The New River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (NRUUF)

We are an interfaith community, a “Welcoming Congregation” open to persons seeking a nontraditional path based on a shared set of Principles, rather than a particular faith.

We are a lay-led congregation. We do not have a regular minister and our Sunday Services are usually led by members of the congregation and friends. To get a better idea of what our services are like, please take a look at the “Our Past Services” section.

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion characterized by a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning”. The Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church does not have a creed. Instead, UUs are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth. As such, UU congregations include many agnostics, theists, and atheists among their membership.

The roots of UU are in liberal Christianity, specifically Unitarianism and Universalism. Unitarian Universalists state that from these traditions come a deep regard for intellectual freedom and inclusive love. Congregations and members seek inspiration and derive insight from all major world religions.

Services

 usually last about an hour, or a little longer. We usually start with a brief opening ceremony which includes the lighting of our chalice, the sharing of joys and concerns and a few other traditions we enjoy.

Social Action

 In particular, we of the New River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship have a long history of engagement with social justice projects to help create a positive impact in our local community, and abroad. We advocate for the rights of all beings, the end of oppression, inclusion of a spectrum of cultures and classes and we put an emphasis on working to help heal and care for the planet we live on. You can check out some of the projects we been involved with on our Social Justice page.

Embracing Diversity

We welcome all who want to share in our community. In a warm and accepting environment, we provide a spiritual home for those who seek an alternative religious experience. Consistent with the 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism, we strive to build a diverse multicultural congregation that acts to dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and in our communities.

Learning Together

In our connections and caring for one another, we create a haven that supports and nurtures our beliefs and values. We encourage freedom of thought and value the opportunity to exchange views and opinions regarding a world that not only is, but that can be. We support each other in doing things for the greater good and acknowledging that, as individuals, we are part of something that is bigger than ourselves.

Promoting Justice in the World

In our efforts to make a difference in our community, we embrace and offer services to people who are on teh margins of society. We fight to eliminate oppression wherever and whenever we see it. We actively work to address issues such as income disparity and racial and gender inequality.