What a church should *really* be like.

[Bouncy Ball]

I attend a UU (Unitarian Universalist) church. This morning, I was helping some people get the coffee and food stuff set out and we saw six or seven people we had never seen before walk past the church building and into the wooded area behind it. One of the women looked at me through the window and smiled. I smiled back.

Right before the service was to start, a few church members approached the minister and told him about them. "They're messing with things back there" they said. "So?" he said.

"They're climbing the trees. What if one of them falls out and sues us?"

"I'll go talk to them," he says. "We preach radical hospitality. Wouldn't exactly be radical hospitality to make them stop climbing the trees, would it?"

A few of us trotted along behind him to see what he'd say. He approached the group of pretty rough-looking adults, introduced himself. I caught that one called himself "Snake". Another one was wearing a black velvet top hat. We all noticed they were taking some white rocks that were piled up behind a clump of trees. The minister asked if they wanted the rocks. They said "yeah, can we have them?" He said "certainly." Then he looked up at two guys in the trees and said "Be careful." A guy on the ground said not to worry, those guys are great tree-climbers.

Then the minister told them there's coffee inside. Pastry and fruit, too. He said they were all welcome. One of the women said "we ain't exactly dressed for church." The minister laughed and said "here you are." (Which is true. I was wearing my "nice" jeans today, LOL.)

Well, we started to walk back after a couple of us introduced ourselves, too. Two of the guys caught up with the minister and all three of them smoked outside and talked. Then they went in and had coffee, stayed for church.

Afterwards, they went around getting introduced to everyone and I heard the one in the velvet top hat say "this is a pretty cool church."

Honestly, I was pretty proud. Now THAT'S the way it's supposed to be. I mean, really, who cares if they take a few rocks and climb the trees? They found out they're welcome there.

[tuvor]

1. Inclusion...What a radical idea!

Sad to say.

[Bouncy Ball]

3. That IS sad, isn't it?

That it's radical for a church to be so hospitable.

But I know a lot of churches that would have run them off faster than you could say "call the cops." No questions asked, get out of here.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. Kudos, BB. I have not been to a UU church but have reasearched them and

want to attend the local one here.

That was what it's all about. Church or not.

Peace.

[Bouncy Ball]

4. Church or not, you're right.

It's just so nice to see it, you know? Not just in words, but in deed.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. If we are here for anything at all, I'd hazard to guess that's why.

[Bouncy Ball]

7. Oooo I love that picture.

And I TOTALLY concur. I've long thought that our one purpose on earth is to see how we treat each other. To me, that's the truest test of who we are.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

10. Thanks! It's nice to get a compliment. I wish I could keep that in the

forefront of my mind all the time.

Peace.

[Bouncy Ball]

5. I forgot to mention, one of our oldest members

moaned "well, now they're gonna come back and come back until they take ALL our rocks."

I had to laugh. Who CARES? They're ROCKS. I have no idea WTF they wanted them for, but shit. Big deal.

[niyad]

11. maybe they are building a fence, or a rock garden, or paving a path. . .

agreed, who cares??

[intheflow]

8. Ooh! You make me proud to be UU!

Here's a :hug: for you, and another :hug: for your way cool minister! :hi:

[NMMNG]

9. Man, your church is too freakin liberal

:sarcasm:

[Bouncy Ball]

14. LOL

I didn't even mention the guy who hardly ever wears shoes.

[DanCa]

12. Thats a great church. :D

You guys done real good. Of course i am more of a lillies of a field christian than that awful passion of christ crowd.
Toast to your minister :toast:

[Swamp Rat]

13. Great story!

:thumbsup:

[madokie]

15. What a very nice uplifting story, thanks for sharing

Sure wished I was raised in such an enviroment, I was raised Hell fire and brimstone.

[Bouncy Ball]

16. My religious upbringing wasn't too bad.

But I could have done without the idea of a God who rewards and punishes based on who knows what. THAT will screw with your mind pretty good.

[madokie]

17. Right on. I guess it IS what we live through that make us who we are