For many Unitarian Universalists, religious education helps them make better choices and explore essential life questions that include: How can we help the Earth to heal? What does it mean to be sexually healthy? How can we help to create a more just world? For some, religious education has also been a critical, transformative, life-saving experience.

Do you or someone you know have a story to share about how UU religious education saved your life? UU World magazine is collecting these stories and would love to learn about yours.

Email world@uua.org with the subject line: life-saving ministry



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#IntersexAwarenessDay marks the anniversary of a public demonstration by intersex people and their allies at the annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics on October 26, 1996.

We uplift the courage of these activists, and we side with continued efforts to raise awareness and agency for all intersex people. May all of our intersex siblings feel supported, empowered and cherished.



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We're proud to share news about this important milestone in our Association-wide work toward greater inclusion and we are so grateful for the long and diligent partnership of EqUUal Access in this process. https://bit.ly/3z7sIqg


We are grateful to EqUUal Access for their long term partnership.

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Sending love and good wishes to everyone celebrating #Diwali! May your days be illuminated with happiness, peace and good health.



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Looking for community between the ages of 14-18 years old? YUUP is for #UU Youth!

Do you know someone who would be interested? Together, we shape the future of Unitarian Universalism.

Find out more about this new program: https://bit.ly/3EOEvgy


When the world shut down, YUUP started up.

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For many Unitarian Universalists, religious education helps them make better choices and explore essential life questions that include: How can we help the Earth to heal? What does it mean to be sexually healthy? How can we help to create a more just world? For some, religious education has also been a critical, transformative, life-saving experience.

Do you or someone you know have a story to share about how UU religious education saved your life? UU World magazine is collecting these stories and would love to learn about yours.

Email world@uua.org with the subject line: life-saving ministry



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On this #ThoughfulThursday, we share a story of some ways that clergy and other religious professionals are processing their experiences during the pandemic.

Learn more about the retreats organized and co-led by ministerial intern Arran Morton and the ways in which deep reflection can help us all make meaning from difficult experiences.

https://www.uuma.org/page/2022WeeklyNewsOctober14

pc: Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association



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Lay leadership has a long and proud history in Unitarian Universalism. Recent shifts in professional staffing, however, has resulted in more congregations finding themselves in need of strong lay leadership.

UUA Congregational Life staff will hold a virtual convening on December 10 to help lay-led congregations connect with each other and connect with new streams of resources from the UUA. Join the convergence!

https://bit.ly/3s6Lh9R


Is your congregation operating without a professionally-trained minister?...

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For Indigenous Peoples around the world, climate change has long been more than an abstract, futuristic possibility. The importance of an Indigenous worldview is illuminated by the impacts of climate change.

"Let us steward the land. Let us right the relationship. Assist us in these endeavors. Return to us our stolen land, ancestors, languages, and children so that we can heal ourselves and the earth. We need not continue to extract, take, remove, sell, covet, own, profit, or destroy. Another story is possible if we just listen to the past and allow it to take us into the future."

Read more in this new article from the Fall/Winter edition of UU World: https://bit.ly/3glmMDy


Some twenty years ago, in a nondescript conference room with high ceilings and Berber carpet, I witnessed an Alaska Native Elder cry while discussing climate change. This Elder and her community have been living on the land—and existing off of it—for eons.

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Looking for community between the ages of 14-18 years old? YUUP is for #UU Youth!

Do you know someone who would be interested? Together, we shape the future of Unitarian Universalism.

Find out more about this new program: https://bit.ly/3EOEvgy


When the world shut down, YUUP started up.

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Susan Dana Lawrence

,

Karin Lin

,

Nancy Palmer Jones

Continue reading "Mistakes & Miracles: UU Common Read Discussion Guide"

Susan Dana Lawrence

,

Karin Lin

,

Nancy Palmer Jones

Continue reading "Mistakes & Miracles: UU Common Read Discussion Guide"

UU the Vote Campaign Manager JaZahn Hicks and UUA Field and Programs Director Nicole Pressley remind us about the importance of UU the Vote in the home stretch of the 2022 election.

To get involved, go to https://bit.ly/3tp1HeU.

Tune in now! https://bit.ly/3VBBarm


Together. By adding your email, you will receive updates from the UUA and local state action networks. https://vimeo.com/749213409/10bebd802f Our Fall Flex for 4 Million leverages the power of our…

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October 17 is #BlackPoetryDay, an opportunity to celebrate not only the monumental work of Black poets but also Black literacy and culture more broadly.

