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Before yesterdayUUA

Keeping Our Congregations Safe in 2023

10 April 2023 at 10:00
Rev. Sunshine Wolff

Sunshine Jeremiah Wolfe

Congregational leaders have been reaching out with concerns around safety both in person and online as tensions increase in some areas of the country. This blog will address some of those concerns. Rev. Sunshine Wolfe speaks about these issues in this short YouTube Video....

Continue reading "Keeping Our Congregations Safe in 2023"

Q&A: Aisha Hauser and Kirsten Hunter on UU Religious Education and the Future of Faith Formation

10 April 2023 at 10:00

Charles Coe

UUΒ WorldΒ asked two deeply-involved religious educators to share their perspectives on on the future of the curriculum.

Reflections on the 1980s Article II Revisionβ€”and Why it’s Time to Revise Again

3 April 2023 at 06:00
Β© UUA

Elaine McArdle

β€˜This is participatory theology. It is inclusive and alive. I am hopeful that we will, together, forge a new statement for these times.’ 

Continue reading "Reflections on the 1980s Article II Revisionβ€”and Why it’s Time to Revise Again"

Reflections on the 1980s Article II Revisionβ€”and Why it’s Time to Revise Again

3 April 2023 at 06:00
Β© UUA

Elaine McArdle

β€˜This is participatory theology. It is inclusive and alive. I am hopeful that we will, together, forge a new statement for these times.’ 

Continue reading "Reflections on the 1980s Article II Revisionβ€”and Why it’s Time to Revise Again"

UUA in the Public Square for LGBTQIA+ Rights

To more fully embody our Unitarian Universalist values and continue to respond to the increased discrimination and violent attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community, the UUA has been expanding its public-facing ministry and programmatic efforts.

Adrian Ballou, who holds the newly-created staff position of LGBTQ and Gender Justice Programs coordinator at the UUA, says, β€œTrans rights are an issue of faith for Unitarian Universalists, and there are so many ways to get involved and make change.”

To learn more and for resources visit https://bit.ly/3meA1sL.

Read the full UU World article here: https://bit.ly/3meA1Jh


Association offers a leading voice in the media and new resources.

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From the UUA President: Tennessee Teaches Us We Cannot Normalize Authoritarianism. We Must Protect Democracy.

The three State Representatives that the Tennessee House of Representatives sought to punish are not only exercising their own right to free speech, they are channeling their constituents’ anger, concern, and desire to act in favor of gun safety. They are representing the will of the people of their districts. In a very real sense, expelling them is not just meant to silence the individuals – it is also meant to punish and disenfranchise the people for which they speak.

As Unitarian Universalists, our religious tradition and our Principles affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process in society at large. This means not only calling out acts of racism and authoritarianism, it means working to actively organize for justice and equity for all people, and mobilizing to protect and expand democracy.

We express our full solidarity with the constituents who may have lost their voice in the Tennessee House this week but are finding ways to express their need for justice and change. We offer our support to the civil rights leaders, the young people, the faith community, and all who are mobilizing against this injustice in Tennessee.

Link to the full statement: https://bit.ly/3Mn5SST


Expelling the Tennessee Representatives is meant to punish and disenfranchise the people for which they speak.

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We share with you this moving message for Passover: β€œThat we might, at last, glimpse the stars, brilliant in the desert sky.”



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Today, Jews around the world, including Jewish Unitarian Universalists, are celebrating Passover. This often includes the telling of the story of the Exodus, with its messages of struggle, of loss, of freedom, justice and community.

As we gather for Passover , let us renew our appreciation of freedom, the sacrifices it requires, its absence in so many parts of the world, and the gratitude we have for those who have enabled us to be free.



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This is a sacred week – Pesach week in Judaism and holy week in Christianity, happening at once. It is a week that includes Passover, the telling of the story of the Exodus, the messages of struggle, of loss, of freedom, justice and community. It is a week that includes Good Friday and Easter, the telling of the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection, messages of sacrifice, of loss, of justice, of freedom.

These are stories of resilience. They remind us that each of us is here because of the strength and resilience of our ancestors. Their strength is our strength too.

May moments of joy and peace accompany you and find their way into your days.



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From the UUA President: Tennessee Teaches Us We Cannot Normalize Authoritarianism. We Must Protect Democracy.

7 April 2023 at 12:46
Tennessee State Capitol building viewed from above at nighttime

Susan Frederick-Gray

UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray responds to the recent vote of the TN House of Representatives to expel State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson because of their actions supporting gun safety advocates.

