Community and Spirituality -- intimacy and ultimacy -- are the core of what UUCAV is about. Our community and spirituality grow through our primary program areas and through individual small groups and programs.
Spiritual but not Religious?
At UUCAV, many of our members and friends will tell you "I'm spiritual but not religious." By this we often mean we're interested in the spiritual, but not tied to a denomination. But here at UUCAV, as a congregation, we also use the word "Religion." Here's what we mean by some of these terms:
- Religion - The roots of the word "religion" mean "to bind again." We look at "religion" as what binds us together -- being a community -- and that we are connected to other congregations in our denomination, the Unitarian Universalist Association. As a congregation with a history of merging congregations together -- Stow merging with Acton, Marlborough with Hudson, and then all four -- we are bound together in community, connected across communities. Religion, in essence, is the spiritual when combined with community.
- Spiritual - The roots of the word "spirit" comes from "breath" -- to breathe. When we talk about the spiritual, we are talking about things at our core, so essential to us that they're like breathing. This is connected to Soul - the life force at your core.
- Worship - Worship means "to shape worth." Some people will say that they don't believe in God, and what are you worshipping without God? Here at UUCAV we have hundreds of different answers to this, because we have hundreds of members, all with their own beliefs. But core to it all is that worship is shaping worth -- we're talking about our values, our beliefs, what is core to our being and meshes with our life experience.
- Belief and Doubt - A lot of churches talk about "belief" and "doubt" like they are antithetical -- like you have to have no questions and just have faith. At UUCAV, belief and doubt are always combined, and questions are always welcome. We talk about our "beliefs" not as things that you can't question and must just believe, even if it goes against science. So our beliefs are things that we value or hold as principles -- that every person is worthy and has inherent dignity is a great example. This is something we beieve, and can't prove -- how do you prove that everybody has inherent dignity? And it's not that we don't have doubts about it -- it's hard not to have doubts in the face of fascism and genocide about the perpetrators' inherent dignity. It's that we hold to the principle, and try to act as if it is true, because the idea is worth it, even in the face of doubt. That's belief.
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Denominational vs. Non-Denominational - A lot of churches that are referred to as "non-denominational" actually are part of a denomination, but it just looks like the church is independent, and not tied to the heirarchy of a denomination (when actually they are). At UUCAV, we're the opposite -- we look like we're part of a denomination, and many people refer to the Unitarian Universalist Association, of which we are a part, as a denomination. But while the UUA is often referred to as a "denomination," actually it's an association in that it doesn't have religious ecclesiastical authority (like a Pope) and each congregation has independence within our association -- each congregation governs iteself, and is free to make its own decisions.
Our Primary Program Areas
We have several large areas of congregational life, each of which can be an entry point for participation, or the only point of participation for newcomes and members.
- Worship - Worship at UUCAV means "to shape worth" and through it we explore a diversity of theological perspectives and our UU values and how they influence us.
- Spiritual Growth & Community Center - The Spiritual Growth and Community Center at UUCAV is full of individual ongoing spiritual and community programs and special events.
- Religious Education for Children & Youth - R.E., as we call it, takes place most weeks during the Sunday Worship Service, but also includes special outing and youth programs.
- Arts & Music Groups & Events - We have ongoing groups like choir and our Uketarians, but also individual events like our Coffeehouse series and special concerts.
- Small Group Ministry - SGM groups are small groups that meet monthly and build community through discussing different spiritual and life topics each month.
- Justice Groups & Events - We have ongoing justice groups for issues like immigration, climate change, racism, and LGBTQ+ justice, many of which host regular and special events to attend, as well, including fundraisers and educational forums and justice actions.
- Membership Programs & Events - Membership at UUCAV means signing our book, and we host periodic "UU Journey" and Q&A sessions, as well as special potlucks to help you explore our membership path.
Additional Ways to Explore UUCAV
In addition to our program areas listed above, we have numerous small groups, committees, fundraisers, and other ways you can meet people, explore, and get involved at UUCAV.