Poems give us access to perspectives and experiences other than our own and provides comfort and inspiration when we're struggling.

Check out Black poets published by UUA imprints Skinner House or Beacon Press at inSpirit, the UU Book and Gift Shop.

https://bit.ly/3ME46t1

PC: American Writer Museum



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The Distinguished Service Award is one of the most prestigious awards given by the UUA. Recipients of this award have strengthened the institutions of our UU denomination, clarified our message in extraordinary ways, and exemplified what Unitarian Universalism represents for.

The Award Committee is seeking nominations from throughout the Association so they can select a broad range of the most exemplary leaders in our movement. The deadline for receipt of nominations is January 1, 2023.

Visit this link for more information on how to submit a nomination: https://bit.ly/3T6T6rX



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As LatinX/Hispanic HeritageMonth comes to a close we share with you a piece that honors the generations of people who crafted the beautiful mixture of culture we celebrate today.

We are grateful for all the vibrant culture and pride the Latinx community shares with us. We will continue to be in solidarity and work for justice alongside this and all communities until we all thrive, and we will carry the light of their inspiration forward.

PC: iamsamkirk



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We share this #SFGLeads message. We all need time to rest and recharge right now. You deserve it. Rest and joy are sources of our creativity and critical for our spiritual strength, resilience, and survival. We and our faith will be better for it.



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On this #ThoughtfulThursday we offer you this message from Bernice King ,"Social justice is LOVE applied to systems, policies and cultures."



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In recognition of Yom Kippur last week, we reflect on atonement and forgiveness. We share with you this message by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg from her book, On Repentance and Repair.

PC:UU Ministry for Earth



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Today we celebrate #NationalComingOutDay! Today we shine a light on all those who have come out as LGBTQ+.While it’s a personal decision, everyone who speaks about their sexuality or gender identity is seen as a win for equality.We honor the power of the coming out experience, knowing many LGBTQ people are asked to repeat this experience throughout their lives.

On this day we share with this you Blessed Are the Queer by HP Rivers.https://bit.ly/3NdpExy


Blessed are the wanderers, Seeking affirmation. Blessed are the worshipers, Praying from closets, Pulpits, pews, and hardship. Blessed are the lovers of...

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Today we honor Indigenous Peoples Day. It is impossible to exaggerate the magnitude of the human injustice perpetrated against Indigenous people. Settler exploration and violent appropriation of Indigenous lands continue unquestioned because of the Doctrine of Discovery.

We must continue to open ourselves to a transformation that seeks to redress past wrongs and address injustices. Unitarian Universalists have begun this work by reimagining this holiday that celebrates colonialism to become an opportunity to reveal historical truths about the oppression of Indigenous peoples in the Americas and celebrate the strength and beauty of Indigenous culture.

For more information please check out this online resource:https://bit.ly/3CNXHtH



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Thank you to all the UU clergy across the association. May you feel the love and support from your collegial community! We are grateful for your witness! In this rich well of appreciation, we truly thank you for your work.



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We are grateful to grassroots groups and activists across the country who are developing amazing resources to support education and understanding on #IndigenousPeoplesDay.

Check out IllumiNative led non-profit plans and guides to advocate and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in your community.

https://bit.ly/3MiA4fY



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Today, Muslims worldwide, including Muslim Unitarian Universalists, celebrate Mawlid Al Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. We wish you a very happy and blessed Mawlid Al Nabi.



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For if not us, who? If not now, when? This is the work we are called to do. Let's continue to commit to recognizing, reflecting, and doing the work to break barriers and build bridges.

We share with you Be A King photo as a reminder that we can do the work anywhere.



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On this #ThoughtfulThursday we are holding the millions of people affected by Hurricane Ian in love and light during their recovery time. We send our prayers.

Hurricane Ian made landfall over southwest Florida for only a few hours, but the recovery will take months or longer for some. Congregations affected by Hurricane Ian experienced a substantial loss of income and property. Our people will need support for housing, clothing, and basic needs as well as money for repairs. With your donation, we are able to aid congregations, their members, and their communities. Please donate today. https://bit.ly/33A6U5O



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Join Side with Love for the launch of our latest organizing campaign, UPLIFT Action! They will be honoring the sacred importance of bodily autonomy with several of our partners and Unitarian Universalists from around the country who are faithfully organizing for LGBTQIA+, Gender, and Reproductive Justice.

