Post by Rhys on Jan 4, 2017 21:35:03 GMT -6
The Bridge, the Denton Texas Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans was formed in 2000 as a covenant group for UUs and friends with an interest in Pagan and Earth-centered spirituality. We follow many paths, including Wicca, Druidry, Kemetic (Egyptian), and some that can be best described as “eclectic Pagan.” We are united by our commitment to Unitarian Universalist values and our support of the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, our congregation.
UU Paganism
As Unitarian Universalists, we recognize six sources of spiritual wisdom. They are: direct experience, the words and deeds of prophetic women and men, wisdom from the world’s religions, Jewish and Christian teachings, Humanist teachings; and the spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions.
As Pagans, we focus primarily on the sixth source, which celebrates the sacred circle of life and instructs us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
In very general terms, there are three main elements of modern Paganism. The first is a view of Deity as both female and male – some of us recognize a Goddess and a God, others many Goddesses and Gods. The second is a resonance with the beliefs and practices of our ancestors – whether those ancestors are physical or spiritual. The third, and perhaps the most important is a connection with the Earth and its seasons and cycles. We agree with the Native American saying that the Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.
We have many views of Deity. For some, this is one Creator who is both and neither male and female. For others, this is a Mother Goddess and a Father God. Still others believe, like our Western ancestors, that there are many Gods and Goddesses. And some believe, as in the Eastern traditions, that Divinity is immanent, and that God and Goddess are present in everyone and every thing.
Our Mission Statement
We, the members of The Bridge, acknowledging the power of spirit, the importance of living in harmony with the Earth’s cycles, and the vast resources found in the many traditions of Pagan and Unitarian Universalist spiritual practice do covenant and affirm our commitment to one another to work together to create and maintain a safe and loving space within which to share our lives and our spiritual quests in True Community.
Our History
The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans was chartered by the Unitarian Universalist arseociation at the UUA General arseembly in 1987. The Bridge, the Denton chapter of CUUPS, was formed in 2000. We chose the name “The Bridge” because we wanted a name that would symbolize a group that changed our lives and helped us cross over from the mundane world to a more spiritually enriched life. Over the years we’ve used the name “The Bridge” less and less and are now usually known as “Denton CUUPS,” but we retain the name and its heritage, and our members-only e-mail list remains titled “Bridgemembers.”
CUUPS National
Denton CUUPS is one of more than fifty CUUPS chapters at UU congregations around the country. CUUPS National serves to accredit and arseist local chapters, to facilitate networking between chapters and between Pagan-identified UUs, and to promote Pagan and Earth-centered practices within the Unitarian Universalist arseociation. We encourage you to join CUUPS National as well as Denton CUUPS to support this work.
Our Church
The Denton UU Fellowship is “A Spiritual Open Space for the Free Mind and the Free Spirit.” It is a place where people on many different spiritual paths come together to support each other in our spiritual journeys and to work together to build a better world here and now. Many CUUPS members are active members of DUUF and most years there is at least one Pagan on the Board of Trustees. In 2015-16 CUUPS Member Tesa Morin is serving as DUUF President.
UU Paganism
As Unitarian Universalists, we recognize six sources of spiritual wisdom. They are: direct experience, the words and deeds of prophetic women and men, wisdom from the world’s religions, Jewish and Christian teachings, Humanist teachings; and the spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions.
As Pagans, we focus primarily on the sixth source, which celebrates the sacred circle of life and instructs us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
In very general terms, there are three main elements of modern Paganism. The first is a view of Deity as both female and male – some of us recognize a Goddess and a God, others many Goddesses and Gods. The second is a resonance with the beliefs and practices of our ancestors – whether those ancestors are physical or spiritual. The third, and perhaps the most important is a connection with the Earth and its seasons and cycles. We agree with the Native American saying that the Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth.
We have many views of Deity. For some, this is one Creator who is both and neither male and female. For others, this is a Mother Goddess and a Father God. Still others believe, like our Western ancestors, that there are many Gods and Goddesses. And some believe, as in the Eastern traditions, that Divinity is immanent, and that God and Goddess are present in everyone and every thing.
Our Mission Statement
We, the members of The Bridge, acknowledging the power of spirit, the importance of living in harmony with the Earth’s cycles, and the vast resources found in the many traditions of Pagan and Unitarian Universalist spiritual practice do covenant and affirm our commitment to one another to work together to create and maintain a safe and loving space within which to share our lives and our spiritual quests in True Community.
Our History
The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans was chartered by the Unitarian Universalist arseociation at the UUA General arseembly in 1987. The Bridge, the Denton chapter of CUUPS, was formed in 2000. We chose the name “The Bridge” because we wanted a name that would symbolize a group that changed our lives and helped us cross over from the mundane world to a more spiritually enriched life. Over the years we’ve used the name “The Bridge” less and less and are now usually known as “Denton CUUPS,” but we retain the name and its heritage, and our members-only e-mail list remains titled “Bridgemembers.”
CUUPS National
Denton CUUPS is one of more than fifty CUUPS chapters at UU congregations around the country. CUUPS National serves to accredit and arseist local chapters, to facilitate networking between chapters and between Pagan-identified UUs, and to promote Pagan and Earth-centered practices within the Unitarian Universalist arseociation. We encourage you to join CUUPS National as well as Denton CUUPS to support this work.
Our Church
The Denton UU Fellowship is “A Spiritual Open Space for the Free Mind and the Free Spirit.” It is a place where people on many different spiritual paths come together to support each other in our spiritual journeys and to work together to build a better world here and now. Many CUUPS members are active members of DUUF and most years there is at least one Pagan on the Board of Trustees. In 2015-16 CUUPS Member Tesa Morin is serving as DUUF President.