I'm contemplating on going to Zion UCC in Perry Hall Maryland. I'm completely and vehemently anti-religion but I'm trying to expand my horizons. I know this is probably a long shot but is there anyone on here that goes to Zion? Thanks

Hi, Matt. I'm not in Maryland, but encourage you to give Zion a try. I've been in the UCC all my life, have worshipped in many UCC churches, and served as laywoman and ordained minister for many years. The flavor of each local church is different. Give Zion a good test--attend each Sunday for six months or a year, if you can, but don't give up after a single visit. You won't like every single person or every single theology in any church; the UCC offers enough diversity and encourages asking questions so that you can find good conversation partners with whom to seek and wonder. To get a fair understanding of the way the church works, participate as much as you can. Join the choir, even if you can't read music. Indulge yourself in the educational opportunities. If they're hauling food to the local food bank, offer to help. If they're building a Habitat for Humanity house, volunteer your time. Get to know the people of the church, not just their faces. Find out what makes them laugh, what makes them passionate about Zion, what makes them tick. Listen not to find their flaws, but to find their joys. Perhaps it might be time to discard the negative understandings you've had about religion and faith, and to find some more helpful ways to look at the people of the church. See Zion as a community of people doing their best to do--what? Every church has ideas and missions that it feels called to do. Perhaps God is calling you to Zion for a particular reason.

May God bless your search and your discoveries.

Pastor Barbara

Hi, Matt. I'm not in Maryland, but encourage you to give Zion a try. I've been in the UCC all my life, have worshipped in many UCC churches, and served as laywoman and ordained minister for many years. The flavor of each local church is different. Give Zion a good test--attend each Sunday for six months or a year, if you can, but don't give up after a single visit. You won't like every single person or every single theology in any church; the UCC offers enough diversity and encourages asking questions so that you can find good conversation partners with whom to seek and wonder. To get a fair understanding of the way the church works, participate as much as you can. Join the choir, even if you can't read music. Indulge yourself in the educational opportunities. If they're hauling food to the local food bank, offer to help. If they're building a Habitat for Humanity house, volunteer your time. Get to know the people of the church, not just their faces. Find out what makes them laugh, what makes them passionate about Zion, what makes them tick. Listen not to find their flaws, but to find their joys. Perhaps it might be time to discard the negative understandings you've had about religion and faith, and to find some more helpful ways to look at the people of the church. See Zion as a community of people doing their best to do--what? Every church has ideas and missions that it feels called to do. Perhaps God is calling you to Zion for a particular reason.

May God bless your search and your discoveries.

Pastor Barbara

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I appreciate the advice. To be perfectly honest with you Im not quite sure I can buy God 'calling' me, if that makes sense. But by the same token I feel like I should be expanding my spiritual horizons. But regardless, I appreciate the advice.

Right, innervisions. I've grown from "don't talk to me like that" to understanding that we can be led, by whatever name we wish to call it, toward an action. I call it God; who else can I blame for getting me to go to seminary at the age of 50? Matt, you can call it Fred or Merlene or the voice of consciousness. The leading to action is not able to be put into a little box, all named and categorized and defined.

Our curiousity about things that are beyond ourselves, our imagination, or our world seems to grow as we age. We wonder as children, but as we grow into and through adulthood, we reshape our questions and our considerations based on our lives to date. Curiosity about God, faith, and how our world can function better for everyone shapes our questions and our seeking. It is good to ask. You'll find people in the UCC to be curious, interested in the questions and ideas of others, and welcoming to people who just want to know more. We have a very lively conversation on a whole range of issues! As we say, no matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.

Pastor Barbara

I've found a lot of things in life come with baggage.  It's what you do with the baggage that comes your way is what's important.

I hope you found the church visit interesting.  Think of yourself as a spiritual thrill-seeker for now.  If it's right for you, you'll know it.

I still deciding whether to go tomorow or not. If you end up going you'll probably see me (if I"m there) cause I'm pretty tall. Lol

"I appreciate the advice. To be perfectly honest with you Im not quite sure I can buy God 'calling' me, if that makes sense. But by the same token I feel like I should be expanding my spiritual horizons."

It makes sense.  I don't buy the "God calling" either.  I classify it under "church-speak."  Unfortunately even in Progressive churches it  can be found. 

"I went last week and It defintely wasn't what I was expecting. Very nice people though"

Is that good or bad?  It took me some getting used to the UCC.  Now, I ignore what I dislike and hang on to what I like.  You may find a Unitarian Universalist Church to your liking.