I came....

I saw....

I shared....

I was loved....

I loved....

.......

That's my story....

Hugs

Rita

I thrive on deep conversation and I found it here.  When i need a fix, I return for a little while.  And it is a bonus to actually get to meet from time to time other posters.

I was going through a time in my life when I had more questions than answers.

I wanted to find out what others in the UCC thought about things.

One of the first persons I "met" was a person by the name of Witch . . . and I thought "what am I getting myself into"?  I grew to like Witch, and valued the opinions he posted (and the same with many other Wondercafers).  It took me awhile to figure out this social place - and to figure out what a troll was and what a sock puppet was LOL!.

Because of my nature, my hubby's line of work (computers), the desire to protect anonymity (my own and my family's mostly), I was very select in what I posted and shared.  I believe because of it there were some, perhaps many, who wondered if I was "real".

I was . . . I am . . .

I found answers to many questions, I found truth to some of life issues, I learned, I grew, I became a better person.

I will miss the cafe :(

I've recently posted part of my story on another thread - stating what the Wondercafe has meant to me in the past and continues to mean to me. 

/ Some things I might add.

/ I've met people here that I've never gotten to know elsewhere - people like Witch (I knew nothing about the Wiccan religion before I came here, read his comments, and ask him questions and got answers); people like the young man from Yellowknife (I forget his name) who shared what it was like to be the only Muslim in his high school.

/
I've seen some of the worst in people; but also some of the best when people have offered love, advice, caring, compassion and concern for one another.
/
I've laughed and cried.

/
I've shared my thoughts, ideas, customs, and my Advent rituals around my Jesse Tree, and my recipe for fiddlehead soup.

It's been a Wonder-filled place for me.

I was stuck for ten years in a congregation that was happy not to change. No evening programs to feed my longing for spiritual food, community and sharing/ discussion of thoughts. Stuck at home in the evenings, as a single mom who could not afford the babysitter or to go to Tatamagouche for spiritual nourishment.

I learned a tremendous amount on WC. First about the UCC- admiration of a church that tries to be inclusive and works on social justice- well, I learned that my congregation was just not a good representation of the UCC principles- but there were so many positive examples out there. The resources, links, blogs, inspirations widened the horizon, fed the spirit. I learned about the courts of the UCC- I was fascinated watching General Council  online and truth and reconciliation events. Without the links from WC discussions, I would have missed many news and events, in the church and in the world.

Normal people in normal congregations don't hear about the different theological world views- or those of atheists, or others. I dare say- the average congregation does not have evening groups that tackle discussions about faith, politics, sexuality, parenting or relationships even close to how WC does.

If the future of the UCC depends on widening their member's horizon- they better work on making WC more publicly known to their members instead on closing it.

WC is an example of how there is a wealth of skill, knowledge, love, understanding and life experience in every community- but in real life, we often don't tell each other or see eachother that way.

I really like this place. I feel a sense of 'family' here, even in this online environment - even though sometimes we have little fueds. Families are like that. It's a place where people share their hopes, dreams, sorrows- their day to day ups and downs, their deep theological and philosophical questions- and even a few recipes! :) people post about their personal experiences. Friendships are formed. I miss people when they're gone for awhile. it's easy to 'talk' here- I can take my time, on my own time. I can be expressive. I have a voice. And i have learned so much from others. I also like that there's no "schedule" for joining a conversation, and they're always left open. I can be engaged with this 'congregation' even while I am riding the bus!

I joined wondercafe in August of 2007. I was so impressed by the wide variety of viewpoints, and the inclusiveness the site seemed to offer, that I said to myself: "If this is the stance of the United Church, then this is a church I can join!" I walked into our loclal UCC church on Thanksgiving of 2007, and became a member a few months later.

For our admittance ceremony, we had to profess our faith, and I asked our minister whether I could take the Profession of Faith metaphorically. "You can take it as metaphorically as you want," she said. And I did. Had I been asked to take it literally, I would not have joined.

Now it appears that the freedom to take Christian metaphors metaphorically applies to the layity, but not to the clergy, as the furor over Rev. Gretta Vosper and her West Hill congregation seems to suggest?