Continue reading "From the UUA President: Tennessee Teaches Us We Cannot Normalize Authoritarianism. We Must Protect Democracy."

From the UUA President: Tennessee Teaches Us We Cannot Normalize Authoritarianism. We Must Protect Democracy.

7 April 2023 at 12:46
Tennessee State Capitol building viewed from above at nighttime

Susan Frederick-Gray

UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray responds to the recent vote of the TN House of Representatives to expel State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson because of their actions supporting gun safety advocates.

Continue reading "From the UUA President: Tennessee Teaches Us We Cannot Normalize Authoritarianism. We Must Protect Democracy."

Adopting an Eighth PrincipleΒ 

7 April 2023 at 10:00
illustration of people holding hands in concentric circles

Arthur Hirsch

How one congregation is learning to live into its antiracist commitments.

Timeline photos

We share with you this moving message for Passover: β€œThat we might, at last, glimpse the stars, brilliant in the desert sky.”



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Timeline photos

Today, Jews around the world, including Jewish Unitarian Universalists, are celebrating Passover. This often includes the telling of the story of the Exodus, with its messages of struggle, of loss, of freedom, justice and community.

As we gather for Passover , let us renew our appreciation of freedom, the sacrifices it requires, its absence in so many parts of the world, and the gratitude we have for those who have enabled us to be free.



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In 2022 Elections, UU the Vote Built on Prior SuccessΒ 

5 April 2023 at 10:00
JaZahn Hicks watches Barbara Stahnke input data on a laptop

Jeff Milchen

The campaign helped reach more than two million potential voters before midterms.

Light and Camera: The Principles in Action

5 April 2023 at 10:00
The silhouette of two young children in front of a purple-hued window.

Elaine McArdle

With the Community Church of New York's All-8 Workshop, young people are exploring the Principles in ways that touch both their creativity and their identities.

UUA Presidential Election 2023

5 April 2023 at 10:00
Flaming chalice at 2019 General Assembly

Staff Writer

General Assembly delegates will elect a new faith leader this June.

UUA General Assembly Will Explore β€œFaithfully Becoming” 

5 April 2023 at 10:00
yellow letters GA with gray silhouette of people holding hands in front of it

Sonja L. Cohen

Delegates at GA 2023 will help shape the future of the faith.

Radical Loving

5 April 2023 at 04:03
The cast of "Jesus Christ Superstar" on stage, at a moment where Jesus is kneeling with a woman and smiling.

Myke Johnson

It’s complicated, sorting out where Jesus fits into my life as a witch. But he hasn’t gone away.

Continue reading "Radical Loving"

Radical Loving

5 April 2023 at 04:03
The cast of "Jesus Christ Superstar" on stage, at a moment where Jesus is kneeling with a woman and smiling.

Myke Johnson

It’s complicated, sorting out where Jesus fits into my life as a witch. But he hasn’t gone away.

Continue reading "Radical Loving"

Timeline photos

This is a sacred week – Pesach week in Judaism and holy week in Christianity, happening at once. It is a week that includes Passover, the telling of the story of the Exodus, the messages of struggle, of loss, of freedom, justice and community. It is a week that includes Good Friday and Easter, the telling of the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection, messages of sacrifice, of loss, of justice, of freedom.

These are stories of resilience. They remind us that each of us is here because of the strength and resilience of our ancestors. Their strength is our strength too.

May moments of joy and peace accompany you and find their way into your days.



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Reflections on the 1980s Article II Revisionβ€”and Why it’s Time to Revise Again

3 April 2023 at 10:00
A newspaper with the title Unitarian Universalist World.

Elaine McArdle

β€˜This is participatory theology. It is inclusive and alive. I am hopeful that we will, together, forge a new statement for these times.’ 

Timeline photos

#A2TheConversation The Article II proposal review & amendment process has begun! Is your congregation involved in this essential conversation about our core values and commitments as UUs? This infographic highlights key opportunities & deadlines.

More details at: https://bit.ly/40Pfvxs



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Celebrating Flower Communion is an excellent opportunity for Unitarian Universalist congregations to explore what it means to them to affirm and promote world peace, liberty and justice for all.

Which flower would you bring to Flower Communion, and what does it symbolize?



