As I’ve mentioned many times (including yesterday), I was raised Catholic, but left that church as a young adult.

I found my way to a Unitarian Universalist (UU) church for my wedding, and years later joined a different UU church, due primarily to a wonderful young minister who gave fantastic sermons. He left, but I joined the choir and that kept me involved. I found it to be a warm and welcoming community for me and my daughter. My husband, also an ex-Catholic, wasn’t interested in going to church on Sundays, so we went without him.

Later, when we moved to a different town, I checked out several UU churches in my new area. I ended up joining the one with the best choir and the most beautiful sanctuary. I’ve been a member of that church for nearly 20 years now. I’m still singing in the choir and will be joining the Standing Committee (leadership team) for the coming year.

One of the things I like about my church is the large handmade quilt that hangs in the front, behind the pulpit.

Italicized text excerpted from Reverend Fred Small’s dedication sermon, October 22, 2006:

As a non-creedal faith, Unitarian Universalism honors and draws upon all of the world’s wisdom traditions. The FCU Sanctuary Quilt, “Many Paths, One Congregation,” includes symbols of world religions and philosophies – and one blank. Unitarian Universalism descends from protestant Christianity, but today is multi-faith. Unitarian Universalists believe that we can learn something from every religion. As individuals, we may favor Buddhism or Christianity or Paganism or Humanism, but as a religious movement we draw upon all of these and more.

The Quilt Squares

First Row

In the upper left, representing Humanism, is the symbol of the American Humanist Association: a stylized human figure in the form of a capital H. According to the Humanist Manifesto III: “Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.”

In the top center is a symbol of the Unitarian Universalist Association: a flaming chalice within two overlapping circles, which represent the consolidated movements of Unitarianism and Universalism.

Last but by no means least: an empty space. It acknowledges the quilt’s incompleteness and our own, affirms humility in the face of mystery, and celebrates our continuing journey toward understanding.

Second Row

Next are three religions rooted in Asia: Taoism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

The yin and yang symbol shows opposites intertwined, in eternal Equilibrium, representing Taoism.

The Hindu symbol is the word “Om” in Sanskrit, evoking the infinite Brahman and the entire Universe. Revered as the primal sound, “Om” is the first word of most Hindu mantras.

The Buddhist symbol is the wheel of dharma. “Dharma” means law or teaching. The wheel’s turning represents spiritual progress through the Buddha’s Eightfold Path, symbolized by the eight spokes of the wheel.

Third Row

In the next row are the familiar symbols of the three Abrahamic faiths in chronological order left to right: the Jewish Star of David, the Cross of Christianity, and Islam’s Crescent and Star.

Muslims call all three religions “people of the book” because all deem holy the Hebrew Scriptures, with Christians adding their New Testament and Muslims the Qur’an as well.

Fourth Row

The bottom row bears the symbols of Native American, Earth-centered, and Goddess-centered religions. These ancient and indigenous traditions undergird and inform the scriptural religions that followed them and absorbed many of their images, stories, and practices.

The turtle represents the Nipmuc people, who lived in this region before the coming of Europeans. The Nipmuc call our world Turtle Island because it sits on the turtle’s back. The thirteen shells represent the lunar months.

The tree of life, branches reaching into the sky, roots sunk deep in the earth, linking the three worlds: heaven, earth, and underworld. Skeletal and deathlike in winter, green and lush in summer, the tree represents immortality, rebirth, and wisdom in many cultures.

The triple moon, symbolizing the goddess, the feminine face of the divine. The three lunar phases—waxing, full, and waning—represent the three stages of women’s power: Maiden, Mother, and Crone.

Wait a sec! I just noticed that last bit about the three phases of women’s power. I’m not so sure I like being called a “crone.” I’ll have to give that some thought and report back.

That’s one thing about being UU, there’s always room for discussion.

My choir: Grant Us Peace