Wishing you all a very happy New Year! May we welcome this New Year by cultivating mindfulness in the gift and calling of each moment.



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On this New Year's Eve, we wish you a time filled with rest and reflection.
We send you blessings so that we may all know more love and joy in the new year.



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Still reeling from the attack on abortion access this year, our faith still urgently calls us to advocate on behalf of all people to readily access safe, legal abortion care. We will not rest until that reality is true across the country.


Women are not exclusively affected by the Dobbs decision. Not all people with uteruses are women and abortion is not just a women's issue.

Photo credits: Blair Imani

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As we close out 2022, we offer you this message from Braver Wiser.

"This year, we might not feel like waiting is the best move. We may cry out in lament for lives and rights taken without account, joining our voices with all who cry for justice and peace. This year, sitting quietly in the midst of chaos might feel close to impossible.

Finding the magic in this season of waiting can be difficult for many of us—not just this year, but any year. For how does one sit quietly when life can be so unkind?"

Read the full message:https://bit.ly/3V6KsKp


Advent encourages us to be present in each moment of waiting.

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After keeping the world at a distance for roughly two years, the world finally got more personal again in 2022.

After pandemic restrictions began to lift, some of us flocked back to worship in person. We returned to in-person General Assembly in with great success.

For all the highlights, there were plenty of darker moments this year. This week we plan to share some of our favorite moments from this year as we wrap up 2022. There was plenty to smile about this year, we thank you for sharing virtual moments with us.







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On the last night of Hanukkah, we lift up the work of "Let My People Sing!"

A Black Jewish Mixtape featuring spoken word and music from across Turtle Island. Just as the shofar calls the community together, allow the beauty, brilliance, joy and resilience of this mixtape to invigorate, agitate and rejuvenate you.

LISTEN HERE:https://bit.ly/3PWlQTz



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Sending blessings to all who celebrate #Kwanzaa today. May it be a time of celebration and power—honoring ancestors, creativity, unity, and recommitment.



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Sending love and good wishes to all on this Christmas Day!



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Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray reminds make time in this season to pause, to nurture love and care for each other. Find joy in the many gifts we already have and the peaceful moments wherever we find them.

Happy holidays to you all. May you be loved and held in light. Blessings to you all.

https://bit.ly/3FzfJjx


Dr. Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, shares a blessing for the holiday season in the final year of her adminis...

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Solstice is a time of pause. So…pause. Breathe. Relax. Rest. Be at peace.

At this moment we invite you to read The Solstice Teaches Us
By David Breeden.
https://bit.ly/3PFEb7u


The Solstices teach us that darkness comes, that darkness goes. The Solstices teach us that light comes, that light goes....

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It can be easy to talk about equity and diversity. But actually listening to people with different cultural experiences -- forming a truly diverse community -- can be a challenge.

During this season of gratitude, we hope you are inspired to fill your community with the Unitarian Universalist values of love, justice and truth.



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This morning we offer you this piece of motivation.

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
—Jane Goodall

PC: Shery J WIlliamson



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On this first night of Hanukkah, we share this message of hope and resilience from President Susan Frederick-Gray.



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Have you experienced a situation where you wonder if it would be appropriate to ask your minister to step out of a particular board meeting so the board could discuss something by themselves? Or perhaps another Board Member has requested this of you and you’re wondering what to do.

UUA Regional Staff are available to help you navigate the tensions your congregation is experiencing and assist you in discerning a way forward using direct and transparent conversation for the good of all. They are trained to assist you with difficult conversations with your minister, even to the point of asking them to resign.

If you have significant concerns, please call your UUA Regional Staff and/or the UUA’s Safe Congregations Team, safecongregations@uua.org, right away.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3WpVjAk


Open and honest communication is essential between the board and the minister. Here are some guidelines and practices to navigate difficult conversations.

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Passing the Respect for Marriage Act is a wonderful start to ensure that marriages of LGBTQIA+ couples will have protections regardless of the actions of the Supreme Court.

The UUA affirms the importance of strengthening legal protections for LGBTQIA+ marriages. While the UUA recognizes the importance of the Respect for Marriage Act, we also know the struggle for full equality for queer and trans people remains. And we are committed to this larger, liberatory struggle.

Read the full statement:
https://bit.ly/3uRAkdH


We must go further in protecting the full rights of people across the spectrum of gender and sexuality.

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Registration is NOW OPEN for General Assembly 2023, online or in person with us in Pittsburgh, PA! From Article II changes to the UUA Presidential election, this is a critical year to join us at our annual meeting of UUs. #UUAGA

https://www.uua.org/ga/registration


Join us June 21 - 25, 2023 online or in-person in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Unitarian Universalists will elect a new UUA President at our General Assembly 2023! Get all the details and updates on the 2023 UUA Presidential election on our website at: https://bit.ly/3hm3Cy6


Elections of leaders to serve Unitarian Universalism are at the heart of the 5th Principle of our faith.