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Supporting Healthy Sexuality with Justice and Inclusivityβ€―Β 

3 April 2023 at 10:00
illustration of figures with sex-ed imagery

Rowan Lynam

Revisions to Our Whole Lives prioritize ensuring that everyone locates themselves in the materials.β€―

A Statement in response to the Nashville School Shooting β€” Side With Love

Our hearts are with the loved ones of those who were killed in the tragic shooting earlier this week in Nashville, TN. We send our love and prayers to the school and the community who must pick up the shattered pieces and to all those for whom this latest act of violence will re-expose layers of trauma and grief.

We share this statement from Side With Love, affirming our moral duty as Unitarian Universalists to declare that the real threat to the safety of our children and our communities comes from white Christian nationalism - not trans and nonbinary people. If we truly want all of our children to be safe, we must fight to eradicate the intertwined cultures of gun worship and transphobia that permeate this country.

https://bit.ly/3zmZB1W


On Monday, three adults and three children were killed at an elementary school in Nashville, TN in a mass shooting that also left the shooter dead. With rage and heartbreak, we acknowledge this horrific act of violence: both the unique, precious lives taken and the all-too-common manner in which thi

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Today we celebrate Trans Day of Visibility, let us be clear; our faith unequivocally, fiercely, and unapologetically affirms that trans people are divine and a beloved part of human family. There is no law, no political, rhetoric that can diminish the inherent worth and dignity of trans and non-binary people.



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Article II Idea Submission Form Now Live Until April 30, 2023

31 March 2023 at 12:49
From April 1-30, 2023, any Unitarian Universalist may submit suggestions and ideas through this online form for ways they recommend modifying the Article II Study Commission proposal.

Continue reading "Article II Idea Submission Form Now Live Until April 30, 2023"

Article II Idea Submission Form Now Live Until April 30, 2023

31 March 2023 at 12:49
From April 1-30, 2023, any Unitarian Universalist may submit suggestions and ideas through this online form for ways they recommend modifying the Article II Study Commission proposal.

Continue reading "Article II Idea Submission Form Now Live Until April 30, 2023"

UUs Defend Transgender Americans from State Attacks

31 March 2023 at 09:30
A multiethnic, multi-gender group of people in yellow shirts/tops in a foyer of a state building. The floor reads "Republic of Texas".

Jeff Milchen

All of our voices are needed to stop a wave of hateful bills.

Timeline photos

As we all try to make sense of yet another tragic shooting, we offer some words from UUA Skinner House Books author of Love Like Thunder, Jess Reynolds.



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The Culture Wars Hit Home

30 March 2023 at 10:00
Image of a brick wall painted like an american flag, with the stripes the colors of the rainbow.

Renee Ruchotzke

Due to the timeliness of this issue, we are posting a special edition of Better Together. Dear Beloved Trans Families, There are evil forces in our country, and you have become their latest target. We, your cis-family siblings, are angry and scared and frustrated along with you. We support your...

Continue reading "The Culture Wars Hit Home"

Timeline photos

As (a) Unitarian Universalist, my faith affirms that all LGBTQIA+ people are sacred, divine, and perfect as they/we are. Our diversity of gender and sexuality is a gift as much as our diversity of appearance and personality.



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Dr. Paula Cole Jones on Article II and the 8th Principle

Dr. Paula Cole Jones, a key leader of the 8th Principle Project, and a member of the Article II Study Commission discusses the ways that the Article II revision proposal and the 8th Principle are connected.

Congregations across the Association are talking about the Article II revision proposal - is your congregation involved? Join us. #A2TheConversation

https://bit.ly/3zaKY1w


Dr. Paula Cole Jones, a member of the Article II Study Commission and a key leader of the 8th Principle Project, discusses the ways that the Article II revis...

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Opportunities for Connection ~ April 2023

cover of A2SC's Jan 2023 report to UUA BoT

Central East Region of the UUA

Find out what's happening in the Central East Region! This month - Article II Conversations, UUA Presidential Forums, GA 2023, Jubilee 3, Summer Institute and more!

Continue reading "Opportunities for Connection ~ April 2023"

How Can I "Be Love"?

29 March 2023 at 02:19
At a March For Our Lives event, a protester is seen from behind wearing a very large sign that says #Enough

DeEtte Waleed

How can I be love instead of being anger and fear?

Continue reading "How Can I "Be Love"?"

UUA in the Public Square for LGBTQIA+ Rights

29 March 2023 at 09:07
A hand holds a megaphone emitting rainbow-"colored" sound waves

Elaine McArdle

Association offers a leading voice in the media and new resources.