I love to talk about, think about, explore spirituality and religion. I've been that way for decades. Alas, I was finding that it was pretty much a taboo topic on most of the boards I was frequenting back in 2008 (and still is) so I had my eye out for boards where it was a welcome topic.

Lo and behold, I started seeing ads for something called Wondercafe in magazines (mainly Today's Parent, IIRC). The affiliation with the United Church interested me, both as a former UCCan member and as someone who was eyeing a possible return to that church (which has not happened but also has never been taken off the table either). So, I checked it out and signed up.

This is a wonderful online community. We've supported people through crises. We've welcomed Pilgrim's Progress on her pilgrimmages to Canada. We've hashed out the meaning of God, Jesus, and life more than a few times. We've had fun following the World Cup, playing games, and exchanging gifts via Secret Santa.

I've learned stuff about the UCCan that no one bothered to tell us when I was a member (e.g. the whole "essential agreement" thing, the actual text of the original Articles of Faith). I've learned things about other faith groups that I had not known before. John (I now understand Grace and Calvinism, and therefore my faith's universalist roots, like never before thanks to RevJohn), Panentheism (who got me interested in process and panentheism again years after I first encountered them in university), and others have proven to be remarkably adept spokespersons for their various theological viewpoints (yes, I include chansen in that, too, even if his theology is that theology is nonsense). My personal faith has grown and changed in some respects.

So, when people refer to Wondercafe as an "online church", I get it. For me, it has been my second church in some ways and at some times, but has been my main one at times. If UU'ism has our Church of the Larger Fellowship (see my blog), then why can't Wondercafe be kept alive to perform the same role for the UCCan? If they wanted us to starting giving an offering, I'd put some money in the virtual plate.

Mendalla

I joined Wonder Cafe in 2007.  I was known as a "Lurker", because I spent my time reading the different forums and discussions.  However, I did not take part in them.  I have been burned as it were by churches.  I have been told I am welcomed but the moment they find out I am a Druid-Taoist-Buddhist at the core of my spirituality. I was given the cold shoulder and people didn't want be near me.  Then to add insult to injury I am gay as well.  When that was made known I was shunned, ostracized from churches as being the devil incarnate.

So my hesitancy to participate in Wonder Cafe is understandable.  My first toe in the water as it is said, was when I came across the Ad Campaign: Gay Marriage does anyone object.  That was the first time I ever spoke up about anything on Wonder Cafe.  It was something that related to me.  It was something I could speak about.  I am by no means an eloquent speaker.  But, I shared from my heart when I wrote on that campaign.  Then I started to take part in the Social forum.  I didn't feel comfortable posting in the Religion & Faith forum.  I can not quote the bible like they do there or get into deep discussions because I am not learned as they are.  Never the less, I tried to take part in one of their discussions. They readily jumped on me demanding explanations to this or that in what I said, and that I needed to back it up with scripture.  Well, not being a bible expert, not being a theologian,  I could not answer they way they wanted me to.  So at I stopped taking part in the Religion & Faith Forum.

It wasn't long though that I tried once more to take part in them and instead of trying to talk to them with the book knowledge they had, I shared with them the life knowledge I had discovered along my own personal journy.  This allowed them to understand where I was coming from in what I was saying and made interaction that might otherwise not continue to happen to evolve into dialogues with each other in a mutually respectful manner.  Because of how I approached things, I got referred to as gentle soul, a peacemaker.  I tried to understand from both perspectives and find commonalities that fostered peace not animosity.

The day came that I shared I was gay with them, I thought ok here it comes, they've all be nice to me up to the moment of coming out no Wonder Cafe.  I was surprised to say the least.  They did not shun me, they did not toss me to the curb like old trash.  They said I was welcomed here.  They made me feel like a part of the Wonder Cafe family.  I felt that if ever there was a congregation that embodied the spirit of being Christ like, it was this place.  They accepted they didn't judge, well, some did, but the majority accepted without reserve.