Come be a part of this special event where we proclaim, "Every Body is Sacred!" and celebrate the inherent worth and dignity of every person and launch ourselves into action. Register now to join live or get the recording.
https://bit.ly/3SIlQaw



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Will you take the Climate Justice Voter pledge? Join UU the Vote as they’ve partnered with Environmental Voter Project to activate non-voting environmentalists. Take the pledge to get one million voters for the climate out to the polls this year!

https://bit.ly/3EdNUya


Climate change is a complex problem. The ways we address it are varied and have different impacts, but all are crucial in addressing climate change. Voting on climate is a critical approach.

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It's disappointing that U.S. President Biden feels the pandemic is over - many in Unitarian Universalist communities are being impacted by the virus and many are still choosing to wear masks. We remain dedicated to supporting people's efforts to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy.

We also remain dedicated to demanding more compassionate, inclusive policies that protect the worth and dignity of everyone in communities across the United States.

Earlier this spring, Side with Love shared a post that reminded us of the importance of rejecting a narrow view of personal responsibility and choosing actions that support our entire community instead. Its message is still much-needed today.

https://bit.ly/3M9JDh1


As we reach the millionth U.S.COVID death, how can we prevent such overwhelming numbers from demoralizing us and instead reach people in ways that inspire work to build the more equitable and compassionate system?

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The Shabbat Shuva, known as the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is a time for self-reflection and asking for forgiveness.

As we prepare for the start of Yom Kippur tomorrow, here is a piece of Jewish wisdom from this period. Shabbat Shalom!

PC: World Jewish Congress



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We echo Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray message. Consider donating your congregation's Sunday collection to the UUA's Disaster Relief Fund to help us respond.

https://bit.ly/33A6U5O


Assist UUA congregations, their members, and communities experiencing destruction from natural and human caused disasters.

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The UUA is proud national partner of Day Without Us. Join us for this free event - register now. Learn how you can plug into the fight from wherever you are: https://bit.ly/3TL4ScA



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Today, Jews worldwide, including Jewish Unitarian Universalists, celebrate Rosh Hashanah. As we gather for these celebrations, we wish you a time filled with meaningful moments, love, and care for one another.



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Last summer, East Shore UU Church in Kirtland, Ohio like many other congregations had just been through a very difficult year. Along with the continued challenges of the pandemic, they had to say goodbye to their developmental minister. The search for a new minister ended in disappointment, with no viable candidates available. Ministers in the greater Clevland area offered to help. Through patience and perseverance, these ministers came through for the East Shore UU Church in Kirtland. During their time they compiled a project post-mortem.

Learn how these ministers relied on staff and leaders to support one another during a time of shortage. Read the full story:https://bit.ly/3Rc4LUG



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#BisexualityDay seeks to accelerate the acceptance of the Bi community and overcome the erasure of bisexual individuals worldwide. UUs welcome and celebrate you and members of the bisexual community. Your identity is valid.🤍



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This #ThoughtfulThursday we are introducing a new series featuring our President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray called #SFGLeads.

We share this message of hope during another time of uncertainty. Faithful action is what this moment asks of us. We remain grateful for the leadership of UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray.



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Two years later, we still mourn the loss of the amazing Unitarian Universalist leader Elandria Williams. It brings us some comfort to know that E’s memory and legacy lives on through all of the lives E touched.”

https://bit.ly/3EKGVdY


Elandria Williams was a dear friend and incomparable leader of our faith.

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Houses of worship on Martha's Vineyard have long worked together to meet the needs of their neighbors. Faith leaders were ready to spring into action when refugees arrived unexpectedly after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pulled an inhumane and cruel political stunt.

The Rev. Janet Newton, a minister at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Martha’s Vineyard, said, "The vineyard is often seen as a playground for the rich and powerful, and that shapes how outsiders see the Vineyard."

During the off-season in the vineyard, people struggle. In the geographically isolated community, year-round residents have learned to care for each other through community and hospitality.

Kudos to all of the community leaders - on Martha’s Vineyard who welcomed these strangers with love, care, and dignity.

https://bit.ly/3DDzyGV


(RNS) — Houses of worship on Martha's Vineyard have long worked together to meet the needs of their neighbors. So they were ready to spring into action when refugees arrived unexpectedly.

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We urge the Biden Administration to honor its commitment to end Title 42. We must build a just and humane immigration system in this country that honors the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

https://bit.ly/3fblavz


It was reported that the Biden administration has proposed to expand asylum-blocking Title 42 expulsions to Venezuelans, Cubans, and Nicaraguans.

