Online Ceremonies

Othila Handfasting Ceremony   

Universal Life Church

This ceremony binds the hands of two individuals, for wedded life together. This ceremony can be performed for one year and a day,  at which time, a renewal of vows may be taken, or the couple can remain handfasted as long as they both shall live in love.

Altar and cauldron are decorated with flowers as the couple choose. Rose-oil, salt, and incense are placed on the altar  along with A white silk cord . The rings are also placed on the altar.

Friends and family can be seated just outside of the circle, where they can witness the act. Bridal party, including matron of honor, best man and parents, will be lined up inside of the circle. The broom for jumping is used to close the circle after the circle is cast.

Circle is cast and sangrial prayer is recited.

 Who comes to be joined together in the presence of the god and goddess? What is thou name o man?

Groom: my name is _________

Who comes to be joined together in the presence of the god and goddess? What is thou name o woman?

Bride: my name is _________

Who offers her hand to be joined to this man?

Father of the bride: “ I do, with no regrets”

__________ and __________ we greet you with joy.

Having made clear thy intentions to be joined together, as husband and wife, a joining not to be undertaken lightly, do you both swear today before these witnesses, that this is indeed thy intent and you  do make this commitment without reservation, and of thine own free will?

Couple: “ we do”

In the face of this woman, may you see the face of our gentle   mother  goddess. May you find love and warmth, and rest and peace. May you have balance and harmony through the ebb and flows of the tides of life. May you find the   source of healing,  and soothing waters when storms lay ahead.

In the face of this man, may you see the face of our great father   god,  may you find strength and protection, stability and endurance. May you   be provided for , with warmth and shelter when cold winds blow. May his   spirit give you courage, and desire.

Anointing of foreheads with rose-oil; with this oil your love is sealed, may the fragrance of flowers remind you always of the bloom of your love.

Taking bride’s right hand, the white cord is wrapped around her wrist, and tied with a single knot.

Repeat after me;

By seed and stem, flower and root, by life and love, in the name of the goddess, I, _________ take thee, _______

To my hand, my heart, and my spirit.  to love and respect, from this day forward, as long as we live in love together.

Taking grooms   left hand and tieing the other end of the cord to his left hand with a single knot,

Repeat after me;

By seed and stem, flower and root, by life and love, in the name of the god, I _______ take thee ,______

To my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to love and cherish, from this day forward, as long as we live in love together.

At this time the rings are blessed, place them in the dish of salt, to cleanse, and sprinkle a few drops of holy water to seal, these rings are a symbol of eternity and everlasting love and commitment. Wear them as a public display of your unending love and affection.

Groom; with this ring, I  wed  thee.

Bride;  with this ring, I wed thee.

Consecration of cakes and wine

As the lord and lady, have witnessed this act, so also has the sun, and moon and stars. The elemental guardians, and our friends and family have born witness   to this steadfast love, we are all blessed with this joy today, and close our circle, to begin the feast and merriment with this newest wedded couple. I now pronounce you husband and wife, let us welcome Mr. and Mrs. ________. 

                                                                                                         blessed be

At this time, the broom is at the  opening of the circle.  the couple  jumps  across the threshold as one. Their white cord is removed, and feasting begins.

Another option is for friends and family to form two lines and with their own brooms, sweep in front of themselves,  as the happy couple runs through the line to start the feast.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have many classes in Christianity, one about Wicca, several forms of Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

You can  become an ordained minister, for free,  and for life, so use this Free Online Ordination, link.

This  online seminary, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies. 
 

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Which is the Real ULC?

During 1959, Kirby Hensley founded the Universal Life Church, in the city of Modesto, CA.   It was established on the foundation of Kirby’s belief that religion should be free, and that that freedom has to be asserted in order to be protected.   Kirby promised to ordain all who asked, free of charge, no questions asked.

Jealous clergy and priests of more well-known or mainstream religions (which Kirby referred to as the “Big Dog” churches) asserted that a clergy-member must endure years of seminary training and be approved by a committee, adhere to doctrinal standards, and additional such requirements.  Of course, those same people had no answer when it had been brought to their attention that Peter and Paul as well as the rest of the disciples had no seminary training.   Approval or traditional training take on less importance when you look at the long litany of abuse committed by so many ‘approved’ or ‘trained’ priests.  Sorry to say that, many good individuals have been discouraged from going after their ministry by just such obstacles.  Many other churches still exclude women from the pulpit, even in the 21st century!

