First Unitarian Universalist Church #2

I previously attended the Universalist church in San Francisco for a nice Thanksgiving service, and decided that I should attend for a regular Sunday service to see what they were really all about.

Wow is all I can really say,

I cant even gauge whether or not I was attending a regular service or not to be honest because I think that it was their holiday special-which was about the winter solstice....in which they told stories about fairies and the dying and rebirth of the sun.....and the sermon was about the differences between light and dark, and the man that gave the sermon said he was a worshiper of the moon (I still don't know what religion that is).

So now I am thinking I will go back for a third time to see what a regular service is like (not a special holiday service, or a thanksgiving service).

But afterwards I was able to get a feel of the community. The community is a much better gauge of the church than the service. After the service they had a holiday fair, with different booths, and food. Somehow I got caught up in a crowd of people. I ended up meeting a kind security guard, meeting a woman that introduced me to a youth group leader, and got invited to one of the youth group meetings. It was all very nice! It seems like a great place where people are able to love each other.....so I'm thinking I might go to one of the meetings to see what the community is like, because after all just going to a service for any church or religion, or group doesn't tell me much about how the people function.

That means First Unitarian Universalist Church #3 should be coming out soon....either next week or the week after!

East Bay Meditation Center: Free Your Heart Workshop

East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) is located in downtown Oakland. I have been once before for a four part begining meditation class they held.

What's different about EBMC is that it holds a very diverse community that includes all different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientation. They even have workshops and meditation groups for specific groups of people, just in people arent comfortable being in such a diverse group yet (their main goal is to bring everyone together though).

On December 20Th they are holding a "Free Your Heart Workshop" which is basically about finding true genuine connection and love between ourselves, and others. It is an all day workshop that will include group collaboration, meditation, music, movement, and group discussion.

Hmmm... Well I thought it sounded interesting so I am thinking of signing up!

All programs at the EBMC are free, and they only ask for a donation.

The EBMC website is http://www.eastbaymeditation.org/. This website has been newly remodeled and has allot of new resources which include: events, groups, news, and a community bulletin board which is full of free things people are giving away, apartments for rent, and there is even a section where people can talk about special skills they have for hire!

Location, Location, Location! First Unitarian Church of San Francisco

I had another spurr of the moment experience today when I woke up. I went on a part of craigslist I've never visited before and found out about the Unitarian Church In San Francisco, and it was giving a Thanksgiving service at 10a.m. Perfect! I'd always seen the flyer's that came in the mail about Universal Church's that except everyone-so I thought why not!

I have been to Thanksgiving services before-usually a small gathering of dedicated church members, with a small service that doesn't last long, and usually instead of the usually choir there is a local two people from the choir that are part of the dedicated members. So I figured that I might be getting more of the same when I went to the First Unitarian.

How I was wrong! There were people streaming into the sanctuary and the place was nearly full by the time the service started. From what I could tell the full choir was there as well.

Much of the service reminded me of my own memories in Christian Church, in fact if I'd never been to church as a child I might have been very confused-there were hymns that were sung, and parts that you stood up for like the congregation standing and reading between the congregation and the speaker up front. But there were many parts that were different.

Things That Make First Unitarian Church of San Francisco Different:

• Sacred scriptures read from the Hebrew Bible, Christian Bible, and the Rig Veda (India)
• A beautiful Hebrew song L'Dor VaDor was sung
• Before anything major happened in the service a small meditation was done
• Prayers in the Buddhist, Christian, and Muslim tradition

One of the pastor's and his wife came up to speak. The pastor told his story of why he was thankful to be in this church, and one of the things that he said that struck me the most was this, "We all have life no matter your religion even if you are an atheist. I live in an inclusive community"

And of course, in all typical fashion, an offering was collected near the end of the service, that went to the Interfaith Winter Shelter. But the speaker that was asking for the money seemed so genuine and kind, that I didn't feel haggled to give, and didn't mind giving money.

Is the Unitarian Church all it says it is?

I still have no idea! From an outside appearance it looks like it does because they seem to include and introduce you to so many different religious practice, and they all sit together. But for me to really know if they live what they preach, I really have to get to know the congregation, a bit better. I plan on going back to a real Sunday service as well as one of their classes outside of the Sunday service.

The website for First Unitarian Church of San Francisco is: http://www.uusf.org/

Location, Location, Location!

Next week I will be checking out the Golden Gate Spiritualist church in San Francisco. It looks huge! You can see the picture of the building at their website- http://www.ggsc.org/.


I did know someone who went to this spiritualist church and their personal review matches the one review I found on google reviews. It is a very nice place, they sing, they have a sermon, and then they have people that can talk the dead at the end of the service-hmmm, sounds spicey!

Church service for The Golden Gate Spiritualist Church is every Sunday, at 10:30Am. I havent been to a church service in a long time, so it will be interesting to see how this one compares to the memories I have of Baptist church service.