Hello crazyheart...God bless you...

I am very Honoured to be part of wondercafe...it is a wonderful place to visit and like you crazyheart I have been with the cafe since it opened...I have made many friends here , I have shared, I have cried when others shared, I have prayed and been prayed for , I have always been loved and respected....

I am very glad that the United Church put up this site...I have grown and learned a lot by reading the posts with regards to others Faith...I enjoy every minute that I am in wondercafe...

Thankyou to the United Church and all whom I have met since its opening...

May God continue to Bless wondercafe and all who frequent here..amen ...

IJL: bg

I think both the grassroots and the survey are important. I answered the survey. I read in The Observer about them looking for partners in funding to continue Wondercafe.

My testimonial:

Wondercafe has become a very valuable part of my religious/spiritual/church life. It in no way takes away from my church experience. It adds to it. In fact, it is probably one of the reasons I have been  able to stay in the UCC church I am in. I feel less alone in my theology online, being one of the few under 70 people in my local congregations. Wondercafe offers me that emerging paradigm and the stretching, reaching, digging deep that I seek... Wondercafe gave me the comfort to acknowledge my call for the first time in my life, though I have felt it for decades. Without Wondercafe, I would still be a UCC member, based on the UCC's  beliefs,  but most likely I would have been attending church services someplace else. Wondercafe fills those parts not filled locally.  

I too will add my support for the continued existence of the cafe. I haven't read the Observer article but if its partners they're looking for it seems to me that there are two obvious ones - United Online, a BBS that predates the cafe, and my own Seems Like God.  I will gladly set up a full system to host the cafe should the need arise. (which I hope it doesn't)

This place has proven to be a unique experience of online faith, much as the United Church of Canada itself is a unique expression of inclusive faith. I confess that I was skeptical when the hands off approach to moderation was proposed. I've been in many forums that quickly devolved into nothing more than flame wars so vicious that serious discussion was impossible. And in others where my acerbic comments would be deleted without a moment's hesitation.

That hasn't happened here. Quite the contrary. I hope it shall continue. If not directly with the church then most certainly in partnership elsewhere.

David

I believe the article mentioned Australia... that is sticking in my mind for some reason... maybe that girl I loved from Sydney is thinking of me... LMAO

wow, goldenrule... nice, umm,  haircut!!!

awww, thanks.   Courtesy of my daughter. The beard has since, unfortunately, joined it.

My message about Wondercafe is simple: a place like this is needed. It has some of the most civil, interesting discussions of religion and spirituality that I've seen on the 'Net. It brings together atheists and mystics, evangelicals and liberals, mainstream Christians and the liberal and conservative fringes. If nothing else, it has shown me that the United Church is still an option for me because the UCC was able to create such a space and because some of the people I've met here have shown me that the UCC can encompass more than just mainstream liberal Protestantism. I'm not exercising that option as of yet, but that could still come.

As for the UCC seeking partners (and I don't read the Observer right now, so I don't know the details) for Wondercafe, has the Canadian Unitarian Council been approached? The whole Wondercafe concept is just so in tune with our principles, that it should at least be considered.

Hi crazyheart: I just filled out the survey, and I hope wondercafe continues!

bumping up

bumping up-ER!

I have learned so much on this site I have had lots of support for my parenting and health issues. This has been a lifeline for me. I have made some wonderful on line friends please keep it going

Blessings

musicsooths

bump

bump

...pray?

Yes, crazyheart, the United Church is about grassroots ministry, and that's why I joined it—after finding out about it here on wondercafe!

www.wondercafe.ca  is a virtual grassroots congregation that practices what it preaches: grassroots participation. Everyone contributes; everyone benefits; everyone walks away enriched. And those who come here with a chip on their shoulder either get it rubbed off or leave.

www.wondercafe.ca is grassroots Church at its second-best ("best" being personal encounter :-)

Now I must get ready for real church, which is very grassroots as well. Our small rural UC congregation can only afford a part time minister, so that lay services are frequent. I conducted our service four times last year, once already this year, and again on May 17th.