| About East Shore Unitarian Church |
What is a Unitarian Universalist and Unitarian Universalism in its modern form came into being in 1961 with the merger of the Unitarians and the Universalists. The roots of both traditions reach back to the first century of the common era. Our Unitarian side of the family maintained the unity of God and the humanity of Jesus (as compared to the trinity of God) and the use of reason in the development and articulation of faith. The Universalist side of the family believed that God is Love and that a loving God would not condemn anyone to eternal damnation in hell. As such they became known as the No Hell Church. The inclusive, hopeful and liberal spirit of those early spiritual insights continue to find expression in the Unitarian Universalist affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Life is a gift and the meaning of our lives is found in the way we live and the commitments of heart, mind and spirit we make here, in this great, green world. We believe in religious freedom and the right and responsibility of each person to explore what he or she truly believes to be good and true and beautiful. Unitarian Universalism upholds the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and will not be constrained in our faith by arbitrary and unchanging doctrines and dogmas. We, therefore, are a creedless tradition in which participation and membership in a congregation is not contingent upon one’s assent to a particular formulation or understanding of "the Truth." Rather we covenant to walk together as we worship, discover, explore and seek to deepen and apply our commitments and beliefs to the realities and practicalities of life in the 21st century. In our Sunday worship services and religious education opportunities for children and adults we draw upon the wisdom of many religions and cultures. Buddhism and Christianity, Judaism and Earth-centered spiritualities, religious humanism and Islamic mysticism all are grist for the soul’s mill. All are human expressions of people’s encounter with the divine, the meaningful, the core. The members and friends of East Shore Unitarian Church are guided in our religious quest by our covenant:Love is the doctrine of this church, The quest for truth is its sacrament, And service is its prayer. To dwell together in peace, To seek knowledge in freedom, To serve humanity in fellowship, Thus we do covenant. |
Our Mission Statement We are a caring, religious community. Our mission is to encourage spiritual growth, To celebrate the richness of life at all ages, To stimulate the development of ethical and moral values, and To commit our principles to action.
If you are seeking a religious home that honors each person’s religious journey within the context of the interplay of human dignity and divine beneficence, East Shore Unitarian Church might be the place for you. If your theology is eclectic and you are open to new understandings and broader interpretations of the meaning and purpose of life, then East Shore has exciting opportunities for you. If religious community is important to you and you value the creative and comforting interchange that happens only in community, but you chafe with the rigidity of orthodox churches, then East Shore will be a welcome breath of fresh air. Please try us out this Sunday morning. Our worship services begin at 10 a.m. during the summer and at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. during the rest of the year. Every Sunday we offer a full program for religious education from infant care through high school youth group. If you are interested in knowing more about Unitarian Universalism, ESUC's Membership Director at (425) 747-3780 or membership@eastshoreunitarian.org. |
East Shore Unitarian Church
12700 SE 32nd St. Bellevue, WA 98005
(425) 747-3780