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"The armed right-wing agitation in Columbus, OH is antithetical to our fundamental moral UU value of the human dignity and worth of every person. Their action was abhorrent because it only sought to oppress the freedom of expression of the LGBTQIA+ community. Unitarian Universalists will continue to affirm our LGBTQIA+ friends, neighbors, and loved ones and fight to protect our rights to support and love them.”

We lift up our President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray words in this recent RNS article.https://bit.ly/3uxzKll


(RNS) — Nazi sympathizers waved Christian flags at multiple drag story hour events.

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The SCOTUS case Moore v. Harper argued earlier this week, Becky Harper, is a long-time UU, member of the UU Fellowship of Raleigh, and board member with Common Cause North Carolina, the organization leading the legal argument to limit partisan gerrymandering.

Harper's work exemplifies living out the Fifth Principle of Unitarian Universalism, which affirms the use of democratic processes as a human right. Learn more about this significant case in this recent UU World article: https://bit.ly/3iRJ8NU


In Moore v. Harper, the U.S. Supreme Court will make crucial choices regarding limits to partisan manipulation of our elections.

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We share this #SFGLeads message as we continue to imagine the ways that our UU mission and our values inspire and call us to lead and love in these times.



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The UUA is partnering with The Management Center to provide practical, interculturally informed management skills training designed for UU religious professionals who supervise in congregations.

The Management Center will lead two separate two-day online Managing to Change the World trainings, facilitated by JK Nelson. We have space for 40 people in each session, and we’d like to invite you and your colleagues to apply!

Apply here:https://bit.ly/3BlirYr



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Join Interfaith Power & Light, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the United Church of Christ, United Women in Faith, and the Unitarian Universalist Association for a webinar on how your congregation can access federal grant funds for clean energy improvements!

This virtual event will be on December 8 at 4 pm ET/1 pm PT. Learn how to prepare to apply for Energy Efficiency Materials Pilot Program grants for your congregation’s energy efficiency work.

The IRA opens the way for non-profits and houses of worship to access clean energy funds and tax credits. UU Congregations can now leverage federal funds for energy and resiliency improvements. This is a critical time for people of faith to reduce the impact of our congregational facilities through federal funding opportunities.

Sign up today to join this interfaith virtual event! https://bit.ly/3VzoYHi


The Inflation Reduction Act included the greatest investment in climate care provisions in history. Join us for a briefing to learn about the benefits included that can help houses of worship do energy work on their facilities.

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We encourage you to get a copy of the 2022-23 UU Common Read, Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism. It explores five UU congregations' journeys toward Beloved Community and shares the joy, disappointment, and growth that these congregations found along the way.

Find out more about this year’s Common Read and how you and your UU community can participate:
https://bit.ly/3OU0mX0



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The UUA Presidential Search Committee recently announced its nomination of Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt for UUA president for the 2023–2029 term. Learn more about the candidate and the elections process in this story from UU World: https://bit.ly/3UiC8Hb


New president to be elected at General Assembly 2023.

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December 1st is World AIDS Day, a day to be reminded that HIV/AIDS is still with us. Today we will remember the more than 80 million who are living with HIV and AIDS and the more than 36 million who have died from the virus.



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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 Saturday, December 10 from 12pm - 4pm EST 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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Humanity faces many great challenges and injustices stemming from climate change, environmental racism, and rapid biodiversity decline. As UUs, we know this truth but we do not accept it as a fateful demise — believing instead that a vibrant and sustainable future for all can be achieved through unrelenting collective action grounded in love, equity, and building communities founded in genuine love and care.
https://bit.ly/3iqnBMi


The story of the damage done to the world’s biodiversity is a tale of decline spanning thousands of years. Can the world seize its chance to change the narrative?

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With so much change and transition, it can be easy to feel uncertain or anxious, and we can lean on one another for support. Recognizing all the ways we are in transition, our President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray created a sermon exploring how we embrace possibility in times of change.

The sermon is part of a set of WorshipWeb videos for congregations experiencing ministerial transition and grappling with change. Incorporate these videos into your congregation's existing worship culture by sharing individual videos or the whole set.

https://bit.ly/3VkKD5P


A worship video collection about living faithfully during in-between times

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Today is Giving Tuesday. Put your faith in action today, support the UUA as the flagship of our faith and help promote our UU principles on a larger scale.

Support Giving Tuesday today: https://bit.ly/3xKoVgz



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A significant change in Unitarian Universalism comes through the dedicated work of the UUA’s Article II Study Commission (A2SC). Article II is the section in our UUA bylaws that contains the Purposes, 7 UU Principles, and our Sources.

Charged to review Article II, the Commission held discussions online, at General Assemblies, and with groups of leaders across our Association. This fall, the A2SC incorporated the extensive input they received and developed an initial draft of a new Article II.

You are invited to review the new draft text: https://bit.ly/3u7glaQ

And share your feedback with the Commission online: https://bit.ly/A2FeedbackNov

Please share this important conversation in your congregations and communities!



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During this season of gratitude, remember that we are part of a great community of faith.

May this inspire us to fill our lives with the Unitarian Universalist values of love, justice and truth.

pc: zeaink



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Since 1970, Indigenous people and their allies have gathered at noon EST on Cole's Hill in Plymouth MA to commemorate a National Day of Mourning on the US Thanksgiving holiday. It is a day to mourn, but also a time to feel strength in action.