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In honor of National Voter Registration Day, we share with you this message from GA 2022. JaZahn Hicks, Campaign Manager at UU the Vote, reminding us why we need to be organized and engaged to participate in the critical elections happening across our country.

For more than 150 years, Unitarians and Universalists have been involved in the struggle to deliver the right to vote to more Americans. We all have a role to play in building a truly just, multi-racial democracy.

https://bit.ly/3eSikv1


This is "Faith On Fire For Democracy" by Unitarian Universalist Assoc. on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

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Come be in community on September 30th, and join the urgent call to build and exercise our collective power during a #DayWithoutUs national teach-in.

A day of disruption, learning, activation, and community building. The current conditions of the US require that we all exercise our power in both new and familiar ways. On Friday, September 30th, #DayWithoutUs is encouraging everyone to remove themselves from their daily routines and join a mass teach-in to understand how the fight for reproductive justice is a fight for all of our freedoms.

The UUA is proud national partner of Day Without Us. Join us for this free event - register now. Learn how you can plug into the fight from wherever you are: https://bit.ly/3TL4ScA



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Tonight at 6:30pm ET, join #UUTheVote and New Georgia Project for a virtual and in-person voter education and mobilization event. Come help us call voters in Georgia!

Sign up at: https://bit.ly/3Sh3e0I



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One of the most powerful lies of white supremacy, capitalism, and colonialism is the notion that repressive and racist policing systems make us safer. In "Defund Fear: Safety Without Policing, Prisons, and Punishment," Zach Norris shifts the conversation about public safety away from fear and punishment toward support systems for our families and communities.

Our UU theology calls us to work for the liberation of all people - none of us are truly free until we are all free. We encourage you to read and reflect on "Defund Fear."

https://bit.ly/3xvgqXX


Defund Fear by Zach Norris

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On this Thursday, we offer you a message from Worship Web by Glen Thomas Rideout.

"We show our children now the truths of yesterday and the possibility of tomorrow. It's this deeper connection with the greater living story that brings a chance of wellness and repair for all life."

https://bit.ly/3dswOkS



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The Congregational Life Leadership Team met to strategize on the Regional Staff's work to fulfill the UUA’s mission of supporting congregations. This team quickly realized that there are two major challenges facing Unitarian Universalist congregations as we enter a new year - and you can read more about those challenges in the link below.

The good news for congregations is that you are not alone. Your Regional Staff and sibling congregations across the UUA are ready to get to work. There isn’t anything we can’t do when we do it together.

Get more support for your congregation at: https://bit.ly/3qr9gjn



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This week starts National Hispanic Heritage Month. This year's theme is "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation." September 15th through October 15th is a time to celebrate history, culture, traditions, and achievements while remaining committed to protecting and promoting the rights of people from Spanish-speaking and/or Latin American cultures.

As we celebrate the Hispanic and Latino/Latina/Latinx community, Unitarian Universalists lift up their hope and power, and we carry the light of their inspiration forward.

PC:nationalcouncilhepm



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We have a number of new job openings here at the UUA, including:
Congregational Life Field Staff
Congregation Life Event Coordinator
LGBTQ Ministries and Clara Barton Gender Justice Fellow
Children and Families Faith Development Specialist
Reproductive Justice Organizing Intern

Learn more about these exciting opportunities and join us in this transformational work.
https://bit.ly/2rLDAqh


The UUA is a great place to work—where your job is in alignment with your values. We are an historic, inclusive, and progressive religious denomination.

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As Kansas activists celebrate their hard-earned victory, their counterparts in Kentucky are just ramping up for a nearly identical showdown in November 2022.

“We need the right conversations and deeper conversations with more personal connections,” said UU activist Ashanti (Ash) Spears. At the same time, Rus Funk, Justice Center Coordinator for the Kentucky Unitarian Universalist Justice Action Network, says there is "a real hunger for faith-based voices in support of reproductive rights."

While the strategies of Kansas and Kentucky organizers vary, their success is equally dependent on the same core elements: the hard work and support of millions of people who hold no formal power.

Read the full story on the prevail in Kentucky in UU World: https://bit.ly/3BjmBPV


Kansas organizers succeed through inclusive leadership and seeking dialogue with potential opponents.

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Show your UU the Vote Spirit at the Week of Action Homecoming-themed Rally! Join
UU the Vote and Michigan UU Social Justice for a virtual rally to celebrate the progress they have made and to prepare for the hard work still to come.