According to Kirby, any real person should be able to get ordained with out having to dance to anyone else’s tune, and so he set out to establish a church that would enable this.  Fairly rapidly, the Universal Life Church, as it became known throughout the world, has evolved and grown in popularity and size.   The church has become well-known and established throughout the years, enough that many well-known proudly proclaim their membership, as well as having the Universal Life Church be used as part of the plot on numerous tv shows.  Whenever people mention the Universal Life Church, it is the original Modesto headquarters that folks are talking of.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, that degree of notoriety continues to attract multiple con artists who use the good name of the church to try and line their own pockets.   Employing the methods of those who would sell phony Rolex watches (calling them ‘Romex’ or the like), these rip-off artists created spin-offs making use of the title of ULC, but adding things like ‘network’ or ‘monastery’ to misdirect folks.    Kirby, having not imagined such dishonesty or the simplicity with which such deceptions would be perpetuated throughout the internet, never tried to trademark the name ‘Universal Life Church’, and even encouraged the various congregations of the church to use the name.  That left the field wide open for deceptions, and over the internet today, such falsehoods are happening in rapidly growing numbers.

Employing UPS maildrops or operating out of trailer parks (which can be confirmed using google maps), these fakers not only are claiming they belong to the ULC, but that they ARE the original Universal Life Church.    Making use of all manner of tricks and word games to get a bit of Google-love, some have even managed to climb well up in the search engine listings, which have resulted in tons of ministers who assume they have been ordained by the Universal Life Church of Modesto, but who had been really inadvertently associating with one of these dishonest groups.

By creating a whole new definition of ‘truth’, these groups created sites as well as blogs and such, twisting the facts in some cases, spouting flat-out lies in others.  For example, they tell new ministers that they HAVE TO purchase credentials in order to be legally ordained.  While it is correct that a handful of states do require the minister to register with the state in order to officiate weddings, most states do not have such a requirement.  It’s certainly not necessary for anything except for conducting a wedding.   Genuine ULC sites know this and would never pressure you to order anything. More than that, real ULC sites give a good deal of information away at no cost.

1 scammer urges ministers to buy “Letters of Good Standing”, suggesting that they are necessary in order to perform marriages and perform other functions of the referends.   The number of states that require the letter is very small and Modesto will send the letters free of cost. The only exceptions are for the couple of states that require a notarized letter – there is then a fee for the notary.

The ULC has 2 ‘official’ web sites.  Established in 1997, ulc.net is the oldest active authorized website for the ULC.  It offers an online application for ordination, an active forum, a directory of ministers and congregations (listing with the directory is optional), a reading library, support desk, prayer request page and an online bookstore where ministers are able to find ceremony books and additional items to assist them in their ministry.  If you want to confess online, there’s a place to do that.  The other official site is that of the administrative headquarters office, which continues to be located in Modesto, California.  It can be found at ulchq.com.   The ULC Seminary is another respected site and also provides various items of interest to ULC ministers, and has been affiliated with the real church in Modesto It’s a well-established and respected site. With both the Bookstore and the Seminary, the advice is free and they are there to answer their phones and offer support.

Be cautious of any othe sites.  There are plenty of honest sites out there, created by upstanding ULC ministers, but anyone claiming they ARE the ‘real’ Universal Life Church, or claiming to be the only Christian one or any site you get a bad negative gut reaction from, don’t be led astray.   If it did happen that you inadvertently went to 1 of the other sites, be forgiving of yourself over it. You are far from the first they have deceived and they make it their business to do it.

You do not need to take my word for it, the records speak for themselves.  Check the corporate records for any church which claims to BE the Universal Life Church.  You can do that by looking at the Secretary of State for the state in which they are located.   If you take a look at the records in CA, you’ll find that the original Universal Life Church became incorporated during 1962 as being a non-profit.  (While they did open in 1959, Kirby didn’t incorporate until 1962.)    Others, in they event records for them exist at all in the official state records, will show they only started operations just a few years ago. to be legally ordained, run away fast with both hands holding tight to your pocketbook!

