My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

Kathy Jones — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:20:28 GMT

Welcome to TVUUC! I'm glad you're joining. Now, I need to think more seriously about it <g>

The people at the church are wonderful -- they helped me a lot when I had my brain surgeries. They were anxious to bring me food and visit and everything else. I feel deeply indebted to them.

But not indebted enough to join ... yet.

KEJ

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

Mary in ATL — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:19:39 GMT

I am an Episcopalian & love the church I grew up in but even it is not the same. I find comfort in the structure and sameness of the services. Even funerals feel like church, I like that. My folks were Baptist & Methodist. I have attended services at almost every Christian church. My parents allowed me to check it out for myself. As long as I went to church, they didn't mind which friends I went with. Boarders at Webb were also required to attend services, and I sampled an array of churches during those years as well. I think the sampling helped me to identify the elements that comfort & sustain me. I have used the bloom where I'm planted phrase about living in Atlanta. I was born here, it's where I would want to be I lived somewhere else. I was born Episcopalian and it's where I belong too. Thanks for reminding me to bloom where I'm planted and maybe get my soul to church this weekend.

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

Debra — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:02:38 GMT

Congratulations! I feels great to commit, doesn't it?! (I still haven't, but I relate to your story and am proud of you.)

Gordon and Judy Gibson are my wonderful neighbors.

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

jaynem — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:24:06 GMT

I hear you. After decades of being a UU, I've found the perfect mix for me. I go to TVUUC to be challenged and comforted and get my ritual fix with a bunch of like-minded women who like to sit around in a circle and play with candles and incense and art all manner of right brain stuff.

Wouldn't work for everyone, but does for me.

Welcome and blessed be!

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

Cassie — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:03:32 GMT

Gordon Gibson, a retired UU minister, attends that church and married my husband and I this summer. He and his wife are wonderful people. If they are a reflection of the church, you should feel very welcome there!

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

Old-Boh — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:36:15 GMT

Welcome, Katie -- you bring your share of richness to add to our well. We are grateful for you.

-- It was very generous of you to share with us your spiritual journey.

Sharing these journeys are some of the most lasting memories we have in the Church, including our amazing Memorial celebrations.

-- I share a lot of elements with you around your following Jesus, studying Buddha, and loving ceremony. I think ceremonies are crystals of history and memory. Maybe we can join in a "ceremony-filled" service someday -- a countercultural expression via traditional rituals? {;-)

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

LouAnn — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:24:50 GMT

You can always come back and visit the Episcopalians when you feel need for the liturgy. In my sort-of-Buddhist days, I would sometimes attend some kind of Advent or Christmas services for the music. I'm glad you found a place that you want to get up and go to. That's a great feeling.

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

Erika (uumomma) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:52:49 GMT

Welcome!!!!!

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

Allison — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:31:34 GMT

I grew up in the UU church and agree it's a place where it's easy to feel at home. I was also involved in the youth group throughout my teens and found it a wonderful, welcoming place for young people. The connections I made at the church and youth group stayed with me long after I'd left my home town.

re: My spiritual revelation: bloom where I'm planted

Katems — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:55:16 GMT

I encountered many of the same feelings on my path to becoming a UU. But the church of my childhood -- truly a place where I felt wrapped up in the warmth of the community and I cherished being steeped in longstanding Christian traditions -- was the place it was because of the *people*, the minister and the congregants.

In adulthood I've tried many flavors of Protestant denominations only to feel a little empty and disappointed by the experiences. I realized how much I've come to question the dogma of more mainstream churches. If you don't agree with the message, it's hard to forge any meaningful relationships with the members.

In finding my UU church I found a place where I could buy into all of the seven tenets that you listed and find meaning there while I slowly made my way in feeling a part of the community there. Now it's a huge part of my life.

And, btw, there are UU churches adorned with intricate woodwork and stained glass windows. I'm lucky enough to attend one.