Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside — Attraction in Riverside

Review in progress... Located across the street from the Historic Mission Inn and Riverside Library. Came across this structure from 1881 and was impressed. Also this is where they held service for Knight Christopher Miller (Father to Frank Augustus Miller).

Tenants of the UU Church of Riverside are below:

"We need not think alike to love alike. " Francis David, 16th Century Unitarian

Unitarian Universalists: think for ourselves, and reflect together, about important questions:

The existence of a Higher Power Life and Death Sacred Texts Inspiration and Guidance Prayer and Spiritual Practices We are united in our broad and inclusive outlook, and in our values, as expressed in our seven Principles. We are united in shared experience: our open and stirring worship services, religious education, and rites of passage; our work for social justice; our quest to include the marginalized; our expressions of love.

Our Seven Principles worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

UU Church of Riverside is grateful for the religious pluralism enriching and enobling our faith. Congregation is inspired to deepen an understanding and vision. See...

I drove out to attend an event on their calendar. There was no one there, no note on the door, nothing. I called to find out if such events were still happening, or if I misunderstood something about the address, left a message. Then another. Then another. Over 3 weeks later I got a call back. The events are still going on. They just cancelled the one that I had the temerity to actually try to attend. When I asked how I could know if I ought to do an hour of driving to an event posted on the calendar or not, I was told that they "usually" have the events that are on the calendar. Funny how - despite my pointedly communicating the personal cost of making the drive without knowing whether or not I was on the right side of "usually," and with, obviously, no way to confirm in advance over the phone - the possibility of actually updating the calendar to reflect cancellation of the events posted there never even came up. Which raises the question: what is the calendar for, exactly? This kind of attitude is disturbing. This is why people don't go to churches anymore. The communities themselves are so insular and downright indifferent about accommodating people who aren't currently on the inside of their little clique. Well done then. Definitely got...

I used to attend this church years ago. It was a much older crowd in those days. They were welcoming, loving, caring and kind. Although my ideas were not 100% in line with many of the members there, they still accepted me and remained caring. Most if not all of those individuals are gone now. Jancie Levi, Aric Isom and Diane, Kay and David Mowry, Pat Welniak to name a few. I miss them deeply. I joined the army in 2005, I returned to fewer faces in 2015 and a less than accepting congregation. As the older generation passed a newer less tolerant group has hijacked and usurped the church. Their tolerance for my past and former occupation is nil and if my ideas are not 100% in line with their thinking I am not one of them. One cannot have any ideas that stray from the new crowd. It has truly turned into a totalatarian "theology" wjere one must "toe the line" or be cast out. Maybe one day the UUCR will return to it's former glory, or maybe those are all distant memories, meant to be locked away deep within the fathoms of a broken...