The Universal Life Church has opened the way for millions to become ordained and to follow their dreams and are pleased that so many other churches have taken up the torch to assure that same freedom.   Hundreds of churches today began to model their ordination processes after the ULC, which has been outstanding to see. The honest churches establish a unique name for themselves and make an effort to distinguish their ministry and mission in other ways as well.  Other people, who don’t believe in the idea of doing that which is right, will simply take the well-known name and distort it for their own means, knowing that most individuals won’t check into the difference – At least not until it is too late, and they have been separated from their money!

Please do your homework. Seek ordination from a reputable source and find a site that gives you a good feeling to visit it.

Kevin Andrews invites individuals to become a minister through his authorized ULC website. Amy Long also runs a legitimate Universal Life Church site, which is affiliated with ULC Headquarters in Modesto, CA.

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have many classes in Christianity, one about Wicca, several forms of Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

You can  become an ordained minister, for free,  and for life, so use this Free Online Ordination, link.

This  online seminary, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.   

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

What's the Real Universal Life Church

The Universal Life Church was founded in 1959, in the town of Modesto, CA by Kirby Hensley.   Kirby believed strongly in the freedom of religion and that to be protected, this freedom has got to be exercised.   From the start, there had been narrow-minded people who bristled at Kirby’s promise to ordain any real person who asked, without charge, with out training, or without any questions asked or cash exchanging hands.

Jealous clergy and priests of much more established or traditional religions (which Kirby named the “Big Dog” churches) claimed that the minister must have years of seminary training and be approved by a committee, adhere to doctrinal standards, and other such requirements.  

Naturally, they had no response after it had been pointed out that Peter and Paul as well as the rest of the disciples received no seminary training.   Approval or traditional training take on less importance when you come to acquaint yourself with the long list of abuse committed by so many ‘approved’ or ‘trained’ priests.  Due to these types of headlines, many very warm-hearted individuals have hesitated to go after their calling.  Many other churches still exclude women from the pulpit, even in the 21st century!

Becoming ordained ought to be a personal decision, between you and The Supreme Being (or just you and yourself), so Kirby established the Universal Life Church to make this happen.  His church was known worldwide as the Universal Life Church (ULC) and quickly grew in popularity and membership.   Today, the church has become well known, and many celebrities have even proudly announced that they are reverends of the ULC.  Whenever folks think of the Universal Life Church, it is the church headquartered in Modesto which they’re thinking about.

Unfortunately, that notoriety and acclaim inevitably drew the attention of scam artists and other people who would look to line their pockets by ’borrowing’ the well-established name of the church.   Like the scammers who sell counterfeit Rolex watches under the name “Romex”, these charlatans created spin-offs with similar- sounding names, a few of them even utilizing the name of the original church, but adding something like “network” or “monastery”.  Kirby, having not considered such chicanery or the ease with which such lies would be perpetrated on the internet, never tried to trademark the name ‘Universal Life Church’, and even suggested to the various congregations from the church to use the name.  That left the field wide open for deceptions, and on the internet today, such falsehoods are happening in rapidly growing numbers.

Recently, a few of these spin-offs have had the audacity to proclaim that not only are they connected to the ULC, but that they ARE the original or real ULC. One even claimed that Kirby Hensley had sold him the ULC in 1964, when that person was only 4 years old!   Making use of all types of tricks and word games to garner a bit of Google-love, some have even managed to climb well up in the search engine listings, which has resulted in tons of people who think they have been ordained by the Universal Life Church of Modesto, but who had been really dealing with 1 of these unscrupulous groups.

By creating a whole new definition of ‘truth’, these groups created sites and blogs and such, twisting the facts in some cases, spouting flat-out lies in others.  One such lie told is that ministers must buy credentials to be legal.  While it is correct that a handful of states do require the minister to register with the state in order to officiate marriages, the majority of states do not have such a requirement.  It’s certainly not required for anything other than performing a wedding.   Genuine ULC sites know this and wouldn’t dream of pressuring you to purchase anything. More than that, good ULC sites share a lot of stuff away at no cost.

One particularly offensive scammer pushes ministers to purchase “Letters of Good Standing”, suggesting that the letters are required by law in order to perform marriages and perform additional functions of the ministers.   The number of states that require a letter is very small and Modesto will send the letters free of charge. The only exceptions are for the couple of states that require the notarized letter – there is then a fee for the notary.

