Though we set a side this day, ULC ministers should live with thanksgiving in their hearts all year long

Thanksgiving is upon us. Our ministers at the Universal Life Church believe in recapturing the sentiments often associated with the first Thanksgiving celebration. Non-exclusionary and respectful of other cultures, the first Thanksgiving is thought to represent many of the values currently shared by minsters of the Universal Life Church. Even though it can seem at times that our society is experiencing a particularly turbulent passage in our journey, we find much to celebrate as well as be thankful for about modern life.

We are thankful for freedom of religion, which is the very reason why America was founded and the reason why the first settlers feasted with the natives on that November day over three centuries ago. Freedom from religion means that everyone is free to worship as they see fit and that other ways of thinking won’t be forced on anyone. Unfortunately, many in our society could use a reminder of the origins of our country.

Another reason our ministers are thankful is because after we become ordained, we’re able to perform a wedding that is legally binding. This is deeply meaningful to us because because many of those that we join in partnership are friends and family, and many who come to us as strangers to ask assistance in celebrating their love become a part of our circle of family and friends. The ability to perform a wedding is one of the greatest privileges of being a minister of the Universal Life Church.

Freedom of speech is another thing that we are profoundly grateful for, particularly in this day and age when it seems to be under attack from all sides. Freedom of speech is important to a civilized society because it allows citizens to engage in honest discourse and provides us with an opportunity to offer critical analysis of current news events and modern religious practices.

We’re thankful for one of the greatest communication tools ever invented, the Internet, because it allows us to participate in discussion with people from all over the planet. This has never been possible before and we feel grateful to be living in a time when technology is providing humanity with exciting tools that have the power to increase its potential to levels never before experienced.

Those who become ordained as ministers in our church are a diverse group that is representative of humanity’s many variations. We’re happy and thankful to be living in such exciting times and strive to do our best that the church serves the people well.