Join all week to put your values to the front and reach voters in Michigan through phone, text, and trend banking! Learn how you can participate in this nonpartisan civic engagement initiative: https://bit.ly/3U37WAV


Primary election season is just about over. This has been an unprecedented election season, with wins and losses that have been, oftentimes, difficult to sum up. From New York to Kansas to Alaska…

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Last fall, in addition to navigating the general crisis-laden state of the world, ABC premiered Quinta Brunson's television show Abbott Elementary. The show is set in Philadelphia, offering a window into the low-resourced school settings Black children often find themselves in.

Schools in the greater Philadelphia area are among the most segregated in the country, and they are also heavily policed. Instead of giving cops a role in the show's storyline, Brunson includes abolitionist-aligned themes, like offering care, grace, and protection to the most marginalized members of a community; relying on the community to improve and increase the school’s material resources; and keeping school resource officers and cops out of the narrative entirely.

Abbott Elementary invites us into a world that's possibility-laden and imaginative. The show asks you: What does it actually feel like to be a Black student? What should it feel like? One of the many central challenges of abolitionist organizing is simultaneously grappling with how to move through an anti-Black world designed to oppress Black peoples globally while imagining, organizing, and building a new world that ushers in Black liberation.

Patience, grace, humanity, and care are shown throughout Abbott Elementary– a model of deep understanding from which we can all learn. As Unitarian Universalists, we are committed to the Principles that move us to work together to transform racist structures and uproot policing systems.

https://bit.ly/3QH1TPm


Without cops or school resource officers roaming the hallway, Abbott Elementary invites us into a world that’s possibility-laden, imaginative, and abolitionist.

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Banning books in the classroom is the start of the erasure of history and stops the progress that allows our children the opportunity to learn in accepting and nurturing classrooms.

The banning of books removes the possibility of conversation. Banning titles and aggressively policing books for inappropriate content can limit students’ exposure to great literature – and prevents students from learning both about injustice and oppression and the ways we can overcome them.

As Unitarian Universalists, we support the freedom to read, we champion free expression, and we believe in intellectual freedom. Celebrate free speech by exercising your constitutional right to read.

https://n.pr/3qoFRXf


Summer Boismier resigned from Norman High School after a student's parent complained. Now, Oklahoma's secretary of education wants to revoke her teaching certificate.

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There are a wide variety of offerings to help congregations welcome in-person visitors and share the life-saving message of Unitarian Universalism online. The inSpirit UU Book and Gift Shop is an essential resource at the beginning of the church year and beyond. Browse their colorful, relatable, and informative line of products specifically for congregations and get your members off to a great start in their search for truth and meaning.

https://bit.ly/3d1If36



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Today marks World Suicide Prevention Day. We honor those continuing their journey to support their own mental health and we remember those we have lost.

If you or anyone you know needs help, please use, or share the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline specific resources: https://bit.ly/3ce6lXh


We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

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Get your copy of the first publication from Black Lives of UU!

Forged at the intersection of faith and justice, "BLUU Notes: An Anthology of Love, Justice" edited by Takiyah Nur Amin and Mykal Slack is now available at http://bit.ly/3ol29sE



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School closures and disruptions caused by the pandemic have driven learning losses and drop-outs, especially in vulnerable populations.

Through the celebration of International Literacy Day, we all have an opportunity to re-think the role of literacy. This day sheds light on eradicating poverty and attaining gender equality. It reminds us of the joys of reading and is the perfect excuse to unplug and get lost in a good book.

Looking for a good read to enjoy this #LiteracyDay? Pick up book from our inSpirit UU Book & Gift Shop: https://bit.ly/3ME46t1



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We're excited to announce that #UUtheVote will focus on 12 states for the 2022 election cycle: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

UU the Vote campaign manager, JaZahn Hicks explains, “We selected these 12 states because we know that UU congregations and individuals can make a tremendous difference in democratic engagement in these states this year.”

Get details about what’s at stake in some of these states in our news release:
https://bit.ly/3TPPknN

And stay with us on socials to track new stories and developments in the lead-up to #ElectionDay.


Across the country, a number of ballot initiatives will have long-term implications for reproductive justice, voting rights, direct democracy, and more.

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Tragedy calls and challenges us as people of faith. How can we make our children feel safe when we ourselves are deeply shaken? We simply do the best we can. We take small steps.

Get more support for multigenerational conversations in difficult times at https://bit.ly/3KTJYUs.



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