Here you will find how we journey with you, introduce you to Unitarian Universalism and, just as importantly, to UU Santa Fe.

Your Starting Point With UU Santa Fe

The "UU Path"

Come, Come Whoever You Are
Come, come whoever you are,
Wonderer, wanderer, lover of leaving,
Ours is no caravan of despair,
Come yet again come.―Rumi

Let's journey together.

Starting Point is offered several times throughout the year.

The idea of “the UU path” is central to Starting Point. Inspired by the classic UU slogan, “deeds not creeds,” we present Unitarian Universalism as a particular way of journeying through the world rather than a set of beliefs to which one assents. Today, people are not so much looking for an organization to join as they are searching for companions to walk with. Their question is not so much “Do these people think and believe like I do?” but “Will this place provide me with tools and partners for my journey?” We hope so.

This emphasis on journey shapes Starting Point’s content and structure. We schedule four sessions. The first session focuses on your personal spiritual journey and how it led you to Unitarian Universalism. The second session shifts to the historical journey of Unitarian Universalism and our community. From there, the third session moves into the shared journey of how you and our community will walk together. This “common journey” is organized into the three basic spiritual journeys of Unitarian Universalism: listening to one’s deepest self, opening to life’s gifts and serving needs greater than our own. The program ends by helping you discern which of the many “journey groups” in our community will be your next "step."​ There is a Starting Point packet for you to preview that will make your Starting Point experience more meaningful.

We hope these journey groups invite you to go deeper—beyond words and ideas about Unitarian Universalism—to actual practice and experience so that eventually you will realize, as Thich Nhat Hanh writes, “...that our life is the path, and we no longer rely merely on the forms of practice.”

Starting Point Sessions

Starting Point sessions are led by Ministry, Lifelong Learning, and Membership & Hospitality teams.

Four Sessions

• Watch our weekly eNewsletter for our next offering of Starting Point
• Registration
  necessary, click here

​Sessions

• Session One: Your Journey―Sharing Our Stories and Spiritual Roadmaps
• Session Two: The Unitarian Universalist Journey and The Journey of Our Community
• Session Three: Our Journey Together―The Three Paths of Unitarian Universalism, Part 1
• Session Four: The Three Paths of Unitarian Universalism, Part 2 and Finding Your Journey Group

Starting Point will leave you with:

• An understanding Unitarian Universalism’s distinctive approach toward religion and church community
• An understanding of UU history and the history of our community
• Connection to your fellow newcomers and some long-time members
• An experience of UU small group practices of deep listening, sharing and spiritual reflection
• Help identifying “your starting point” at UU Santa Fe. Finding your “journey group” is our recommended “first step” on your newcomer journey. You will be encouraged to explore a small group, ministry, learning or social action team(s) at UU Santa Fe. Starting Point content and UU Santa Fe folks will help you discern which one is right for you

"Helping, fixing, and serving represent three different ways of seeing life. When you help, you see life as weak. When you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life as whole.” ― Rachel Naomi Remen

​Fixing and helping may be the work of the ego, but service is the work of the soul.