UUFSMA: “This I Believe”

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Online Service

“This I Believe”

Speakers: William Dalsimer, Betse Davies, Eleanor Goodwin

Sunday, January 9, 2022
10:30 am

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/414604040
Password: 294513

By Joseph Plummer
UUFSMA Board Secretary

It is often joked, “Oh, Unitarian Universalists can believe anything.” As this Sunday’s Guest Speakers will explain, that perception is not quite true. What is true is that UUs are not given a dogma of beliefs to adhere to. Instead, followers of Unitarian Universalism assemble around a principled set of values.

The specific religious or spiritual beliefs of individual Unitarian Universalists often differ and change over time during their continuing journeys to find meaning, truth, and purpose. As the Reverend Gary Kowalski said, “Babies don’t believe anything. Babies aren’t born Buddhists or Baptists or believers of any sort. They arrive in the world and begin to gather ideas.”

Many UU communities have rituals of various names to allow members to share beliefs and spiritual journeys. We call such sharing, “This I Believe”. Such public expressions allow UUs to know themselves – as a community and as individuals.

A lifelong Unitarian, Dalsimer grew up believing humans could make things better and maybe change the world. After college, he joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in West Africa. After law school he worked as a legal services attorney representing clients in under-served neighborhoods in the South Bronx and on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He realized that he could make things better for a few. However, “changing the world” was another story.       He believes that “with steadfast help, the arc of history bends towards justice, but it bends too damn slowly.”

UUFSMA members Betse Davies and Eleanor Goodwin will also share their beliefs.  Davies, a longtime SMA resident and well-known supporter of San Miguel’s nonprofit community, will explain the driving force of Unitarian Universalism behind her commitment to social justice. Goodwin moved to San Miguel from Bethesda, MD, in 2010. She has served on the UUFSMA Board and committees and promotes a welcoming, compassionate community. “No dogma, no fear—only love binds us together,” she says.

To participate in our online Sunday Service, visit www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button on the home page. If requested, enter password: 294513. Sign-in from anywhere Sunday mornings between 10:15-10:25 am CST.

UUFSMA donates at least fifty percent of its income to support nonprofit organizations for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Please support this work by clicking on the website home page Donate button. Now more than ever, your support is essential.

While continuing live Zoom services, UUFSMA has returned to limited in-person Sunday services. Members and friends may attend in-person services at the Hotel Aldea by contacting Diana Amaya (info.uufsma@gmail.com) for safety guidelines that must be followed. When seats remain on Sunday morning, guests arriving without reservations who show vaccination cards can join the in-person service. Our Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Enjoy previous services at https://www.youtube.com/. Enter UUFSMA in the search box.

Our fellowship was born in 1987 when a small group of expatriate religious liberals came together to meet as Unitarian Universalists in San Miguel de Allende. The fellowship has been active and thriving ever since. Every UU church has it’s own flavor, and we are no exception. We are a combination of expats and visitors, each actively engaged and contributing to this wonderful Mexican community we love. Because there is a coming, going, and returning aspect, our spiritual community is extremely fluid.  There is a magic in San Miguel which draws us in and binds us together—both as members of the church and of the larger community. Our programming is led by visiting ministers, community leaders, and church members, so the variety is lively. We have opportunities to meet as UU’s each week at discussion groups, breakfasts, luncheons, and in various other ways. Depending on the season, attendance fluctuates between 40 and 140. Our primary focus is on funding social action within the surrounding community. We love good music, good discussion, good food, and having visitors. We invite you to join us any Sunday morning.

Members regularly post updates and information on this site. We also post meeting minutes and announcements there.

To join our Yahoo group site click on this link:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/UUFSMA/info

Click on “membership”and follow the directions.

Posting a notice on the Yahoo site is easy. Just go to your regular mail browser, type in the address line: uufsma@yahoogroups.com , type your message and hit send!

We encourage you to use this site to communicate with other local UUs.