growing up UU meant I had a circle of friends that were steady playmates, peers, and almost like siblings. I grew up with these people. We embarrassed ourselves at talent shows (repeatedly, over time), cooked together, ate together, got stung by bees together, dealt with the shortcomings of public education together, camped together, rock-climbed together, volunteered at the Humane Society, local Pantry, and elderly homes together.

On June 21, 2015, at 11:39 am, the sun is going to be at its most northerly place in the sky. It will also be the longest day of the year.
Ancient peoples all over the world celebrated this important day with rituals to the return of the sun after a long period of darkness.  The five animal play is a Taoist Qigong that imitates five animal movements, with four animals representing a cardinal direction and one marking the center.

During this movement ritual we can observe the interaction of the five animals and seasons by imitating their spirits, which can bring us closer to understanding the seasonal cycles of the earth.

Vicki Reithel and Chris Aloia will lead us in this service.

Members of our Unitarian Universalist community have been meeting monthly since last fall, to study and discuss major world religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Primal Religions and Taoism.  Huston Smith's book, The World Religions, has been the guide for this journey.

The study has helped participants deconstruct stereotypes by looking at each religion's origins, cultural context and foundational beliefs.  Despite the many differences, they saw commonalities. For example, each faith enjoins its followers to love one another and show compassion. In spite of cultural and religious differences, if we listen closely in love, we discover the same universal search for connection to something larger than ourselves. 


At this service, study participants will share readings and excerpts to give 'voice' for each religion, focusing on ways other faiths intersect with Unitarian Universalist principles. Join us in experiencing a compassionate respect for the tapestry of beliefs in our world.