How Can I "Be Love"?

29 March 2023 at 02:19
At a March For Our Lives event, a protester is seen from behind wearing a very large sign that says #Enough

DeEtte Waleed

How can I be love instead of being anger and fear?

Continue reading "How Can I "Be Love"?"

Photos from Unitarian Universalist Association's post

In honor of Women's History Month, we are highlighting how proud we are that 57% of UU congregations are led by women.

As we celebrate the growth and change in our leadership, let’s #EmbraceEquity and create greater opportunities for all people that identify as women.

Who are some of your favorite UU women leaders?

Data: State of Clergywomen in the United States: A Statistical Update 2018







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UUs Help Protect Hidden Black History in New Jersey

The UU Congregation at Montclair NJ is living into its theology, values and antiracist commitments. We are proud of their part in Montclair coalition’s community-wide reparations project to save the town’s first Black-owned home.

Read the full UU World story: https://bit.ly/3ZcGcev


A Montclair coalition rallied the community to save the town’s first Black-owned home.

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So often trans and nonbinary people’s stories are told only through the lens of their struggles and challenges, including their political battles for legal rights. Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families is a sweeping compilation of glimpses into the real lives - the challenges and the triumphs, the joy and the beauty - of trans and nonbinary people and their families.
Join us in celebrating all the ways we work to create a more just, diverse, and compassionate world and preorder your copy today!

Find books that explore richly diverse narratives at InSpirit UU Bookstore.

https://bit.ly/3Zknbqh



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Talking with Children about Climate Issues

Drawn symbols of the earth, a smiley face, a heart, and the earth in the shape of a heart.

Susan Dana Lawrence

Parenting practices to strengthen our children for better Earth stewardship.

Have You Heard About CERSI?

Central East Region Summer Institute Logo

Central East Region Summer Institute

It’s true, CERSI registration is open! For anyone who hasn’t been before; who may have come to Kenyon or Oberlin but has not experienced the PennWest campus; or who may be joining CERSI for the first time after attending UUMAC in the past, we want to share more about the experience.

Continue reading "Have You Heard About CERSI?"

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β€œWhat I love most about Unitarian Universalism…. is that we are a Living Tradition, not stagnant but always open to the longings of the spirit and the changing needs of our times.β€œ Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

#SFGLegacy



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Sending love and blessings to all who are observing the holy month of #Ramadan. Wishing all of you a season of fasting and prayer, charity and community ritual. May this be a season of deepening spirit, connection and generosity.



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Unitarian Universalists Respond to Climate Displacement

22 March 2023 at 10:00
photo of youth getting to the September 2019 climate strike in New York City via public transit

Staff Writer

Six UU organizations release joint statement committing to respond to climate-forced displacement.

Trusting Intuition

22 March 2023 at 05:53
On a road, a Black man in jeans bends down to talk through a passenger window to the car's driver.

Lynette Yetter

My intuition became honed, for safety and survival.

Continue reading "Trusting Intuition"

Trusting Intuition

22 March 2023 at 05:53
On a road, a Black man in jeans bends down to talk through a passenger window to the car's driver.

Lynette Yetter

My intuition became honed, for safety and survival.

Continue reading "Trusting Intuition"

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Whoever you are

Where ever you are from

Whomever you love

Whatever your faith tradition

You are welcome here🀍.

We are so proud of our beautiful UU Faith! What are you most proud of?



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The UUA is excited to announce that Imani Perry will give ourWare Lecture at GA! UU’s do you remember reading Perry's moving book, "Breathe: A Letter to My Sons" for the 2020 Common Read?

Only GA registrants get access to this lecture. Register today https://bit.ly/2CQ6l8M



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The UUA is excited to announce that Imani Perry will give our historic Ware Lecture at #UUAGA this June! UU’s do you remember reading Perry's deeply moving book, "Breathe: A Letter to My Sons" for the 2020 Common Read?

Only GA registrants get access to this lecture. Register today to attend virtually or in-person in Pittsburgh, PA! https://bit.ly/2CQ6l8M



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Since 2016, EqUUal Access has sponsored an annual contest for sermons related to disability. It is named after Carolyn Cartland, an early president of EqUUal Access. This annual contest highlights disability-related themes and topics. Entry deadline: May 1. One cash prize of $500. When feasible, the winner may be invited to present their sermon at an EqUUal Access event during UUA General Assembly. Travel costs to GA cannot be supported.

