From Our Ministers

You have opportunities to deepen your Unitarian Universalism: religious hospitality and participation in Chalice Circles. Each and every Sunday offer your religious hospitality to the religiously homeless. Welcome visitors. Invite your friends to come to church. September 17 is Bring a Friend Sunday. Commit to twice a month participation in a life-giving, community-making Chalice Circle, our new and exciting small group ministry.

When you look at our world, don’t you wish more people shared our Unitarian and Universalist values?

We know Unitarian Universalism makes a difference in people’s lives. Here we are a supportive intergenerational community, where we all are encouraged to grow and share our gifts in the service of life. You know the more people who share this affirming experience, the better their lives, the better the world.

Websites are bringing in more and more visitors, but still the number one way people come to Unitarian Universalist congregations is through the invitation of friends! A friend of yours with whom you share some values and common concerns might just like to share your same religious community. Please extend an invitation to them.

You could invite them in a low-key way by email. You can personalize and tweak the message; here’s an example.

Hi, Bill, I think you might be interested in the congregation that I am part of. It is called the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley. UUCB has good music, relevant messages, and friendly people. We affirm each person and it is a fun community with for all ages. If we were to get our message down to two words, they.d be love and justice. We have opportunities for worship, spiritual growth, and service. Sunday Services take place each Sunday morning at 10:45, and we are done around noon. Come check it out! You can also check out our website for more information: www.uucb.org. Have a great weekend! Barb.

Hospitality, gracious openness to strangers, is a spiritual practice. Like any practice, it takes attention, intentionality, and, well, practice.

On Sunday walk up to someone you don’t know. You can smile and say, .Hi, I’m ________, and I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you before, have I?. You can ask, “What got you here this morning?” You can offer why you first came and what you appreciate that keeps you coming. You can suggest to guests that they try us at least three times and that you hope to see them again. Be sure to introduce the person to another person.

With first time visitors and long time members, you can share something about your life, where you live, an interest you love, and people may be comfortable confiding back.

Your life will be enhanced by meeting new people and making new friends. You can get to know well a small group of people by joining a Chalice Circle. Community deepens and personal growth happens through small group sharing. Chalice Circles are a form of spiritual practice for people who like to talk and listen. Chalice Circle gatherings are group meditation on a topic. Chalice Circles are for you whether you are a long time member or newly participating. Learn more and register through the information included in this newsletter attached pamphlet. Chalice Circles will keep you alive and connected.

Relationship through hospitality and deep sharing is living religion.

Outside the front doors each September Sunday, our hands will be outstretched, our arms open ready to say to you and your friends, “Welcome, Welcome!”

Barbara and Bill
Revs. Barbara and Bill Hamilton-Holway, Co-Ministers