The Prescott Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, affectionately known as PUUF (pronounced “puff”), is a lay-led congregation without a full-time minister or paid employees. Our activities are directed by an elected Board of Trustees and by committees such as our program committee.
Purpose:
To be an oasis in the Prescott pines—a safe space to share the journey of exploration into questions of the heart and mind with an interconnected supportive family.
Vision:
To see a vibrant, just, compassionate, interconnected community.
Mission:
To strengthen beloved community by welcoming and listening to diverse viewpoints, which fosters understanding, connection, and compassion for all.
To be an enduring example of compassion through community outreach and engagement, providing an inclusive fellowship, and encouraging each other to be our highest and best selves.
Our first principle is to value “the worth and dignity of every person.” The members and friends of PUUF come from many backgrounds and have included individuals who identify themselves as agnostics, atheists, non-theists, Buddhists, Christians, humanists, free thinkers and more. Inter-faith couples will find PUUF to be a comfortable home.
Our programs are not “religious” except in the very broadest sense. We feature a variety of speakers drawn from the Prescott community and from our own Fellowship, including college faculty, authors, ministers and performers. Programs usually include a period for discussion and reflection.
Unitarian Universalism does not expect people to adhere to a specific set of beliefs. Rather we gather around shared moral values and mutual support for one another in each individual’s personal search for truth and meaning in life. PUUF members and friends tend to be politically progressive, but include those with conservative views as well. We generally are concerned with issues such as ecology and social justice.
For many people, PUUF’s best feature is its warm caring atmosphere, and its sense of community. Our small size allows for a connectedness among our members and friends that fosters a strong sense of belonging and family. We also have a casual atmosphere that many find to be a comfortable alternative to a more formal congregational organization.
We treasure the fellowship we share with one another in our services, in our potluck dinners and at our movie nights, and the intellectual stimulation we receive from one another in book discussions, special educational classes and lectures.
PUUF has earned recognition as a “Welcoming Congregation” which welcomes everyone – regardless of circumstances, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Unitarian Universalism is very supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families and has been especially welcoming to this community.