ELIGIBILITY:
The sermon must be an original work on a disability theme or topic
The sermon must be preached between May 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023.
Entries (sermon text and entry cover information) must be submitted before midnight on May 1st, 2023.
This sermon contest is open to all lay or religious professional Unitarian Universalists.
For more information, go to: Information for Submitting a Sermon:

https://bit.ly/3ZEYzKd



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Flower Ceremony Centennial

The Flower Ceremony’s beloved tradition and its powerful history has provided meaning to hundreds of UU congregations for decades.

As the centennial of this ritual approaches, WorshipWeb is preparing a set of videos for use in worship. These videos will provide insight into the history of the flower ceremony, the ongoing Czech traditions and practices of the flower ceremony, and reflections about the relationship between Rev. Čapek's memory and the modern flower ceremony and a offering a blessing of flowers in both Czech and English.

Look out for these videos coming available on this page by March 31, 2023. https://bit.ly/3JpBe8e


Celebrate 100 Years of the Flower Ceremony!

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UUs Help Protect Hidden Black History in New Jersey

20 March 2023 at 12:00
An African American woman in an all-black outfit holds a set of house keys. She is standing in front of a multiracial group of people in the front yard of a house.

Jeff Milchen

A Montclair coalition rallied the community to save the town’s first Black-owned home.

Antiracism Resource Spotlight: UU Book Guides

20 March 2023 at 12:06
Beacon Press: Igniting Hearts & Minds

Beth Casebolt

Many UUs love to read. If reading is a passion for you, there are many great books out there on the topics of antiracism, anti-oppression and multicultural issues. Two great resources for these books and discussion guides for deeper engagement are Beacon Press and the annual UU Common Read.

Continue reading "Antiracism Resource Spotlight: UU Book Guides"

Nominations for Election at General Assembly 2023

16 March 2023 at 09:10
The UUA Nominating Committee submitted the following slate of nominations for elected boards, committees, and commissions, which will be part of the larger election at General Assembly 2023.

Continue reading "Nominations for Election at General Assembly 2023"

Nominations for Election at General Assembly 2023

16 March 2023 at 09:10
The UUA Nominating Committee submitted the following slate of nominations for elected boards, committees, and commissions, which will be part of the larger election at General Assembly 2023.

Continue reading "Nominations for Election at General Assembly 2023"

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The first UUA Presidential Forum is this weekend at the UU Church of Arlington, VA. Today is the deadline to register to attend in person and registration for online attendance will continue up until the event begins.

Public forums for the presidential candidate will be hosted four times before GA 2023. They are intended to allow UUs to learn more about the candidate for UUA President, Rev. Dr. SofΓ­a Betancourt. All forums will be multiplatform and all will require registration.

Register here for this weekend’s forum: https://bit.ly/3JihzH9 Learn more about upcoming forums: https://bit.ly/3yF1uXd



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Blaze by Blaze

15 March 2023 at 05:52
A trail is vaguely visible on a mossy forest bed, through thick trees. A blaze of blue paint appears on one of the many trees.

Erika Hewitt

What’s your most memorable story about getting lost? What do you remember about finding your way home?

Continue reading "Blaze by Blaze"

Blaze by Blaze

15 March 2023 at 05:52
A trail is vaguely visible on a mossy forest bed, through thick trees. A blaze of blue paint appears on one of the many trees.

Erika Hewitt

What’s your most memorable story about getting lost? What do you remember about finding your way home?

Continue reading "Blaze by Blaze"

Give Your Leaders a Good Start

12 March 2023 at 12:43
seedlings in starter pots in a greenhouse

Renee Ruchotzke

I think there are some lessons from growing plants that can also be applied to growing leaders. Having a congregational culture grounded in covenant and gratitude can help leaders thrive as they grow into new leadership positions.

Continue reading "Give Your Leaders a Good Start"

Unsticking My Mind

β€œStickiness of mindβ€”how our minds tend to fixate on one ideaβ€”happens everywhere," observes Tomo Hillbo. "I hear people complaining about an event even after changes have been made. I encounter people who keep assuming something about me and I have to keep reminding them that it may be true for some.”

β€œOppressive systems thrive in minds that are sticky, no matter how good our intentions are."

https://bit.ly/3ZzsSSh


We must unstick our minds if we want to bring change into the world.

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Celebrating UU Women in History

On this #InternationalWomensDay, we hope you’ll make time to reflect on the progress we’ve made, while knowing there is so much more work still left to do. Let’s #EmbraceEquity and create greater opportunities for all people that identify as women.