Thanksgiving Day is a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the erasure of Native cultures. Participants in National Day of Mourning honor Indigenous ancestors and Native resilience. It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection, as well as a protest against the racism and oppression that Indigenous people continue to experience worldwide.

United American Indians of New England offers a livestream of the 53rd annual National Day of Mourning. Join in solidarity from wherever you are!

https://bit.ly/3gEcYVr


2022 National Day of Mourning 11.24.22 12 noon Cole's Hill, Plymouth, MA (hill above Plymouth Rock)E-mail: info@uaine.orgWebsite: http://www.uaine.orgDonate:...

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The season of gratitude is an invitation for reflection. Take a look at your past and use these moments as an opportunity to be attentive to the present moment. Gratitude changes everything.



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As we come up on Thanksgiving Day, we share with you this message from Amber Ruffin and Native Land.

The UUA is deeply committed to honoring Indigenous peoples and protecting and promoting the heritage and culture of the 573+ tribes of the U.S. And that starts with recognizing that this land was not "discovered".



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We are so grateful for the pastoral presence of UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. She offers this message in response to the tragic shooting inside Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a nightclub that serves the LGBTQIA+ community.

"Acts of violence against trans people and LGBTQIA+ people are not unrelated to the policy and rhetorical violence that leaders use to target LGBTQIA+ people every day across this country. Policy violence like the anti-trans laws in Alabama, Texas and Ohio incites interpersonal and public acts of violence. This must end.

Our LGBTQIA+ siblings are sacred, whole, and divine. The full expression of the diversity of gender and sexuality is a gift. We share a collective responsibility to build a world that affirms the inherent worth and dignity of all. We can do better. We must do better.

I send my love and care to everyone in our communities impacted by this incident, by violence towards the LGBTQIA+ community, and by attempts to intimidate trans and non-binary individuals."

Read our president's full statement here: https://bit.ly/3VarT8u


So many woke up yesterday, with our hearts already marking Transgender Day of Remembrance, only to learn the news of the mass shooting at Club Q.

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On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we remember those who have lost their lives for being who they are and those who face violence on a daily basis.

We remain committed to working to build a world where the expression of all gender identities is celebrated and where the talents, experiences and full humanity of transgender people welcomed and honored.



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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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“There are the well-known Trans women of color we admire, and there are those we mourn for.”

Let's continue to be mindful of the struggle for balance and acceptance. We hold our trans, non-binary, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming community in care.

By- Denny @them

GIF: QueerPrideGifs
https://bit.ly/3qTDAVc



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This past Tuesday, the Presidential Search Committee nominated the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt to be the next president of the UUA. Other candidates can seek nomination by petition - the UUA Secretary will accept nominations by petition on or after December 1, 2022, through February 1, 2023.

Do you want to know more about the process of nomination by petition? Find out here: https://bit.ly/3AdED6g


information on UUA elections

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2022 has been another deadly year for transgender and non-binary people. The barrage of anti-trans legislation that has been levied against the trans/non-binary community along with a culture of hate that is harming our children is directly responsible for these senseless killings and the dangers the transgender community faces on a daily basis.

Our transgender siblings are sacred and divine. Let us honor the inherit worth and dignity of trans people by remembering those we’ve lost and honoring those living among us. Please join Side with Love this Friday, November 18 for a special worship service where we may grieve together, worship together, and recommit to a moving together in solidarity.

Register for the UUA Transgender Day of Remembrance Service: https://bit.ly/3VmXlkf



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The Myth of Thanksgiving presents a special discussion sharing Native American perspectives on the arrival of European settlers in New England 400 years ago.

Listen to the experiences of Native populations at the time of the settlers’ arrival, what is actually known about the first Thanksgiving, and how native tribes see themselves in today’s construction of the United States.

https://bit.ly/3EEvYfC


Inspired by the 2015 film The Pilgrims, American Experience presents a special discussion sharing Native American perspectives on the arrival of European set...

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Last week, U.S. Representative Judy Chu, who serves in California’s 27th district, was reelected to Congress, where she brings our Unitarian Universalist faith and values to her public service. She recently talked with UU World about the ways her faith intersects with her work and what we can all do to make an impact on the most pressing issues of our time.

“When I first encountered the Unitarian philosophy, I was just utterly amazed at how Unitarians not only talk about this in the church services, but also put this into action,” said Chu, who became a UU in the mid-1980s.

Get the whole story in the Fall/Winter edition of UU World: https://bit.ly/3UIKfNY


Congresswoman Judy Chu on climate change, being a UU, and more

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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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We amplify President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray's message. We are in this work together for justice and equity, to build Beloved Community, no matter how long it takes—sending love and light to you all. 🤍



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Today we offer you a source of hope and strength from our President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray . After elections this week, let us all remain hopeful and grow our capacity for supporting democracy and community care.



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Stewardship for Us

,

Barry Finklestein

,

Liz Coit

Continue reading "Planning for Financial Sustainability in Changing Times"