Many of us at the UU Fellowship of Poughkeepsie do not think of ourselves as “joiners,” and, for the most part, individuals can participate in the life of the Fellowship without being members (Friends are important, too!). But membership adds value and meaning, both for the individual and the congregation.

There is a current of involvement that members get carried along with that can be deeply satisfying. The key is to find your personal “ministry”—the place where your talents and gifts come together with the needs of the Fellowship and the larger community. Ours is a religion about “Deeds, not Creeds.”

In an article by former UUA President Peter Morales about finding your ministry, Morales says, “We don’t just 'want' to give of ourselves. We need to give of ourselves. One of the great lessons of all religious traditions is that we only find ourselves when we lose ourselves in service to something that transcends us.” Here at the UUFP you can explore what this means for you.

Becoming a member is a big decision, one that should not taken lightly. Some of the many benefits of membership at UUFP include the opportunity to be part of a vibrant, caring, sometimes challenging community; to develop your leadership and communication skills; to learn about the rich Unitarian Universalist faith tradition; and to serve needs greater than your own through social justice and caring community activities.
 
The responsibilities of membership include attending services regularly, pledging 2 to 3 percent of your income, and serving the Fellowship by getting involved in an area of interest to you, be it religious education, social justice, finance, buildings and grounds, or another facet of congregational life.