In honor of International Women's Day, we reshare this post on Unitarian Universalist women who have shaped history.

https://bit.ly/3hMkcDO


March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the incredible and often overlooked contributions women have made throughout history. Many...

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Unsticking My Mind

8 March 2023 at 13:37
The torso of an Asian person wearing an apron as they scoop freshly cooked rice out of a rice cooker.

Tomo Hillbo

We must unstick our minds if we want to bring change into the world.

Continue reading "Unsticking My Mind"

Unsticking My Mind

8 March 2023 at 13:37
The torso of an Asian person wearing an apron as they scoop freshly cooked rice out of a rice cooker.

Tomo Hillbo

We must unstick our minds if we want to bring change into the world.

Continue reading "Unsticking My Mind"

In Community and Partnership, We Continue to Oppose Legislative Attacks on LGBTQIA+ People

Unitarian Universalists understand that the full expression of the diversity of gender and sexuality is a gift.

Our commitment to love and justice, to inclusive ministry and prophetic action, is deep and life-affirming. We actively organize to promote the leadership of BIPOC communities and we work to end anti-Black racism, organize for racial justice, disability justice, gender justice, LGBTQIA+ equality, and support reproductive justice, climate justice and more.

We know that we cannot do this work alone. As UUs, we understand that we are part of the interdependent web of all creation. We belong to each other and this knowledge fuels our faithful commitment to unwaveringly fight for justice; to unwaveringly fight for each other.

https://bit.ly/3IZ60oj


As progressive people of faith, we recognize the forces feeding these far-right efforts.

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May we move forward in the world building communities of greater justice, joy, and inclusion in honor of the beautiful, powerful...

May we move forward in the world building communities of greater justice, joy, and inclusion in honor of the beautiful, powerful legacy left to us by #JudyHeumann.

#RestInPowerAndPeace


I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the amazing disability rights activist and Beacon Press author, #JudyHeumann. May we all continue our work for justice and carry her legacy forward.

Connect with Judy's life, work and irreverence in this beautiful and intimate memoir that highlights her lifelong resistance to exclusion. https://bit.ly/3JhPDof

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Since 2016, our friends at EqUUal Access have sponsored an annual contest for sermons related to disability that comes with a $500 cash prize. The contest is named after Carolyn Cartland, an early president of EqUUal Access and is intended to highlight disability-related themes and topics.

Do you have an original sermon that might be a good fit for submission? The entry deadline is May 1 and submission details are online at: https://bit.ly/3ZEYzKd



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UUA Responds to Growing Legislative Attacks Against Trans and Nonbinary+ Kids and the LGBTQIA+ Community

6 March 2023 at 16:27
Five people of color are seen in a line, holding hands with arms crossed in a sign of solidarity.
The UUA responds to the most recent onslaught of oppressive laws and policies threatening the lives of trans and nonbinary+ children and the LGBTQIA+ community and continues to work for justice and the ability of all people to thrive.

Continue reading "UUA Responds to Growing Legislative Attacks Against Trans and Nonbinary+ Kids and the LGBTQIA+ Community"

UUA Responds to Growing Legislative Attacks Against Trans and Nonbinary+ Kids and the LGBTQIA+ Community

6 March 2023 at 16:27
Five people of color are seen in a line, holding hands with arms crossed in a sign of solidarity.
The UUA responds to the most recent onslaught of oppressive laws and policies threatening the lives of trans and nonbinary+ children and the LGBTQIA+ community and continues to work for justice and the ability of all people to thrive.

Continue reading "UUA Responds to Growing Legislative Attacks Against Trans and Nonbinary+ Kids and the LGBTQIA+ Community"

UUA Presidential Forum Comes to CER

6 March 2023 at 12:56
Arlington, VA Presidential Forum March 18, 2023
The first of the a series of four presidential candidate forums, will be held in the Central East Region at the UU Church of Arlington, VA on March 18 at 1 pm ET. You may attend live or online.

Continue reading "UUA Presidential Forum Comes to CER"

A Glimpse at Earth-Loving Faith Initiatives

6 March 2023 at 00:00
Logo for Green the Church

Arthur Hirsch

Faith groups in the United States respond to climate change.

"the wonders I would see if only i could breathe the air"

Abstract acrylic painting representing air pollution and the loss experienced as a result.

Bill Reed

,

Staff Writer

Unitarian Universalist’s painting is part of a series on climate change and air quality issues.

