Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe

Unitarians first came about in the 16th Century in Great Britain. They were reformist both in religion and in politics and they did not conform to the new Anglican State. They were called "Rational Dissenters." Unitarians originally were, "Christians who did not believe in the Holy Trinity of God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Instead, they believed in the unity, or single aspect, of God." They intellectually stressed, "rational thinking, each person's direct relationship with God, and the humanity of Jesus."

In the 1800's, the faith broadened to more of a transcendental movement with such influences as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Universalists were originally Christians who believed in universal salvation and felt that all people would one day be reconciled with God. The movement came to America in the late 1700s. They are most well known for ordaining the first woman to full denominational authority, Olympia Brown, in 1863.   

In 1961, Unitarian and Universalist denominations on the most part consolidated. Eventhough UUs originated from Christianity, today it is a non-creedal faith and most present day congregations do not identify with being Christian. There are however a few UU Christian churches and a group of Unitarians that did not merge and are today called Christian Unitarians ~ most of these churches are on the east coast and in other countries. 

UUs are very intellectual in their beliefs. They believe in working toward social justice, religious naturalism, and supporting humanitarian issues.
I attended the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe Sunday 11am service. 

God's Love embraces the Whole Human Race!

They started the service by singing hymns and then lighting the Chalice. The Chalice is the symbol of their religion and is lite at the beginning of all services. 

Before the children went off to Sunday school, they gathered at the front and were told a story. 

There was a soloist, Karen Hall, who sang during a guided meditation. For applause, the congregation uses a silent clap by shaking the hands - the same as used in sign language.  

The guest speaker was Pastor Michael Dowd, an Evolutionary Theologian who believes in marrying Christianity with Science. 

A religion that stressed the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths.   - Carl Sagan

Pastor Dowd shared that God is not like a clockmaker, overseeing a project, rather he is part of this World - everything from the Wind & Ocean to you and I. He said scientific and real evidence is God's language.  

He spoke of our greatest duty during our time on Earth is to act and be a Blessing to those of the Future and by doing so you will live a life that honors God. 

They ended the service with singing, extinguishing of the chalice and then a closing benediction - members all held hands for the closing words. They then shared in fellowship after the service. 

They were very friendly to me as a newcomer. 

THANK YOU - UU of Santa Fe for allowing us to see your form of Worship. 

Anglican Taizé Eucharist

The Anglican Church began in the 6th century in England, when Pope Gregory the Great sent St. Augustine to Britain to disciple to the Anglo-Saxons. This mission, often called the Gregorian Mission, lead to the foundation of the Church of England and the eventual separation from the Roman Catholic Church. There is no central authority for the Anglican Church, instead churches are unified by tradition, belief, and agreement. 

Taizé is an ecumenical form of worship that incorporates song, prayer, and silence to foster a peaceful and calming atmosphere and facilitate a meditative worship. Taizé originated during World War II, in Taizé France first as worship for those trying to hide and flee from the war. It later developed into a monastic brotherhood that used a simplistic and unique worship style, that survives today.  

Many Christian churches worldwide are integrating services of the Taizé tradition into the normal services they offer their congregants. The Church of the Holy Faith offers a Taizé service on Tuesdays, it is a Catholic style liturgy with Holy Eucharist. I attended their 6pm Tuesday Taizé Eucharist service.

The Church of the Holy Faith was founded in 1863 in Santa Fe. They believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Sacraments, and the Authority of Scripture. It is officially an Episcopal Church but is more conservative and closer to an Anglican Church in its Anglo-Catholic rituals and use of the Book of Common Prayer. I found the service to be very much along the lines of a Catholic service except women were part of the ministerial team and everyone was welcome for communion. 

WORD MADE FLESH

Reverend James Brzezinski and Dean Peggy Patterson led the services. There were moments of meditative silence throughout the service as well as singing meditation, short hymns that were repeated several times. There was not really a sermon, just some readings and Dean Patterson spoke to us that we all have an anointed vocation in this life. 

For man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

Then they performed the laying on of hands and lighting of the candles. Everyone at the service went up to the altar and were anointed with oil and given healing prayers by the ministerial team. After each person left the altar, they lite a candle. Then the Holy Eucharist was offered to the members. It was a very unique service that had a certain tranquility about it, I can see why Taizé services are growing in popularity. In a World seemingly filled with increasing chaos, a peaceful service of worship can be very restoring.  

THANK YOU Church of the Holy Faith for showing me your unique Taizé service.

Blue Mass

Red Mass has been a tradition with the Catholic Church since the thirteenth century. The tradition honors St. Thomas More, the patron Saint of the legal profession. It was named Red Mass because,  "lawyers and judges would proceed into a church clothed in red garments, signifying the fire of the Holy Spirit's guidance to all who pursue justice."

Red Masses are still a tradition in most large cities, but there has not been one in New Mexico for years. In 2010, NM Judicial Advisory Opinion No. 10-09 deemed Red Mass a religious activity and prohibited a judge from using his official position to promote such an event.

Blue Mass came about in the same fashion as Red Mass but to pray for members of a different profession - Police Officers. The first Blue Mass was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Washington DC in 1934. It has since been expanded to honor all First Responders ~ Police Officers, Firefighters, Military, Correction... 

Blue Mass was adopted as a tradition by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe many years ago. This year, I attended their Seventh Annual Blue Mass at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque. 



11:50 The law enforcement animals were blessed 
12:00 Catholic Mass in the gymnasium

The service started with a memorial video of all the fallen warriors from New Mexico over the last few decades. It was sad to see so many military and police personnel who have died in the line of duty. 

Archbishop Michael Sheehan presided over the services.

LORD BLESS THE PEACEKEEPERS

The main mass was Catholic and included the Liturgy and Communion. Archbishop Sheenan praised the first responders for risking their lives for others and prayed for the safety and protection of those who protect our community from harm. He advised those in careers in public service, to fulfill the Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37. 

The bishop blessed coins that were later given out to attendees. Those that weren't Catholic could receive a blessing in lieu of Communion.  After Communion, Chaplains from the different disciplines gave their unique blessings. A member of the Navajo Code Talking Assoc. recited the Marine Corps Hymn in Navajo which was a touching thing to watch. The service concluded with taps and Amazing Grace. 

It was quite an impressive event - Very touching to have a tradition to Bless our Public Safety personnel and to show them support in such a meaningful way.

THANK YOU to everyone who makes this wonderful event happen every year.