Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley Your liberal religious home in beautiful Black Mountain, NC. UUCSV is certified as a Welcoming Congregation and accredited as a Green Sanctuary. As Rev. Rev.

Join us Sundays at 11:00 AM! YouTube service archive: https://m.youtube.com//streams Unitarian Universalist congregations together affirm and promote seven Principles. We also share a “living tradition” of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from many sources. The eight PRINCIPLES and six SOURCES of the Unitarian Universalist Association grew out of the grassroots of our communities, w

ere affirmed democratically, and are part of who we are. Unitarian Universalists hold the PRINCIPLES as strong values and moral teachings. Barbara Wells ten Hove explains, “The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.” As UUs, we covenant to affirm and promote:

1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
8. Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. Kathleen Rolenz said, “Throughout history, we have moved to the rhythms of mystery and wonder, prophecy, wisdom, teachings from ancient and modern sources, and nature herself.” Worshiping in our congregations you may hear a reading or perspective shared from any one of these SOURCES from which our living tradition is drawn:

1. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
2. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
3. Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
4. Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
5. Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
6. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. To find out more about our congregation, visit www.uusv.org
To find out more about the Unitarian Universalist denomination, visit www.uua.org

This Week at UUSVSunday, June 7th, 2026"Justice, Equity, and Compassion"Rev Michael J S CarterOur 2nd Principle is "Just...
06/05/2026

This Week at UUSV

Sunday, June 7th, 2026
"Justice, Equity, and Compassion"
Rev Michael J S Carter

Our 2nd Principle is "Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations". These are the lived values of a free faith, suggesting that the spiritual life must express itself ethically. We as UUs stress accountability to one another within our community, but outside our community as well. In fact, the very name Unitarian Universalist suggests a strong ethical component. Unitarian implies the unity of all beings, binding us together in one human family. Universalist suggests that our concerns are global in nature---no one is to be excluded. “Affirming and promoting justice, equity, and compassion in human relations” articulates that tradition. The late Unitarian Universalist minister Harry Meserve (of First Unitarian of San Francisco) once asked this question, “If you were arrested for being a Unitarian Universalist, would there be enough evidence to convict you?". It's a great question. What is your answer?

Music: Linda Metzner, piano

Can't make it? Watch the service here anytime after the service ends. https://m.youtube.com//videos

Annual Congregational Meeting - This Sunday!

A reminder that our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held June 7th, directly after the service, at 12:15 in the sanctuary.

This Week at UUSVSunday, May 31st, 2026"Echoes of My Ancestors"Rochelle Broome, MDOur ancestors, those who came before u...
05/31/2026

This Week at UUSV

Sunday, May 31st, 2026
"Echoes of My Ancestors"
Rochelle Broome, MD

Our ancestors, those who came before us, are a major force in helping to determine who we are during our lifetime. Though we enter this world with the potential to do or be anything we desire, the circumstances of our birth and the environment in which we grow to adulthood, in small or large ways, help shape who we become. The stories told to us and the life lessons we learn from our ancestors may brilliantly color or negatively cloud our perceptions of who we are and what we are able to accomplish during our life’s journey on this beautiful, blue-green celestial marble called Earth. Let us explore this topic together through word and song.

Music: Sheri Kay, Hand Pan; Encore (Spence Foscue, Debbie Evenchik and Rochelle Broome)

Can't make it? Watch the service here anytime after the service ends. https://m.youtube.com//streams

This Week at UUSVSunday, May 17th, 2026"East Meets West"Rev Michael J S CarterThe Western intellectual tradition suggest...
05/16/2026

This Week at UUSV

Sunday, May 17th, 2026
"East Meets West"
Rev Michael J S Carter

The Western intellectual tradition suggests that in order to be happy, what we need to do most of all is to go out and subdue the world; secure resources, found businesses, run governments, gain fame, and conquer nations.

By contrast, the Eastern tradition has for a long while told us something very different. In both its Buddhist and Hindu strands, it has insisted that contentment requires us to learn to conquer not the world but the instrument through which we view this world: namely, our minds.

It won’t matter, says the East, how lustrous and perfect our achievements end up being — how much money we accumulate, how many friends we acquire, how famous our name is — so long as our minds remain open to being troubled at any point by our emotional faculties. All the benefits of a palace with seven reflecting pools and gardens planted with almond and cherry trees will be wiped out by a depression. Chronic anxiety will spoil the ownership of the fastest jet. A fortune is of no use at all so long as one is nagged by paranoia. An unhappy relationship at once destroys any advantages of an esteemed name.

Music: Linda Metzner, piano

Find our YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/?si=XcjhA6T8aLQOBiyo

05/16/2026

Thanks to everyone who helped us say goodbye to our caterpillars-turned-butterflies last Sunday!

05/09/2026

Day 24 - Saturday, May 9th
By this point I believe we've had 8 butterflies (of 10 caterpillars) emerge! I'm so excited to bring them to release at UUSV tomorrow!

05/09/2026

Video no. 2 from yesterday, May 8th. We were up to 6 at that point! Sorry this production quality isn't great.

05/09/2026

Video from May 8th.
Sorry I failed to post this yesterday. We've had several butterflies emerge from their chrysalises! I have 2 videos from yesterday. This is the first.

This Week at UUSV - Special Music, Intergenerational Beginning, & PotluckSunday, May 10th, 2026"Perfect in Imperfection"...
05/09/2026

This Week at UUSV - Special Music, Intergenerational Beginning, & Potluck

Sunday, May 10th, 2026
"Perfect in Imperfection"
Rev Michael J S Carter

The Rev. Lynn Ungar is a UU minister who says that Mother’s Day sermons are difficult. I happen to agree wholeheartedly. For every person who brings a Mother to church, physically or emotionally, that is cherished, loved, and appreciated, there are always others who are scarred from the inadequate jobs their mother’s did in raising them. The same can also be said of fathers.

Perhaps this is true due to the high expectations we have of our mothers. I mean, after all, they're only human.

Well, now it’s Mother’s Day-- again. Let's gather together to try to unpack the most important relationship of our lives.

This is an Intergenerational Beginning Sunday. Children and Youth will begin in the Sanctuary & then proceed to RE with Susan (DIr. of Religious Ed) after the Story for All Ages.

Join us after service for our monthly potluck! Please bring a dish to share.

Second Sundays Music: Dave Wells, guitar and voice

05/07/2026

Day 22 - May 7
Our first butterfly has emerged!

Address

500 Montreat Road
Black Mountain, NC
28711

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 2:30pm
Sunday 10:45am - 12pm

Telephone

(828) 669-8050

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