The Green Heart of an Iowa Congregation

6 February 2023 at 13:30
The Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall at the Coralville, Iowa UUS

Kat McKim

Coralville’s painstakingly designed building embodies its wider commitment to sustainability.

Belonging to the Earth

30 January 2023 at 13:00
Two faces in a collage of trees

Erica Shadowsong

A more spiritual worldview may help us heal the planet.

Blessing for Love and Solidarity with Trans and Nonbinary People

β€œAt a moment when so many legislatures are debating hateful laws, our faith affirms what is true yesterday, today, and every day:

Trans people are divine.

There is no such thing as other people’s children.

We join together in fighting for a world in which all of us are free and thriving.”

Thanks to our friends at Side with Love for sharing this heartfelt video.

https://bit.ly/3kItTIw



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The dreams of our forebears inspire our vision of justice. And those dreams wake us in the morn to begin the work anew. - Rev. & Prof. Cornell William Brooks

As UU’s we have a legacy of β€œdeeds not creeds.” Our work for a better world calls us to unexpected places as we harness love’s power to stop oppression. Unitarian Universalists put our faith into action.



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We share with you a small reminder: β€œTake care with your energy. Mind your soul. We’re all journeying through.”



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β€œWhen so much seems uncertain, it matters that we lean in even more to what we know to be true - the life-saving message of our Unitarian Universalist theology and life-affirming practices of the Beloved Community.” Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

#SFGLegacy



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Generous of Heart

1 March 2023 at 01:23
A cropped shot of two people holding hands in comfort across a wood table.

Lane-Mairead Campbell

12-Step recovery has provided me with perspective, forgiveness, and freedom from shame.

Continue reading "Generous of Heart"

Generous of Heart

1 March 2023 at 01:23
A cropped shot of two people holding hands in comfort across a wood table.

Lane-Mairead Campbell

12-Step recovery has provided me with perspective, forgiveness, and freedom from shame.

Continue reading "Generous of Heart"

From Prosecution to the Ministry: Rev. Viola Abbitt in Conversation

28 February 2023 at 09:45
An African American woman wearing glasses and smiling against a blue background.

Jeff Milchen

Rev. Viola Abbitt's unconventional path from DA's office to the ministry is a story of UU faith and principle.

Join Summer Institute 2023!

The call is coming from inside the house: Preemptive radical inclusion and practices for witness, self examination and change. Central East Region 2023 Summer Institute. Image of a rotary dial phone.

Central East Region Summer Institute

We hope YOU will join us in person or online July 9-15, 2023 for fellowship and fun as we build a truly Beloved Community at this year’s Central East Region Summer Institute, or CERSI.

Continue reading "Join Summer Institute 2023!"

Opportunities for Connection ~ March 2023

26 February 2023 at 10:00
Graphic with UUA logo and list of dates and locations of 2023 UUA Presidential Forums

Central East Region of the UUA

Find out what's happening in the Central East Region! This month - UUA Presidential Forums, GA 2023, Jubilee 3, Summer Institute, Neurodiversity Skill Up Series, Leadership Development and more!

Continue reading "Opportunities for Connection ~ March 2023"

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Today's somber anniversary calls this source of our Unitarian Universalist faith to mind: A Prayer for People in War By Eric Cherry.

β€œWe seek to be useful instruments in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, and so we rededicate ourselves to living lives examined through the lens of right relationship internationally.
Our prayer is that in this very moment, wisdom and compassion will guide our hands and our hearts.
May it be so.”

https://bit.ly/3kp7jVc



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

The UUA Board of Trustees is thrilled to announce the recipient of the 2023 Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism: the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt. Rev. Bray McNatt will receive the award at General Assembly in June. Please join us as we celebrate her and all that she's given to our faith.



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Trans Formations Project | Protect Trans Kids

Sharing this wonderful resource from Side with Love to support LGBTQIA+ siblings and allies to oppose anti-trans legislation that we know is moving in many states across the U.S.

So grateful for the work of the Trans Formations Project in tracking these bills and providing regular updates about what’s on the agenda in different states, which representatives to contact, and how to take action for justice.

Connect with your UU State Action Network or Side With Love by emailing love@uua.org if you need more specific organizing guidance.

https://www.transformationsproject.org/


The Trans Formations Project tracks hateful anti-trans bill proposals in the United States and provides actionable information for holding legislators accountable.

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An ethic of love lives at the heart of our UU faith. It reflects the core question, β€œHow are we to live?”

Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray reminds us β€œIt calls us to courage to continually grow and learn and adapt in ways that foster love and justice. It is not a weak or sentimental love. It burns like the fire at the center of our chalice. It’s fierce in a way that compels us to demand justice in our world, but also fierce in how it calls us to courageous conversations, to radical practices of welcome, compassion, forgiveness, and belonging.”

Share your favorite memories of Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray using #SFGLegacy
https://bit.ly/38Uj93Z



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Susan Frederick-Gray: Selected Sermons and Writings

21 February 2023 at 10:00
A white woman against a white background wearing glasses, smiling.

Staff Writer

A curated sample of pastoral and prophetic writings of a prolific president.

Contribute to GA 2023!

20 February 2023 at 14:39
Faithfully Becoming: General Assembly in Pittsburgh, June 21 - 25, 2023

Central East Region of the UUA

If you are interested in being a part of this year's General Assembly in Pittsburgh, PA and virtually, there are several options available to you. What is GA? General Assembly (GA) 2023 is in Pittsburgh, PA, which is in our region!...

Continue reading "Contribute to GA 2023!"

How to align your faith and work

UUA Executive Vice President Carey McDonald recently shared his insights with Quartz about navigating faith and its unique point of intersection between life and work.

β€œBeing open about your faith can be a way of sharing appropriate parts of yourself,” he said. It isn’t, he added, β€œisn’t something to hide at work.”

Read the full interview: https://bit.ly/3YTknAF

#FaithAtWork


I spoke with Carey McDonald, the EVP of the Unitarian Universalist Association, about faith and its unique point of intersection between life and work. With faith being a bit of taboo in the workplace, I wanted to know if it should even play a role in our work.

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Why Unitarian Universalists are Reexamining Article II

The Article II Study Commission recently presented its proposed changes to the section of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s bylaws that includes the Principles, Purposes, and Sources. Carey McDonald, executive vice president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, spoke to UU World about the revision process.

McDonald reminds us that the UUA bylaws mandate a regular revision process of Article II every fifteen years. The language in Article II lives in the UUA bylaws and has been revised a number of times over the course of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s history:

β€œWe are a living tradition, which means regularly reviewing and asking ourselves: Does the Article II core language reflect who we are now and who we want to be? β€œ

These proposed changes require that people spend time with this new language and think about what it really means. The changes are supposed to reflect their experience and capture what being a UU means to you.

Read Executive Vice President’s full Q&A here: https://bit.ly/3YYLVF5


UUA Executive Vice President Carey McDonald answers questions about proposed changes to the Principles, Purposes, and Sources.

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Susan Frederick-Gray: Leadership in Unprecedented Times

15 February 2023 at 03:00
Β© Kevin Thai/Three Circles Studio

Elaine McArdle

Reflections on the transformational presidency of Susan Frederick-Gray.

Continue reading "Susan Frederick-Gray: Leadership in Unprecedented Times"

Susan Frederick-Gray: Leadership in Unprecedented Times

15 February 2023 at 03:00
Β© Kevin Thai/Three Circles Studio

Elaine McArdle

Reflections on the transformational presidency of Susan Frederick-Gray.

Continue reading "Susan Frederick-Gray: Leadership in Unprecedented Times"

As President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray's term winds down in the coming months, the UUA will be sharing content to honor her lega...

As President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray's term winds down in the coming months, the UUA will be sharing content to honor her legacy and contributions to our faith movement. We can’t wait to lift up the beautiful and inspiring pastoral and prophetic messages she’s offered us over these past six years.

We are so grateful for the leadership she’s brought to the UUA, which has guided and nurtured our UU community. This was support we could count on even on the heels of a time of turmoil and change in Unitarian Universalism, and then in an especially fraught period of uncertainty and injustice in the larger world.

We hope you’ll join in, too. In the coming weeks, please tag us or use #SFGlegacy when you share your favorite memories of President Susan. Follow along for our #SFGLegacy campaign.

We begin our storytelling with a recent UU World interview, β€œLeadership in Unprecedented Times": https://bit.ly/3lzsXq2



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This Valentine's Day (and every day), be the love you wish to see in the world.



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We share with you a line from a poem written by Atena O. Danner.

"My progeny will know that time seeds restoration." Read the entire reflection at UU World.

The work you do now is a love letter for those who are on their way. What will you leave your progeny?

https://bit.ly/3S16IWk

PC:ancestorsintraining



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