Church Snow Policy : Our policy is that the church is always open on Sundays. That does not mean that you should risk your safety to come to church – but know that if you do come someone will be here.

SAVE THE EVENING – BRING YOUR KIDS!

A program on “Micro-Credit” Financing, featuring Beverly Tricco, Director of Religious Education at the Old Ship Church in Hingham, and members of their youth group

Friday, February 3, 7:00 p.m. at UUCM

Micro-Credit is a way of financing small start-up businesses in the developing and developed world. Especially for women, micro-credit is a path to small, manageable loans for starting businesses, thereby giving them greater economic independence. This new method of banking, whereby small micro-loans can help create a business venture, with little or no required collateral, offers new options for thousands of individuals who formerly lived in poverty.

An on-line organization, KIVA.org, commenced operations several decades ago. Its purpose is to bring together people willing to loan small amounts of money (mostly from the developed world) and individuals seeking small loans (mostly in the developing world). KIVA displays these loan requests in an array of photos showing the applicant, their country of origin, their business venture, the loan amount requested and other background information. One of the most important things about KIVA is that no interest is charged on the loans.

Come, join us us on Friday, January 27th at 7:00 p.m. for what promises to be a lively and interesting discussion. Beverly Tricco, DRE at Old Ship Church in Hingham and some of their Youth Group, will come and discuss their KIVA Micro Credit Project. Each month the Youth Group selects a KIVA loan candidate and makes a micro-credit loan to an individual half way around the world! Learn how the Youth Group does this, how the money gets repaid, how new selections are decided upon, and other types of decisions. The Youth Group stays in touch with some of their contacts on the other side of the globe, as well!

This program is sponsored by your Social Action Committee. It is open to the public and will be led by Nina Kalckar.

Unitarian Universalism’s essential guiding principle is the support of a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning” (from 7 Principles, below). We do not share a creed. We believe that an individual’s theology is best discovered through his or her own inquiry into spirituality and via the integration of life experiences, rather than by unquestioned obedience to an external authority. We believe that each person’s experience matters, that everyone has something to contribute. Unitarian Universalists draw on many different theological sources, and have a wide range of beliefs and practices.

Rev. David O. Rankin wrote a summary of what he thought were ten essential UU beliefs, which are presented by the Unitarian Universalist Association:

• We believe in the freedom of religious expression. All individuals should be encouraged to develop their own personal theology, and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal.
• We believe in the toleration of religious ideas. All religions, in every age and culture, possess not only an intrinsic merit, but also a potential value for those who have learned the art of listening.
• We believe in the authority of reason and conscience. The ultimate arbiter in religion is not a church, or a document, or an official, but the personal choice and decision of the individual.
• We believe in the never-ending search for Truth. If the mind and heart are truly free and open, the revelations which appear to the human spirit are infinitely numerous, eternally fruitful, and wondrously exciting.
• We believe in the unity of experience. There is no fundamental conflict between faith and knowledge, religion and the world, the sacred and the secular, since they all have their own source in the same reality.
• We believe in the worth and dignity of each human being. All people on earth have an equal claim to life, liberty, and justice - and no idea, ideal, or philosophy is superior to a single human life.
• We believe in the ethical application of religion. Good works are the natural product of a good faith, the evidence of an inner grace that finds completion in social and community involvement.
• We believe in the motive force of love. The governing principle in human relationships is the principle of love, which always seeks the welfare of others and never seeks to hurt or destroy.
• We believe in the necessity of the democratic process. Records are open to scrutiny, elections are open to members, and ideas are open to criticism – so that people might govern themselves.
• We believe in the importance of a religious community. The validation of experience requires the confirmation of peers, who provide a critical platform along with a network of mutual support.

We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Association convenant to affirm and promote these seven principles:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The living tradition which we share draws on many sources:

• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
• Wisdom from the world‘s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.

More information on Unitarian Universalism may be found here.

A brief history of our Medford UU church may be found here.