Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing

One of the jewels of Unitarian Universalism is that we take seriously the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. What that means to me is that when it comes to religion and spirituality, each individual’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences need to be approached with deep respect, appreciation, and an open mind.

That is why when I approach the ceremony celebrating the union of two individuals, be it a same- or opposite-gender union, I work to craft the ceremony around the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the couple, and not my assumptions of what the ceremony should be like theologically or what the couple should be like. I approach memorial services in the same way. A Unitarian Universalist memorial service starts with the individual and holds that person’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences as primary — and then includes the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the family and friends to help celebrate the person’s whole life.

Our Child Dedication Ceremony begins with our affirmation of the child’s inherent worth and dignity, and we celebrate the presence of
the new individual within our congregation. When we approach the religious education of children and adults, we again come with a
respect for the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of each individual. There is no one-size-fits-all approach within our UU movement. You, the individual, matter at UUCWC. Your thoughts, feelings, and experiences about religion and spirituality do indeed matter at UUCWC.

We affirm and promote an acceptance within our congregation of one another and we encourage and affirm the individual’s quest for
authenticity, wisdom, and spiritual deepening. We strive to honor and promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning for each person. This is the beauty of what we strive to be as a community of faith — a celebration of both our shared ideas and our
diversity rather than holding one doctrinal faith, one way of understanding spirituality, or one way of being a member of our congregation.

Each person here has inherent worth and dignity. We need each one of you and many more people as well, to help us be the dynamic, recognized, and vibrant force that we long to be here in our area. So, yes: You matter here. Each member, friend, and visitor of UUCWC matters. By welcoming and celebrating our diversity, we believe we will build an everstronger and more inclusive faith community.

It is because we are aware of our congregation’s profound potential to affect the individual and the global community that we commit our personal resources to each other and our shared sacred mission. Let us not hold back our dreams of what we can create here within UUCWC. We need one another.