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50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105
Tel: (860) 233-9897 / FAX 233-1333
Email: firstunitarian@ushartford.com
Reverend Barbara Jamestone, PhD
They Think it is Weird Because I do not Have to Follow a Specific Set of Beliefs
Good Morning. I have been coming to The Meeting House with my family since I was four. My parents are from different religious backgrounds and they chose to raise my brother and me as Unitarians because we learn about both of their traditions as well as many others. I like being a Unitarian because it is safe here to have your own beliefs. I don’t like it when people tell me what to think! Here we use the seven principles and follow our hearts to shape our beliefs. We don’t necessarily believe what someone else tells us is so. I became a youth member of the congregation last year because this place is so important to me.
My parents require that my brother and I each save a part of our allowance and donate a part to charity each week. I am choosing to pledge my $10 per month for charity this year to the meeting house because I know that it will help the great program that we have for kids, and it can help others in need as well. I will be attending the Bringing in the Green event and completing a pledge card!
Kids at my school think that I am weird because they are not familiar with our religion and they think that it is weird that I don’t have to follow a set of beliefs because “The Church” says its so. They just don’t get the whole questioning thing. This place is special to me because it is safe to be weird. I can’t think of a better bunch of people than ya’ll to be weird with. Thank you. - Ben Garmise
Let us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 03/07/07)