I have shared very intimate things here on Wonder Cafe.  We all have in one form or another.  Stories of hopelessness and helplessness, stories of darkest moments and brightest joys.  I won't mention any stories, if those who I refer to wish to share those they will.  Wonder Cafe has helped me shape my personal beliefs helped me understand my spiritual journey.

Wonder Cafe is more than mere electrons & blips in cyberspace.  Wonder Cafe is a congregation of diverse individuals as unique as each separate snowflake.  In no church that I have ever attended have people of such diverse religious, spiritual, non-religious, non-spiritual back grounds come together in one place and share openly, freely without reserve or fear of being rejected because of that diversity.

This is just a small fraction of my story here and what Wonder Cafe means to me.  I am honoured to be a part of it and to share in the journeys of each and every member of this virtual congregation.

(>-.-)> *Peace* ~ Beyond ~ *Peace* <(-.-<)

Steven A. Breeze
aka: Wolfie

I'll just drop in with a very short story tonight. As a kid I lived with my grandma in a tiny country village called the Garden of Eden in N.S.  On Sundays we always put on our very best dresses and headed off to the  little Presbyterian church which was within our sight. I moved away in 1956 remembering my grandma's admonition as I was leaving : "Go to church...!". Over the years I've gone to church sporadically while accompanying my daughter to Sunday School at  the nearest church which was Baptist.

My grandmother loved the church. When I saw the UC advertising a forum I decided to participate as a memorial and in memory of my grandmother. She passed away in 1968.  Its unusual but that's basically what brought me here. Long live the church!

 "Grandma...look at me....I'm in church....".....  I never forgot the church or my grandma......

We often sang :  "Jesus loves me this I know ".....and....."What a friend we have in Jesus ".....

Jesus ....with me always, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever .

I've kind of come and gone over the years. I guess my story in short is I'm looking for a church home. I'm a "blue" Christian living in a "red" state so that complicates things locally. Also I work third shift now so attending a physical church is difficult.

I was invited here by the Wondercafe bus ad campaign that ran subsequent to the atheist "There is probably no God" campaign. I've always had one forum that I primarily contribute to since 1997, and this has been the one for the past 4 years or so. The atheist forum was boring. Seems I have no interest in hanging out with fellow atheists. This goes back to my childhood, when most of my friends were religious.

As everyone knows, I've since had a second child in 2010, a boy, and seen him nearly die a couple of times now due to cardiac arrests, and we've been dealing with his resulting brain injury since May 2012. Without really planning to, I've been recording that journey here.

Yes, an online church, with an ongoing discussion service, and atheists, agnostics, and people with all kinds of beliefs and disbeliefs as congregants. Right on!

I, too, am willing to put some money into the virtual plate to keep it going.

Thanks for this SG.

I signed on right away the first day, and am so very glad I did.  I was in one church as a CD minister, and now I'm at another church in a similar role.  That means a lot of change and good times and bad times and crossing paths with many people.  This cafe became my go-to safe place to vent and try ideas and debate when real-life church was more work than fun.  Of course too, I've been parenting and living regular life through all this as well.  Lots to share and learn from friends at the cafe.

I've been poached too - where someone church-related dug up my posts (like really dug up, going back months) to use some against me.  That was awful, but in the end, the news was public about who it was and let's just say I came out looking alright.  

I have loved meeting my WC friends at the picnics.  I have no doubt that in 95% of cases, we're the same online as in real life, and I have made real friends and real work connections because of the cafe.

Things I loved - the banter that exists only here, about wondertinis and wondieawards, and Roofers and the Wonder choir, and pulling up a chair to the fire by all the virtual goodies people bring.  I have laughed at some arguments and gotten high blood pressure from big discussions.  I've intervened sometimes and tried to be a bridge.  

I am sad that some find it hostile, or that others have abused our trust.  I am sad that Aaron has born the brunt of frustrations at GC.  I am sad that some are hostile despite a million chances to be nice as if this is a place of shouting at instead of finding support within.  

Oh, and I loved being a part of the Prayer Flag that we put together for General Council one year.  I loved that it hung as among all the Congregations recognized like a real meaningful community.