(Hey y'all. I'm on vacation as I post this, and it's the kind of vacation that doesn't come with wifi. It's a good thing to unplug every now and then. You should try it. Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know that I'll check back and reply to comments as soon as I can. Cheers to all of you! -The Dol)
Baby Doc and I joined a church recently. Actually, we joined the local Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. It's maybe not so much a church, in the strictest sense of the word. They don't do much praying. They don't do much believing in God, either. In fact, I think there might be a few atheist members.
It's my kind of church.
I keep chuckling at myself, because I never thought I'd join a church again. I was raised Catholic, but it didn't take. I just don't have faith in God. That doesn't mean I'm not a seeker. I am. I have always felt a need for a spiritual path and a spiritual community. When I was a practicing Catholic, I loved the music, and I loved the rituals. There's something comforting about memorized prayers, rosaries, and the rituals that attend the Mass.
But what it came down to is, it was superficial for me, because I could never accept on faith the fundamental idea that there is a supernatural being with power over the universe. Maybe God does exist, but my skepticism just doesn't allow me to have faith. I need evidence.
That said, there's something really nice about a church community. I've really felt like I wanted it for Baby Dol's sake as much as my own. While I'm perfectly happy to impart my wisdom to her ad nauseum, I thought it might be nice for her to get the benefit of community, too.
So, when Easter rolled around, I decided to pack my little family in the car and go to church.
I knew about the local UU fellowship because they are active in a lot of the same social justice activities as I am. They hosted an organizing meeting not long ago for people opposed to Proposition 8, which stripped gay couples of their right to marry. It's a cause near and dear to my heart, because, as Polly says, why shouldn't they be as miserable as the rest of us? (Just kidding, Mr. Dol!)
And there was a peace demonstration in my town recently, marking the 5,000th servicemember death in Iraq and Afghanistan. The minister of the UU fellowship was there to give a benediction and speak. Oh, and the minister is a woman. With tattoos! She's cool, people. She's cool.
I feel good about this new thing in my life. It seems like every Sunday that I've gone to my new church, I've been moved in some new way.
A couple of weeks ago, they had a special music service. For such a small fellowship, the music is truly amazing. It's first-rate. Mr. Dol has busted out the viola and started practicing so that he can join the orchestra.
Heck, Earth Day is one of their "holy days."
Last Sunday was the New Member service. They do this service twice a year, to officially and ceremoniously welcome new members to the fellowship. And you know what? I really did feel welcomed. As I stood up at the front of the room with the other new members, and looked out at the crowd, I saw a couple of people with tears in their eyes.
I didn't think I'd find a place like that again, where there's a sense of being together for something good and non-political--I have plenty of that already. The political stuff is great, and I love my progressive friends, because we share a common cause. But there's something special, something like family, when you make a commitment to a fellowship of people, for the sake of spiritual development, but also, and more importantly perhaps, for fellowship itself.
I feel like I've received a gift, because I never thought I could find a home like this again without also finding a faith that I don't think I'll ever find.
Oh, happy day.
my favorite was during the easter story when the lady said "jesus' erection" instead of "jesus' resurrection" and the bolt of lightning didn't smite her.
Posted by: pandora | June 25, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Sounds like my kind of church.
Posted by: Diosa | June 25, 2009 at 05:14 PM
i think it's great that you've found a community and a place for spiritual direction. Good for you Dol! i like that official looking "i'm running for office" logo of yours as well:-)
Posted by: White Rabbit | June 25, 2009 at 07:09 PM
pandora, that was awesome! what was so hilarious about that moment was the guy in the congregation who didn't miss a beat after she said that, and yelled, "hallelujah!" awesome.
it is, diosa. i actually thought of you while i was writing this post.
thanks, white rabbit! i am so thrilled. i am sooooo not running for office! ;-)
Posted by: The Dol | June 26, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Thank for the tiny glimps of what the UU is like. My online buddie just started going to one up in Sac and she really seems to like it. I had considered going there too, but not sure it's where I'm suppose to land. I'm kind of antisocial and think it might not be the right place for me, add to that that we are looking for somewhere with a little more teaching. Have some places in mind to try though.
Glad you found someplace you can call home.
Posted by: Tanya | June 26, 2009 at 02:09 PM
yeah, it is a good choice for me, but everyone has to find their own right place (or no place at all, if that's the right thing). they do have some more structured things there, like study groups and whatnot. i haven't checked any of that out yet. you might try out the pilgrim united church of christ. they have an amazing minister there, (at least, for the one near where tanya and i live.) and it is more of a structured christian environment. i have some friends who go there.
Posted by: The Dol | June 27, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Yay for you. Sounds like a nice place. I know nothing about the Unitarian church --- keep posting and fill us in. No communion I guess.
Posted by: scotchstraightup | June 30, 2009 at 04:00 PM
nope, no communion. coming from my catholic upbringing, it's very different, because there isn't much structure to it--every week they do something different.
Posted by: The Dol | July 01, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Susan B. Anthony was a UU. You are in great company. Growing up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, I had a lot of friends who were UU. If one parent was Jewish and the other Christian, the family tended to find a spirtual home at the UU church.
Posted by: Sistah From Another Mistah | July 02, 2009 at 10:40 AM
sweet! (sistah and i are up at the lake with the family. i shall go eat kettle corn with them now!)
Posted by: The Dol | July 04, 2009 at 09:47 AM