The ULC has 2 ‘official’ web sites.  ULC.net is the oldest active web site of the church, established in 1997.  It provides an online application for ordination, an active forum, a directory of ministers and congregations (listing in the directory is optional), a reading library, support desk, prayer request page and an online bookstore in which ministers are able to find ceremony books and additional items to help them in their ministry.  Should you wish to confess online, there is a place to do that.  The other official site is that of the administrative headquarters office, which continues to be located in Modesto, California.  It can be found at ulchq.com.   The ULC Seminary, also affiliated with Modesto, provides a huge assortment of online seminary training courses, free weekly emails of several kinds, and a lot of free training It’s a well-established and respected site. Both the Seminary and the Bookstore provide outstanding minister support and guidance for both new and experienced ministers.

Take caution with any of the other sites who claim to be ULC.  You will find a lot of honest sites out there, created by upstanding ULC ministers, but anyone claiming they ARE the ‘real’ Universal Life Church, or claiming they are the only Christian 1 or any site you get a bad feeling from, don’t be led astray.   If you are though, don’t be disappointed.  Many other people have also been fooled before you, and it is painfully easy to have it happen to you.

You don’t have to take my word for it, the records speak for themselves.  Check the corporate records for any ULC which claims to BE the Universal Life Church.  You can do this by looking at the Secretary of State for the state in which they’re located.   You’ll easily find that the real Universal Life Church became incorporated during 1962, as a non-profit in the city of Modesto, CA.  (The ULC began during 1959, but didn’t incorporate until 1962.)    Other sites, in they event records for them exist at all in the legal state records, will show the others only started operations only a few years ago. to be considered legally ordained, run away quickly with both hands holding tight to your pocketbook!

The Universal Life Church, has been a pioneer in assuring that religion remains free and available to all who ask.   Hundreds of churches today have modeled their ordination processes after the ULC, which has been great to see. Genuine ULC Churches support the ideal of doing that which is right, and will clearly and honestly state their intentions and mission as well as doing what they can to set themselves apart.  Others, who don’t subscribe to the idea of doing that which is right, will simply take the well-known name and distort it for their own means, knowing that many folks won’t check into the difference – That is, until their hard-earned cash is in the hands of a scam artist.

Please take the time to check the sites out. You matter and your ordination is important so please find an honest church who offers you more than a way to spend your cash.

Kevin Andrews encourages individuals to become a minister through his authorized ULC site. Amy Long also runs a legitimate Universal Life Church site, which is affiliated with ULC Headquarters in Modesto, CA.

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have many classes in Christianity, one about Wicca, several forms of Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. 

You can  become an ordained minister, for free,  and for life, so use this Free Online Ordination, link.

This  online seminary, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.   

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Universal Life Church

1. Gay Jewish Ceremony Same-sex marriage is not supported in orthodox Judaism, but like most religions there are Rabbis that are willing to support a couple's union despite sexual orientation or interfaith issues.

American Rabbi Miriam Jerris advocates Secular Humanist Judaism and has adapted the Jewish wedding ceremony for gay couples. The different belief systems of Secular Humanist Judaism means that although religious traditions are incorporated into the gay wedding ceremony, the focus is on the human aspects of their union rather than on any particular religion.

Rabbi Jerris says that couples should select parts of the Jewish gay wedding ceremony that reflect the backgrounds of the couple, and incorporating rituals or symbols from their respective cultural or religious upbringings. In a typical Jewish-Christian gay wedding ceremony, for example, couples use a chuppah, or wedding canopy, and the ceremony involves the drinking of wine, a unity candle, readings, and a breaking of the glass. The significance, symbolism, and origins of these traditions is explained by the Rabbi to the gathered guests.

For Jewish couples, Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann, also American, has adapted a traditional ceremony that acknowledges the different relationship of the gay couple while staying close to the religious traditions of a Jewish wedding.

Couples should talk to their local temple or contact gay-friendly Jewish groups for information on a Rabbi to conduct a gay Jewish wedding ceremony.

Gay Wedding Ceremony

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The Universal Life Church offers handfasting ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and free minister training.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge selection of Universal Life Church  minister supplies. Since being ordained with the Universal Life Church for so many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've watch the huge change and growth that has continued to happen.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar