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We love how Peter Bowden gets it. As a UU, Peter gets how important it is for people to find out about Unitarian Universalism's ...

We love how Peter Bowden gets it. As a UU, Peter gets how important it is for people to find out about Unitarian Universalism's life-saving message of inclusion and healing. He also gets how it's not always easy for congregations to take on more work to find these audiences and package the right message at the right moment to reach them.

That's why the UUA has sponsored a free, live, week-long online workshop with Peter to help congregations and groups build digital engagement into their regular workflow so it's sustainable for the long-term.

Join us on YouTube this Monday, April 25 - Friday, April 29 at 1pm ET/10am PT to participate live!

https://youtu.be/fVonEjdEpCA



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Spring For Change Worship Resources 2022 | Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth

Our faith calls us into relationship with the sacred elements of Earth and to put power in the hands of the many and not the few.

This #EarthDay, join the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth in meditation, song, and stories to honor nature’s elements and respond to the call for Earth Justice, a call to action in the face of the climate crisis. This worship will be a visual feast, and the worship structure may be a bit different from what you are used to β€” lean into it and enjoy the journey! The service includes somatic movement exercises led by Sahar Mushin-Laufman. Please join in these as you are willing and able.

This program will include a special collection for the UU Ministry for Earth – donations are encouraged and received with deep gratitude.

https://bit.ly/3rZcAUf


2022 Virtual Worship Resources for Earth Day & Spring for Change As part of Spring for Change: A Season of Sacred Activism this year, UU Ministry for Earth is producing a robust and beautiful virtual worship service for viewing online on Earth Day, or using in full or in part by participating congre...

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Earth Day Prayer: In the Spirit of Indigenous Traditions

Happy Earth Day! Today, people across our global community will be taking actions towards climate justice. We share this poem "Earth Day Prayer: In the Spirit of Indigenous Traditions" Vern Barnet to ground ourselves and praise the creation of the earth.

It includes, in part:

"Great Spirit, let us remember
it is not how we talk but how we walk.
When we say we love animals, let us protect them.
When we say we that we love the plant people,
let us honor them by living lightly on the earth.
When we say we love the minerals,
let us use them only in necessity,
and remember their rightful places."

Read it in full on UU WorshipWeb: https://bit.ly/384u2iF


Infinite Spirit, sometimes called Grandfather, Grandmother β€”...

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The Movement to Defund and Abolish Immigration Jails Is Winning Major Victories

β€œThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will no longer incarcerate immigrants at the Etowah County Jail in Alabama and will reduce the use of three other jails in the south.”

This is a hopeful moment in the struggle for human rights and abolition. It is evidence that our organizing and advocacy work matters and we must keep up the pressure!

#NoHumanBeingIsIllegal

https://bit.ly/3EsWhUs


Biden’s budget calls for a 26 percent reduction in immigration detention, and ICE is reducing the use of some jails.

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Spring For Change Worship Resources 2022 | Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth

"Get Rooted, Get Ready!" for #EarthDay !

Join Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth for a galvanizing Earth-centered worship service to engage your spirit and inspire your community.

This year's program will include a virtual choir performance of a brand new hymn called "All of Us", written by Dana Clark of First UU San Antonio, TX, guided meditations and somatic practices led by Rev. Mariela Perez Simmons and Sahar Muhsin-Laufman, a reflection by Rev. Dr. Leonisa Ardizzone, and more!

Register online and tune in live on April 22 at 9am PT/10am MT/11am CT/12pm ET.

https://bit.ly/3rZcAUf


2022 Virtual Worship Resources for Earth Day & Spring for Change As part of Spring for Change: A Season of Sacred Activism this year, UU Ministry for Earth is producing a robust and beautiful virtual worship service for viewing online on Earth Day, or using in full or in part by participating congre...

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Three Former Minneapolis Cops Involved in Death of George Floyd Reject Plea Deal

It has been a year since we witnessed an unfortunately rare moment of police accountability with Derek Chauvin’s guilty verdict. We continue to speak George Floyd’s name in remembrance of his life and recognize so many other Black people who have been harrassed, assualted or murdered by police.

We continue to hold Black communities in love and care. We remain in solidarity with all who are working to divest from policing and investing in community care. #justiceforgeorgefloyd #blacklivesmatter

https://bit.ly/3EAVtgA


All three of the former officers remain free on bail

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UU the Vote 2022 Launch Party

On April 10th UU the Vote held their 2022 Launch Party. Watch the recap here and stay connected for future organizing and activism opportunities.

Watch the recap here:
https://bit.ly/3K1lpCW

Learn more: https://bit.ly/36rjqKm


April 10, 2022. When we organize, we build power in our communities for justice, accountability, and healing. In the last two years, UU the Vote has built new networks…

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Wishing you all a Happy Easter!



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We echo UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray 's message. We wish you a joyful Passover!

We echo UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray 's message. We wish you a joyful Passover!


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. Today is also #GoodFriday and #Easter comes this Sunday, with the telling of the story of Jesus’s death and resurrection; messages of sacrifice, of loss, of justice, of freedom.

In both, there are practices of gathering as family and in community, storytelling and reminders of the resiliency and hope we experience through our history, our ancestors, our faith and one another.

This continues to be a time of uncertainty, heartbreak, injustice and suffering here in the U.S. and around the world. As we gather for these celebrations, may we remember the ways these holy days call us to a deeper commitment to resist oppression and work for the liberation of all.

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Double Impact: COVID and Disabilities

Jeff Milchen (@JMilchen) the UUA Justice Communications Associate, interviews Imari Kariotis, a woman of color who has autism and bipolar disorder and cares for an adult daughter with several disabilities, on her personal experience with the impact of COVID-19.

Although we are two years into the pandemic, Imari Kariotis reminds us to continue to protect the vulnerable communities. β€œJust be aware that you’re doing it for your fellow neighbor to take care of your community.”

Read the full interview here: https://bit.ly/3uMWCyi


Disability rights advocate Imari Kariotis calls us to be aware of our actions to help protect vulnerable communities.

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Is new life possible? Is love stronger, even, than death? The question itself invites us to rise up, and to live as though it were trueβ€”to make it true in our living.

Read Molly Housh Gordon's Braver Wiser post in full here:
https://bit.ly/3KZV4qp



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Careers & Jobs

We have new job openings here at the UUA, including:
Retirement Plan Employer Liaison
Hope for Us Conflict Engagement Team Co-Director
UU the Vote 2022 State Campaign Strategist
Communications and Administrative Assistant
Videographer and Multimedia Strategist
Digital Editor UU World Magazine
Managing Editor UU World Magazine
Insurance Plans Director
Insurance Plans Specialist
Retirement Plan Specialist
And there will be more to come! Learn more about these exciting opportunities and join us in this transformational work.

https://bit.ly/2rLDAqh


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

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Video Engagement Strategy with Peter Bowden

Did your congregation gain new visitors or reconnect with previous members when you broadcast Sunday worship online during the pandemic?

The UUA heard from many who had moved away, or those whose family or health situations made in-person worship difficult or risky, and others who had been geographically isolated from their nearest congregation. Finding live UU worship online offered them much-needed hope and connection during a time of widespread isolation.

If your congregation is looking for ways to retain and grow your active online presence, the UUA has teamed up with @Peter Bowden (@UUPlanet on Twitter), longtime UU trainer and coach specializing in digital and social media strategy, to offer congregations a live one-week video strategy training at the end of April.

The training will offer guidance for developing systematic ways to incorporate online events and engagement that minimizes burnout for staff and leaders, and piques the interest of spiritual seekers online to come join your community.

Learn more and mark your calendars for this unique opportunity happening April 25 - 29, 2022: https://bit.ly/3NNVYrL.


The need for our congregations to effectively engage with people online has never been greater!

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UUA President Application Process is open

A new Unitarian Universalist Association presidentβ€”the public, spiritual, and executive leader of the UU movement and the UUA organization and staffβ€”will be elected at General Assembly 2023, for a six-year term.

The Presidential Search Committee (PSC), which the General Assembly created in 2010, is tasked with evaluating applications for president and selecting at least two nominees.

The application form is now live online and the PSC will accept applications through July 15, 2022. Nominees will be announced on November 15, 2022. Please share this important leadership opportunity widely.

https://bit.ly/3LPLExm


Association’s next chief executive and spiritual leader to be elected at General Assembly 2023

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We’re with you in the struggle, dear ones, and ready to fight for a world in which every single one of us is safe and thriving. ...

We’re with you in the struggle, dear ones, and ready to fight for a world in which every single one of us is safe and thriving. Thank you for working toward that future with us. A special thanks to our friends at Side with Love for their statement and their resources.

https://bit.ly/3NUUDzp



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Join me for the launch of UU the Vote 2022!

There is so much at stake in the 2022 midterm elections. Together, our communities can address the current threats to our democracy and human dignity. Join us in this fight on Sunday, April 10 at 4pm ET/1pm PT for the launch of UU the Vote 2022! #UUtheVote #VoteLove #DefeatHate



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Alabama’s Anti-Trans Legislation is Dangerous and Dehumanizing

UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray responds with moral outrage to recent anti-trans legislation in Alabama and offers unequivocal support to all #trans and #nonbinary people.

Read her statement in full on UUA.org: https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/antitrans-legislation-dangerous

#TransPeopleAreDivine #TransRightsAreHumanRights


Unitarian Universalists are in solidarity and in support of the identity and expression of trans youth, which we affirm unapologetically.

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UUA Celebrates Confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson

The UUA celebrates the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. As Unitarian Universalists, we hold close the principle of justice, equity for all, and compassion in human relations - values that are too often absent in our criminal justice system. Judge Jackson’s historic nomination gives us hope that our nation can also begin to meet these principles, and we are uplifted by what her confirmation means for the future.


We are uplifted about what her confirmation means for the future of our nation.

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Video Engagement Strategy with Peter Bowden

Many congregations and UUs reconnected during the pandemic, when congregational worship services moved online.

And we heard from you - those who had moved away, those whose family or health situations made in-person worship difficult or risky, and those were geographically isolated from their nearest congregation. Finding live UU worship online offered much-needed connection during a time of widespread isolation.

Congregations that retain their vibrant and active online presence can grow these connections and reach new populations - there are so many people that need to hear the live-saving message of Unitarian Universalism.

The UUA has teamed up with Peter Bowden, a longtime UU trainer and coach specializing in digital and social media strategy, to offer congregations a live one-week video strategy training at the end of April.

Learn more and mark your calendars for this unique opportunity: https://bit.ly/3NNVYrL.


The need for our congregations to effectively engage with people online has never been greater!

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Join me for the launch of UU the Vote 2022!

Get ready for UU the Vote 2022! On Sunday, April 10 at 4pm ET/1pm PT join President Susan Frederick-Gray, UU leaders, and partners to learn how you can show up for our UU values and communities in the critical midterm elections. Invite your congregation and social justice teams to join us for an exciting launch of UU the Vote 2022.



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Apply to be UUA President (2023-2029)

UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray is in her fifth year of a six-year term. That means that UUs will elect a new president at GA 2023.

The Presidential Search Committee is tasked with evaluating applications for president and selecting at least two nominees. Candidates may also run by petition separately from the PSC process. The application is now live online and the committee will accept applications through July 15.

Learn more about the process to apply and this exciting leadership opportunity!


Application for UUA President with a term lasting from 2023-2029

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Dr. King’s β€œBreaking Silence

April 4 is the date Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968 while he was in Memphis, Tennessee to support sanitation workers. Exactly one year before, on April 4, 1967, Dr. King gave one of his most consequential speeches titled, β€œBeyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence”. This speech was the first time he publicly called for an end to the U.S. war in Vietnam and for unity and action to end the triple threats of militarism, racism, and extreme materialism.

Tonight at 7:15pm EST/4:15pm PST, people of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds will join together to read Dr. King’s β€œBreaking Silence” speech. Learn more about this intergenerational call for unity and justice. Register to watch the reading at https://bit.ly/3DlZWTA.



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Prepare for GA 2022 by Joining the UUA Board's Webinars

At this year’s multiplatform General Assembly (GA), we will explore the power, possibility, purpose, struggle, and joy of meeting the moment as Unitarian Universalists. Whether you're a first-time delegate or a long-time attendee, we invite you to join us to learn more about what will happen at GA this year. Members of the Board of Trustees (with some occasional special guests) will provide an overview, along with information for delegates regarding the business sessions.

In order to prepare for a new and different way of doing the business of GA this year, the Board will lead several different webinars. Each one will be 75 minutes in length, and a recording of each will be posted on this page at a later date. Pre-registration is required for all.

Register today:


Register to join one or more of the upcoming GA 2022 prep webinars let by members of the UUA Board.

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Our Art

Spread the message of social justice through the power of art.

This art is free and available for you to use to spread a message of social justice. Much of this art was produced though our art projects, Mamas Day and Trans Day of Resilience (TDOR) and for our state-based action sites in Oregon and New Mexico. We welcome you to reproduce this social justice art and share it in your community. Please do not alter the image in any way and or offer these images for sale. Do not use or reprint the image in a publication or for commercial or institutional purposes without the permission of Forward Together. If you share this social justice art on social media please tag Forward Together (@fwdtogether on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook).


Spread the message of social justice through the power of art.

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Programming for the 2022 Intergenerational Seminar will be offered fully online, April 22 – May 1, 2022. Addressing the theme β€œD...

Programming for the 2022 Intergenerational Seminar will be offered fully online, April 22 – May 1, 2022. Addressing the theme β€œDisplacement and Human Rights: All In for Climate Justice.” It’s hosted by the UUA Office at the United Nations (UU@UN) in partnership with UU Ministry for Earth, UU Service Committee (UUSC), and Side With Love. Congregations are invited to host local gatherings to allow Seminar attendees to connect with others who live nearby.

Registration for the Seminar is open through April 3, 2022. Check out the tentative schedule for additional details about what to expect!

https://bit.ly/3wwkrM0



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Unitarian Universalists celebrate the profound gift that transgender and nonbinary religious professionals, leaders, adults and ...

Unitarian Universalists celebrate the profound gift that transgender and nonbinary religious professionals, leaders, adults and children are to our faith and our lives. We see you. We love you. You are sacred. You are a gift. #TransDayOfVisibility



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Lynching is now a federal hate crime after a century of blocked efforts

After multiple failed attempts across twelve decades, President Biden signed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law, finally making this brutal act of racial terror a federal hate crime.

As Unitarian Universalists, we carry with us the hope and the power of the civil rights pioneers who came before us and we carry the light of their inspiration forward. We are grateful for the Biden Administration’s willingness to take up this historic legislation.


President Biden signed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law, the culmination of more than a century of efforts to designate lynching as a federal hate crime.

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Democracy is a process and a practice. A movement for genuine democracy requires us to create deeper coalitions and community pa...

Democracy is a process and a practice. A movement for genuine democracy requires us to create deeper coalitions and community partnerships to put power in the hands of the many and not the few. Join us in this work on Sunday, April 10 at 4pm ET/1pm PT for the launch of UU the Vote 2022! #UUtheVote #VoteLove #DefeatHate bit.ly/UUtheVote2022Launch



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April 4 is the date Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968 while he was in Memphis, Tennessee to support sani...

April 4 is the date Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968 while he was in Memphis, Tennessee to support sanitation workers. Exactly one year before, on April 4, 1967, Dr. King gave one of his most consequential speeches titled, β€œBeyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence”. This speech was the first time he publicly called for an end to the U.S. war in Vietnam and for unity and action to end the triple threats of militarism, racism, and extreme materialism.

Next Monday, April 4, 20222, people of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds will join together in national and local readings of Dr. King’s β€œBreaking Silence” speech in communities across the country. Learn more and register to watch a reading at https://bit.ly/3DlZWTA.



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Spring for Change - A Season of Sacred Activism, 2022 | Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth

Get Rooted, Get Ready!

Spring for Change: a Season of Sacred Activism β€” from March 20 (Spring Equinox) through May 22nd (International Day for Biodiversity) β€” is an invitation to the Unitarian Universalist faith community to embody the transformational, regenerative power of Spring through sacred activism for Earth and all our relations.

The 2022 Spring for Change theme is Get Rooted, Get Ready!
Together, we will Get Rooted in our faith communities, our spiritual practices, and our relationships to the ecosystems we are home to. We will Get Ready by facing the facts and forecasts of our climate and ecological crises with courage, moral clarity, and a commitment to act for justice.

For more opportunities to engage in this season of sacred activism click here:


Get Rooted, Get Ready! March 20 – May 23, 2022 Spring for Change: a Season of Sacred Activism β€” from March 20 (Spring Equinox) through May 22nd (International Day for Biodiversity) β€” is an invitation to the Unitarian Universalist faith community to embody the transformational, regenerative pow...

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Pandemic Strategies (Including COVID-19)

This week's Braver Wiser message comes from Christine Slocum.
"I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t fail first.We can avoid failure or try and roll with whatever the consequences are, trusting we're worthy all the same. "

Read it in full:https://bit.ly/3IAXQjJ


A combination of strategies can offer layers of precaution that increase safety and inclusion for all members of a community.

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The UUA supports congregations that continue to suspend in-person gatherings, as well as those that are combining in-person and ...

The UUA supports congregations that continue to suspend in-person gatherings, as well as those that are combining in-person and online engagement to offer a multiplatform experience. We believe this is an important way for us to continue live out our UU values of radical inclusion.

Learn about our seven strategies for gathering and how your congregation can sustain and grow its vital ministry in these turbulent times in our resource pages online: https://bit.ly/36i953B.



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Programming for the 2022 Intergenerational Seminar will be offered fully online, April 22 – May 1, 2022. Addressing the theme β€œD...

Programming for the 2022 Intergenerational Seminar will be offered fully online, April 22 – May 1, 2022. Addressing the theme β€œDisplacement and Human Rights: All In for Climate Justice.” It’s hosted by the UUA Office at the United Nations (UU@UN) in partnership with UU Ministry for Earth, UU Service Committee (UUSC), and Side With Love. Congregations are invited to host local gatherings to allow Seminar attendees to connect with others who live nearby.

Registration for the Seminar is open through April 3, 2022. Check out the tentative schedule for additional details about what to expect!

https://bit.ly/3wwkrM0



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The Article II Study Commission needs your input on key themes related to its revision work. After you have participated in reflection with your local community or attended an online discussion, please share your feedback with us through a brief survey.

https://bit.ly/3HZeIBf



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Celebrating a More Inclusive Judiciary β€” Side With Love

Thanks to grassroots organizing, we knew President Biden’s SCOTUS nominee would be the first Black woman so honored, but that doesn't minimize the staggering importance of breaking through 230+ years of excluding Black women from the Supreme Court.

Jackson brings impeccable credentials that inspired the UUA to formally join in supporting her nomination. Among her decades of achievements, Jackson will break another pivotal barrier by becoming the first public defender ever to serve on the Supreme Court and the first criminal defense attorney since Thurgood Marshall retired in 1991.

As we celebrate this historic moment, we are in solidarity with all whose hard work and activism has brought us here, and we wait to exhale collectively when Judge Jackson is rightfully confirmed as our next Supreme Court justice.

https://bit.ly/3Iylxcp


As we confront the urgent threats to peace, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and more, let’s appreciate and celebrate the landmark nomination of Judge Ktanji Jackson, which grassroots activists helped create, and draw needed inspiration for essential struggles to come.

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Another Voice: U.S. must make room for Ukrainian refugees

Doug Sherman reminds us how we must welcome and find room for refugees. β€œEvery person deserves dignity, every person has inherent worth. We are in an era of a mass migration of people fleeing war, terrorism, drug lords, authoritarianism, starvation, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes: These are the teeth of the shark .No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark.”

Read more from member of the UU Church of Buffalo, Doug Sherman:
https://bit.ly/3It6uk4


Every person deserves dignity, every person has inherent worth.

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JUUst Breathe Live - YouTube

We are excited to share a new UU youth ministry podcast with you! JUUst Breathe Live is a podcast hosted by religious educators Eric Bliss and Shannon Harper. In each episode, they interview special guests on topics that are central to youth ministry such as climate justice, spiritual direction, and life after bridging/circling.

https://bit.ly/3udGhBf


And now for something completely different! Eric Bliss Yms and I are trying a new tactic for bringing UU youth and emerging adult ministry to the people. JUU...

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Texas clergy part of lawsuit struck down in latest blow to abortion law challenge

Despite the Texas Supreme Court's ruling ending legal challenges against their inhumane anti-abortion law, Unitarian Universalists in Texas remain committed to helping women who want abortions find the health care they need. β€œI’m organizing chaplains to assist patients to be with [the women seeking abortions], to give them spiritual care, to accompany them in their journeys to these clinics,” said Rev. Daniel Kanter of First Unitarian Church of Dallas. https://bit.ly/36tSbhS
Texas clergy part of lawsuit struck down in latest blow to abortion law challenge
(RNS) β€” The Rev. Daniel Kanter, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said they will continue helping pregnant people get safe and legal abortions in other states.


(RNS) β€” The Rev. Daniel Kanter, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said they will continue helping pregnant people get safe and legal abortions in other states.

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If you identify as cisgender, consider taking our Spokesperson Training to learn how to speak in support of trans/genderqueer/no...

If you identify as cisgender, consider taking our Spokesperson Training to learn how to speak in support of trans/genderqueer/non-binary people, whether at legislative hearings, community meetings, in media interviews, or other venues. We encourage you to share this with religious professionals and congregational leaders beyond UUism. We need Progressive congregational and community leaders to speak up against hateful anti-trans legislation around the country.

Register at https://bit.ly/TransLivesSpokespersonTraining.


Progressive congregational and community leaders are needed to speak up against hateful anti-trans legislation around the country. If you identify as cisgender, consider taking our Spokesperson Training to learn how to speak in support of trans/genderqueer/non-binary people, whether at legislative hearings, community meetings, in media interviews, or other venues. Register at https://bit.ly/TransLivesSpokespersonTraining.

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The Defiant Spark

This week's Braver Wiser message comes from David Kohlmeier.

You and everyone else on the planet are worthy by nature: you didn’t earn your worth, and you can’t lose it. Because you exist. Period.

Read it in full:https://bit.ly/3MUwyZ7


You didn’t earn your worth, and you can’t lose it. Because you exist. Period.

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Celebrating International Women's Day in India

The UUA's Holdeen India program works in many ways to support women's empowerment in India. Here's a recent dispatch sharing how one Holdeen program partner is supporting women farmers in the western state of Gujarat.

https://bit.ly/34QnEdU


How grassroots partners of the UU Holden India Program celebrated International Women's Day

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UU@UN Intergenerational Spring Seminar

UU congregations from across the nation will come together in late April to discuss climate justice and human rights. This will be a great opportunity to network and discern ways to address climate change!

Visit https://bit.ly/3MUlJ9e to learn more.


Youth and adults from all over North America gather annually for our three day seminar to dig deeply into issues with global impact.

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COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Race/Ethnicity: Current Data and Changes Over Time

This time two years ago, our lives changed forever when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Vaccinations and therapeutic strategies have allowed some Americans to move on with their lives.

But we cannot forget that the pandemic permanently altered many lives, particularly among Black and brown families, individuals, and communities. Recent analyses of federal, state, and local data show that people of color experienced a disproportionate burden of cases and deaths. As is almost always true, this crisis has made pre-existing racial inequities much worse.

As a society, we need to reflect on how to close these gaps. As a faith tradition, Unitarian Universalists are committed to justice, equality, and inclusion. When it comes to COVID-19, that means respecting and protecting the BIPOC communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, promoting the right to health care, and creating better access to it.

As we pick up the pieces of this pandemic and rebuild, may we hold the pain of so many lives lost and so much injustice together as communities of love and justice. And may the experience of shared heartbreak move us to be bolder as we take action where we live to transform this society into one that is rooted in justice and equality for all.

For a deeper understanding of the state of the current crisis, please visit the following link:https://bit.ly/3i6DTGF


This is an updated analysis of COVID-19 cases and deaths by race/ethnicity that incorporates more recent data amid the surge associated with the Omicron variant.

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How Four Activists Celebrate Women's History Month

These activists are each making unique and powerful contributions to our world and they are lifting up other women, too. How are you celebrating Women's History Month?

https://bit.ly/3hCT7mq


We reach out to five activists to learn how they're celebrating Women's History Month and share their advice on how to celebrate women every day.

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Parents of a trans child who reached out to Attorney General Ken Paxton over dinner are now under investigation for child abuse

As people of faith who believe in every person's right to live freely and fully in the wholeness of their own beloved identity, we denounce the harassment of families in Texas by their state's government. Gender affirming medical care is a human right and all trans people deserve to be loved, uplifted, and celebrated for who they are. #ShameOnTexas

https://bit.ly/3vPose9


Amber Briggle had hoped inviting Paxton to dinner might soften his views about transgender children. Now, the family is under investigation after he issued an opinion equating gender-affirming medical care with child abuse.

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Stand with Ukraine - End Europe’s fossil fuel addiction that feeds Putin’s war machine

The Unitarian Universalist Association joins more than 450 other organizations in petitioning governments in boycotting Russian gas and oil in addition to committing to phasing out fossil fuel use. Read the letter and see all the signers at https://bit.ly/3tJvuhN.


Organizations around the world demand that governments put forward plans to bring emissions and fossil fuel production down to Real Zero.

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Please save the date and join The U.S. HIV & AIDS Faith Coalition on a HIV & Faith conversation on Women, Girls and HIV. This Wednesday, March 9th 2022 at 2 pm EST. The HIV & AIDS Faith Coalition is proud to partner with the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference.



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We are so grateful for all the women leadersβ€”especially the BIPOC women, trans women, women with disabilities and poor womenβ€”who have been leading change throughout history and today. And we remain ever grateful for the leadership of our President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray.

#InternationalWomensDay



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Supporting Those Impacted by the Crisis in Ukraine

In response to the outpouring of concern, we're sharing the most up to date information we have on how UUs in the United States and around the world are responding to the humanitarian crisis in #Ukraine and to amplify the ways that we can all help.


We continue to hold in our hearts the people of Ukraine and all of those around the world who are suffering because of war and injustice.

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Celebrating UU Women in History

March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the incredible and often overlooked contributions women have made throughout history. Many Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist (UU) women have not only shaped and led the UU faith, but they’ve also left an undeniable impact on history in general. Learn about these ten influential women who changed the world for the better. Don’t see your favorite UU woman in history? Comment below their name below.

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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Ex-officer cleared in shooting during Breonna Taylor raid

Yesterday a Kentucky jury cleared a former police officer of charges that he endangered neighbors when he fired shots into an apartment during the 2020 drug raid that ended with Breonna Taylor’s death.

This news is both heartbreaking and heartbreakingly unsurprising. The UUA affirms our solidarity with all of our Black siblings and kin, with communities across the globe who are rising up. As Unitarian Universalists, we must commit yet again to acting alongside all who are working to bring about a world in which Black lives, bodies, and communities are treated with reverence and respect.

#BlackLivesMatter #SayHerName

https://bit.ly/3KzyZOP


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) β€” A former Kentucky police officer was found not guilty Thursday on charges he endangered neighbors the night he fired into Breonna Taylor's apartment during a botched drug raid that resulted in Taylor's death.

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How Four Activists Celebrate Women's History Month

These activists are each making unique and powerful contributions to our world and they are lifting up other women, too. How are you celebrating Women's History Month?

https://bit.ly/3hCT7mq


We reach out to five activists to learn how they're celebrating Women's History Month and share their advice on how to celebrate women every day.

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Support for Ukrainian Refugees

For those looking for ways to support folks impacted by the war in #Ukraine, we share this blog post from the @UUAInternationalOffice, which includes links to support the Hungarian Unitarian Church as well as the @UnitarianUniversalistServiceCommittee. You'll also find more information on Russia's actions in the UN Security Council in a UU World from the director of our UU United Nations office, Bruce Knotts.

https://bit.ly/3HHPZAq


As the situation in the Ukraine unfolds, we in the International Office echo the messages shared by UUSC’s president the Rev. Mary Katherine Morn and by...

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Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

This week, we were reminded once again that the damage that climate change will bring will devastate neighborhoods and disrupt lives around the world, especially BIPOC communities and developing nations. According to a New York Times summary of the latest International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, extreme weather events killed 15 times as many people in highly vulnerable countries, including those in Africa and Asia, than in wealthier nations. .

Unitarian Universalism's 7th Principle calls us to acknowledge and protect the interdependent web of existence of which we are all a part. As people of faith, we accept our responsibility to act on our commitment to environmental justice.

Review the latest IPCC report here:
https://bit.ly/35AHDgy


Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report

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ERIC: Ensuring the Efficiency and Integrity of America's Voter Rolls | Pew

Many people who complain about β€œvoter fraud” clearly want to ensure the tiny number of cases continue, lest they lose their excuse for continuing voter suppression and election sabotage.

Here's the evidence! https://bit.ly/3v0b1r6

https://bit.ly/3IF79A7


Voter registration rolls in America are often out-of-date and complicated to maintain because millions of Americans move, die, or change their names each yea...

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Lifting up and echoing this message of love from the Rev. Erin Walter and the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry: To...

Lifting up and echoing this message of love from the Rev. Erin Walter and the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry:

To trans UUs and parents, caregivers, and families of trans kids: You are deeply loved. [Attorney General] Paxton and [Governor] Abbott do NOT speak for your communities of faith. Your clergy are NOT required to report gender-affirming care, nor would we. We pray you are tending to your needs and doing what gives you joy right now. Please reach out to your local clergy or church care teams for support, or contact TXUUJM@gmail.com and let us know how your state justice ministry can support you. We pledge to do everything we can.

TrustTexasFamilies #TransPeopleAreDivine


Updates from the Texas UU Justice Ministry, in Support of Trans Texans and Their Families


Dear Texas UUs and justice seeking friends,


Trans people embody the inherent worth and dignity that is a pillar of our Unitarian Universalist faith. At the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry, our hearts are with trans kids, their families and caregivers, and all trans and nonbinary people. We love you fiercely, and will forever fight for your rights and honor the beautiful ways you are you.


As has been reported, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott are threatening to remove trans-children from their homes if parents seek gender-affirming care, prosecute their parents for child abuse, and prosecute mandatory reporters β€” including clergy β€” for failing to report this β€œchild abuse.”

These threats are abhorrent, unconscionable, and immoral, and Paxton and Abbott's fear-mongering poses real danger to the health and safety of trans Texans. However, we also want to send legal and spiritual reassurance from TXUUJM partners, ministers, and friends (below).

To trans UUs and parents, caregivers, and families of trans kids: You are deeply loved. Paxton and Abbott do NOT speak for your communities of faith. Your clergy are NOT required to report gender-affirming care, nor would we. We pray you are tending to your needs and doing what gives you joy right now. Please reach out to your local clergy or church care teams for support, or contact TXUUJM@gmail.com and let us know how your state justice ministry can support you. We pledge to do everything we can.

In faith,

– Rev. Erin Walter, Minister & Executive Director, Texas UU Justice Ministry

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Opportunities to Say Yes

Are you participating in Lent this year? In this Braver Wiser message, Author Nathan Ryan shares an experience he has had with Lent. β€œI’m prone to think of my Lenten practice as a failure: I didn’t pick something rigorous enough to help me grapple with the realities of my own mortality and the temporary nature of all of existence. Then again, maybe transformation shouldn't be measured in forty-day increments.”

For those who practice, we hope this season of Lent is a meaningful one for you - with or without transformation.

Learn more about Nathan Ryan’s experience here:
https://bit.ly/36WXd70


Last year for Lent, I decided to say yes to any request. I made it all the way to Easter without having to honor my decision.

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Diversity of Sexuality and Gender is a Gift

There is pain and outrage in our hearts because Texas Governor Greg Abbott has escalated the attacks on transgender people living in his state, especially trans youth, by equating medical care with child abuse. Governor Abbott is weaponizing this basic right of care for trans youth and their families.

As Unitarian Universalists, let us come together in solidarity at this critical moment in unequivocal support for trans children. We will continue to work unceasingly to create inclusive religious communities and for LGBTQIA+ justice and equity as a fundamental part of our faith tradition.

To our trans family: we uplift and support all the trans and non-binary people in our lives, our congregations, and communities. You are not alone. We hold trans children and their familiesβ€”in Texas and in the worldβ€”in deep care.

For more resources, please visit Resources for Transgender Youth in Texas.

https://bit.ly/35iSkEX


There is pain and outrage in our hearts because Texas Governor Greg Abbott has escalated the attacks on transgender people living in his state.

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A Disability Day of Mourning Reflection

Today we grieve for disabled people who have been murdered by the same people who should have loved and supported them: their family members. Author Jessi Sadaka, reminds us "Disabled people shouldn't need luck to survive ableism. Let us build a future where honoring the Disability Day of Mourning means acknowledging historical loss rather than ongoing trauma. To get there, may we transform how we treat the living, while we mourn our beloved dead. To my fellow disabled people, always remember: The things we are capable of doing are worthy. And the value in each of us is inherent, sacred, and forever. Amen."

https://bit.ly/342KePU


Today we grieve for disabled people who have been murdered by the same people who should have loved and supported them: their family members.

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β€œWe Demand An End to the Bloodshed”: UUSC Responds to Vladimir Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine - Unitarian Universalist Service Comm...

We are in strong solidarity with our partners at the international human rights organization, The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Our belief as UUs in the inherent worth and dignity of all people and our commitment to building a world community of peace, liberty and justice for all, calls us to uplift the ways that this violence only worsens the global refugee crisis and undermines the human rights of the Ukrainian people. We echo the Service Committee when they affirm,

"As human rights advocates based in the United States condemning this latest escalation of the conflict, we hope this moment might also serve as an opportunity for all of us and our leaders to reflect on our own history of similar acts of aggression and militarism... All-powerful states must be held accountable to the principles of human rights."

Read their full statement and find links to take further action at https://bit.ly/3M8XQKN.


Putin's aggression will certainly lead to human rights violations.

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Our hearts are heavy on this 10th anniversary of Trayvon Martin’s death. The killing of baby-faced Trayvon, an unarmed youth at the hands of a stranger, still reverberates 10 years later -- in protest, in racial reckoning, and in social justice.

10 years ago today, George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American high schooler in Sanford, Florida. Trayvon was walking home in a gated community from a store after purchasing an Arizona Ice Tea and Skittles candy.

The moment of Trayvon Martin’s death opened the eyes of many. And although the aftermath of his death profoundly impacted the country, it only preceded more unjust killings of Black people, in the familiar march of American history. This tragedy would also come to inspire the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement.

In this week alone, we commemorate Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floydβ€”and we also remember and hold close their families, who will grieve their loss for the rest of their lives.

These men were killed in a society that criminalizes Black skin. We are still living in a country with a legacy of slavery that does not fully recognize the humanity of Black people. Our Unitarian Universalist faith demands that we continue to address systemic racism. We lift up and honor the beautiful humanity of Trayvon Martin and the dignity of his life.

#RestInPowerTrayvonMartin



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Biden nominates Ketanji Brown Jackson to be first Black woman to sit on Supreme Court

President Joe Biden has selected Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. In doing so, he has set in motion a historic confirmation process for the highest court in the nation.

Ketanji Brown Jackson is a Harvard Law School graduate and her labor-friendly rulings as a judge have drawn wide praise. President Biden was impressed by her expertise and life story, including her rise from federal public defender to federal appellate judge and her upbringing as the daughter of two public school administrators. Her mother was a public school principal and her father became a public school attorney.

President Biden sought a candidate with exceptional credentials, unimpeachable character, and unwavering dedication to the rule of law. As UUs, we are so proud and joyful about this historic nomination. We celebrate the choice President Biden has made.

https://cnn.it/3Kcd5Rx


President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court on Friday, setting in motion a historic confirmation process for the first Black woman to sit on the highest court in the nation.

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3 former Minneapolis police officers found guilty of violating George Floyd's civil rights

Two important cases were decided this week that achieved some small degree of accountability for the unjust, outrageous murders of two Black men. Three men who were earlier convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery in state court were found guilty of federal hate crimes. Additionally, three former Minneapolis police officers involved in the murder of George Floyd were convicted in federal court of depriving him of his civil rights.

We are now in a time of national reckoning. This is some measure of accountability but not true justice. True justice would be for Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd to be alive today. We hold their memory and their families in deep care. Our Unitarian Universalist faith compels us to speak the names of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery in remembrance of their lives and recognize every Black person who has been harassed, assaulted, or murdered by police.

We must continue to work in solidarity with the Black leaders and organizers who have long been fighting for justice. #justiceforgeorgefloyd #blacklivesmatter

https://cnn.it/35vBHWg


Former Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were found guilty of violating George Floyd's civil rights by a federal jury in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday.

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The Millions of People Stuck in Pandemic Limbo

As the coronavirus moves from a furious boil to a gentle simmer, many immunocompromised people (like everyone else) hope to slowly expand their life again but that depends on the accommodations society is willing to make.

So while most people will never be as vulnerable as some people, respecting the needs of immunocompromised people isn’t about disproportionately accommodating some tiny minority; it’s really about empathizing with your future self. β€œIllness happens to everyone eventually. Don’t you want a better world for yourself when that time comes?

https://bit.ly/3C5bXfH


What does society owe immunocompromised people?

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Texas governor calls on citizens to report parents of transgender kids for abuse

There is pain and outrage in our hearts because of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s offensive equating of the medical care of trans youth with child abuse. He has directed state agencies to conduct investigations into gender-affirming care for transgender children. Gov. Abbott is weaponizing the basic right of medical care for trans youth and their families. He is seeking to criminalize the healthcare support they may receive from their community and allies. And he is part of setting a dangerous precedent for other states to target trans children and their caregivers.

Gov. Abbot’s direction will only spread fear and misinformation. A parent or guardian who is taking their child to a health care provider to offer gender-affirming care is providing love and support.

Gender-affirming care recognizes that every life is sacred and supports the well-being of trans youth. Implementing unsafe standards in communities is harmful to trans and non-binary youth and encourages prejudice and violence. Now is the time to express our solidarity with those experiencing the cruel impacts of the irresponsible action of Gov. Abbott. Trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming children in Texas and beyond deserve better.

As Unitarian Universalists, let us come together in solidarity at this critical moment in unequivocal support for trans children. To our trans family: we uplift and support all the trans and non-binary people in our lives, our congregations, and communities. You are not alone. We hold trans children and their families--in Texas and in the world--in deep care.

https://nbcnews.to/3vk3SCe


Gov. Greg Abbott said those who fail to report instances of minors receiving gender-affirming medical care could face β€œcriminal penalties.”

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We join in solidarity with so many around the world and pray for the people of Ukraine. Our hearts go out to those who are enduring devastating loss of life, violence, instability, and upheaval due to Russia’s invasion by land, air, and sea.

Our UU faith calls us to remain deeply committed to justice and we believe we have a moral responsibility to support the creation of peace and the equal rights of all people. Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder that human rights are fundamentally linked to our interdependence.

A recent UU World blog post by Bruce Knotts, director of the Unitarian Universalist Office at the United Nations, expresses how UUs have long been at the center of this struggle on the global stage and were an integral part of the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The essential message of the Declaration recognizes the closely held UU value of the inherent worth and dignity of all people.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3t8ztUD



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Prepare for GA 2022 by Joining the UUA Board's Webinars

In order to prepare for a new and different way of doing the business of GA this year, the Board will lead several different webinars. Each one will be 75 minutes in length, and a recording of each will be posted on this page at a later date. Pre-registration is required for all.

At this year’s multiplatform General Assembly (GA), we will explore the power, possibility, purpose, struggle, and joy of meeting the moment as Unitarian Universalists. Whether you're a first-time delegate or a long-time attendee, we invite you to join us to learn more about what will happen at GA this year.

Find a date that works best for your schedule. https://bit.ly/3s7Zkgb


Register to join one or more of the upcoming GA 2022 prep webinars let by members of the UUA Board.

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Respecting the interdependent web of our existence on earth is a principle we must strive to fulfill as conscious human beings. Transportation generates 29 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, meaning any serious work to mitigate harm from global warming requires changing how we move people and goods.

Our individual choices as consumers matter. But only through our actions as citizens can we drive change on the scale our climate crisis demands. Learn more about UUA climate justice work and resources. Jeff welcomes your criticism, questions, and commentary. Tweet @JMilchen.

https://bit.ly/3h91w0G



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Volunteer for a UUA Committee, Commission, or Board

We need YOU and YOUR leadership!

Do you want to help make real and concrete changes to our Unitarian Universalist Association? The UUA Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for our denominational committees elected by the General Assembly. We need you to join this work!

We are seeking nominations for all of our elected committees: Board of Trustees, Board of Review, Nominating Committee, General Assembly Planning Committee, Commission on Appraisal, Commission on Social Witness, and Financial Advisor.

To learn more and to apply, head over to https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/volunteer.

We are asking applications to be in by February 27th.
Have any questions about serving? Reach out to the nominating committee at nominating@uua.org


Volunteer for a UUA committee, commission, or board and help us carry out the mission of the Association.

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Love Reached Out: A Litany of Blessings from Online Worship

Not too long ago, in 2014, our General Assembly theme was β€œLove Reaches Out.” Workshops included visionary topics such as β€œDeepening Online Engagement,” β€œUpdating Your Web Presence,” and β€œMaking and Sharing Videos.” But old, comfortable ways of doing church are hard to change…until you have to change.

One of the silver linings in the dark cloud of the pandemic is that love has been reaching out, in ways we couldn’t have imagined back in 2014β€”or even 2019.

Since 2020 there have been so many moments of radical inclusion, connection, and creativity, we offer you litany for all these moments these past two years.

Read more at:https://www.uua.org/leaderlab/online-litany


Online moments of radical inclusion, connection, and creativity shared as a litany.

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Toni Morrison’s Work Taught Us That Blackness Is Queer

Today would have been Toni Morrison's 91st birthday.

Morrison wrote for all Black audiences and touched the whole world at the same time. She was an embodiment of Black excellence. Because of this, we can love her and her genius as stewards with integrity. She, like so many Black women, gave so much to this world. Toni Morrison put Black life into prose that will endure.

Happy Birthday Toni Morrison.

https://bit.ly/3sUk76p


Author and activist Charlene Carruthers pens a eulogy for one of the greatest minds of our generation.

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Photos from Unitarian Universalist Association's post

The stories of black history hold a powerful truth. These stories are alive and playing out today. Seeing the connections between the past and the present gives us the context that enriches our history. In the spirit of celebrating Black history, we’re offering the following list of recommended reading that offers diverse voices and perspectives on a range of topics.









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Two Paths, One Life

People of all ages, and many beliefs, are longing for ways of understanding that can provide them support in these stormy times. The uniqueness of Unitarian Universalism’s non-creedal tradition creates a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. Our joint journey together honors everywhere we’ve been before and our diverse and inclusive beliefs.

Rev. Zenshin Florence Caplow isn’t half Buddhist and half Unitarian Universalist β€” she’s completely both. Learn how Rev. Caplow explains the uniqueness of her transrelgious identity.

https://bit.ly/3oZLCtV


Rev. Zenshin Florence Caplow isn't half Buddhist and half Unitarian Universalist β€” she's completely both.

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Opportunities to be in Solidarity with Water Protectors β€” Side With Love

From Side with Love – β€œOur Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and assembly, and criminalizing protest is a threat to democracy.”

https://bit.ly/354KSwH


On September 14, we hosted β€œFrom #NoDAPL to #StopLine3: Water Protectors, Movement Building and Solidarity,” featuring a conversation with Michael β€œRattler” Markus and the Rev. Karen Van Fossan.

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Palestinians and Jews Wrote This New Book Together

Stories touch hearts, open minds, and transform our understanding of the β€œother”—as well as our comprehension of own roles and responsibilities. A Land With a People is a book of stories, photographs and poetry which elevates rarely heard Palestinian and Jewish voices and visions. It brings us the narratives of secular, Muslim, Christian, and queer Palestinians who endure the particular brand of settler colonialism known as Zionism.

https://bit.ly/3gTcWpc



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An important part of being in a community of faith is taking seriously our need make space in our daily lives to care for others and to be cared for ourselves. Here's your reminder to prioritize compassion and self-care as we all process the many layers of stress and trauma we've been experiencing in these last two years of this pandemic. We can all do something to connect in care with those around us. What will you do?



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Claiming My Worth

This week's Braver Wiser message comes from JeKaren Olaoya.

"It is so easy to throw up a shield of protection in the form of doubt, but that doesn’t lead to growth or connection. Help us to realize that being vulnerable is a gift. We don’t have to doubt the worth of others nor ourselves when we are reflected out in the world."

Read it in full and subscribe to Braver/Wiser:https://bit.ly/3oMqck3


I affirm that I am worthy of being good enough to touch hearts and souls, and connect others to Spirit.

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Happy Valentine's Day! This Valentine's Day (and every day), be the love you wish to see in the world. Let's celebrate the love of self, love of others, and love of all that is.



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Yearning for In-Person Worship?

As local infection rates trend downward, and people start including the word β€œendemic” in conversations, the yearning to get β€œback to normal” becomes stronger.

Many of our people hope to be back in the sanctuary with live music, the blending of voices during the hymns, and our friends surrounding us. This hope reminds us that in person worship is vital and life-giving. However, this is a time to stay centered in the values of inclusion, consent, going slow and being flexible.

It’s important to remember how online ministry has been a blessing for many in our faith communities. Just as in-person worship is vital and life-giving for some, for others online and multi-platform worship provide a lifeline.

The UUA remains committed to supporting congregational practices that are as inclusive as possible and we remain committed to supporting online and multi-platform strategies to achieve this goal.

https://bit.ly/3szUmrH


As religious leaders, part of our work is to help our communities hold the tensions between different needs in the congregation, especially around worship.

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Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Emma's Revolution - A Winter Concert . After registering, you will receive a confirm...

Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth and Side with Love are excited to co-sponsor a winter concert fundraiser for Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth! Emma's Revolution is a dynamic band described by the New York Times as "fervent and heartfelt." Join us to pause for excellent music, a conversation about music for justice during this moment, and to be galvanized for the work ahead! Registration required.

https://bit.ly/3uK4BMU


Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth and Side with Love are excited to co-sponsor a winter concert fundraiser to sustain the justice ministries of Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth! Emma's Revolution music is praised by the New York Times as "fervent and heartfelt" - we're excited to sh...

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Photos from Unitarian Universalist Association's post

We know that corporate wealth and influence corrupts our democracy. We're really appreciating the way UU World columnist Jeff Milchen calls out corruption at the heart of today's most pressing issues, like in this column on the filibuster.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3JgZnMy.







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For far too long, voices of Black women in the fight for justice have been ignored

Today we are resharing this important article which includes an interview with BLUU Exec Director Lena K Gardner. She discusses the historic and ongoing erasure of Black Women's work and their complex identities in movement spaces.

https://strib.mn/3JlIu3w


Throughout the history of the movement for equality, Black women have been denied the recognition they've deserved.

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Week Four: February 7 - 14 – Climate Justice β€” Side With Love

Throughout this last week of 30 Days of Love, we encourage you to listen, learn, reflect, and take actions through the lens of climate justice to shape a more just and equitable future for all.

https://bit.ly/3gB1bne


All Ages: Plant something. You can plant a tree outdoors or started a potted plant inside. What can you plant that will yield food you can eat?

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Honoring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhist monk, peace activist, poet, writer, and teacher ThΓ­ch NhαΊ₯t Hanh promoted nonviolence, mindfulness, and compassion throughout the world.

We honor his recent passing with this interview, in which Hahn shares his wisdom on the importance of meditation and mindfulness.

We hold our UU Buddhist community in love and light.

https://bit.ly/3uvOjHf


We humans have lost the wisdom of genuinely resting. In an interview with Marianne Schnall the master explained how meditation can help us.

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Today, February 7th we rally together for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #NBHAAD, observed annually on this date to increase awareness, spark conversations, highlight the work to reduce HIV in Black or African American communities in the United States, and show support for people who are living and thriving with HIV in these communities.

Pastor Sande Bailey-Gwinn, a member of the U.S. HIV & AIDS Faith Coalition and Founder of Foundations for Living shares "As we observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, let us continue to shed light on the importance of education, encouragement, and inspiration as we continue the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS throughout the world. Let us commit to creating more spaces for conversations and testing opportunities so that lives can be healed from stigma in our communities. And on February 8, we can ALL say, Say it Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud."

https://bit.ly/36svYhB



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Unitarian Universalist β€œCommon Read”

One of the most powerful lies of white supremacy, capitalism, and colonialism is the notion that jails and police make us safer.

Our UU theology calls us to work for the liberation of all people - none of us are truly free until we are all free. The UUA invites you to explore this call by joining together to read and reflect on "Defund Fear" by Zach Norris, which has been selected as the UUA's newest Common Read.

https://bit.ly/3J4oQbO


"Defund Fear" by Zach Norris is the new UUA Common Read.

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Join me for this great event!

The Minneapolis Police Department murdered another Black man yesterday. We send our love and witness to the family of Amir Locke, and the community in Minneapolis that is yet again called to respond to the violence and brutality of policing.
However you are responding to this latest horror, you are beloved and held in community.

We invite you to join Side with Love tonight for a re-imagined live embodied practice tonight with Rev. Ali KC Bell and E.N. Hill, "Friday Songs of Grief, Anger, & Healing." They will make space for the range of feelings and experiences we are holding, and gently invite our gathered group into practices to support moving these intense emotions through our bodies and our hearts. Register at https://bit.ly/3GxviGB.



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Join me for this great event!

Join Side With Love for this conversation with Sheila Nezhad and Jonathan Stegall of Reclaim the Block and Yes4Minneapolis as they reflect on long-term cultural organizing, building strategic values-based campaigns, abolitionist dreams of a world without police, and the possibilities that lie ahead. Hosted by Rev. Ashley Horan.

In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020, organizers in Minneapolis built on years of cultural change work and strategic organizing to propose an amendment to the city charter that would have made it possible to disband the Minneapolis Police Department and create a new Department of Public Safety. While this groundbreaking initiative did not pass in 2021, it put abolition and true community safety squarely in the national conversation and paved the way for future organizing in Minneapolis and across the country.

https://bit.ly/3GqIIo4



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2021 Police Violence Report

The UUA has always denounced the inherent violence of policing. Our country is facing a time of increased visibility of violence by police. Police brutality is a symptom of white supremacy and anti-Black racism, and as people of faith and conscience dedicated to justice and liberation, we must name this truth.

Mapping Police Violence collected data on over 1,100 killings by police in 2021. This report represents the most comprehensive public accounting of deadly police violence in 2021. The analysis suggests the majority of killings by police in 2021 could have been prevented.

Scroll through the report findings here: https://bit.ly/3J7il8t


Comprehensive review of killings by police in 2021.

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In President Susan Frederick-Gray's most recent UU World column, she call us to readiness for the rapid, dramatic change that is needed if we are all to live and thrive together, with dignity and equity.

https://bit.ly/3o8vE01



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At least 7 HBCUs get bomb threats on the first day of Black History Month

We echo UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray 's message "I am holding all of the students, faculty, staff, and their families impacted by these terrible bomb threats in my prayers. And we know that these are not isolated incidents - they are part of widespread racialized attacks fueled by hate speech, racist tropes, and the expanding attack against Black and BIPOC communities on many fronts, from voting rights to the teaching of history. "

"As much as I am saddened to learn of these events, I am deeply moved and inspired to read so many messages of courage and resilience from Black and BIPOC groups across the internet. Let's continue to uplift the beauty, history and power of the Black community throughout this #BlackHistoryMonth."


A growing number of historically black colleges and universities have had to lock down or postpone classes due to bomb threats on the first day of Black History Month.

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Colleyville attacker β€˜bought into those antisemitic tropes,’ hostage survivor remarks

Jeffrey Cohen, one of the hostages held for 11 hours in the unsettling attack on Congregation Beth Israel last month, reminds us that we all have a role to play in working to end hate:

β€œThese little throwaway lines, you know, β€˜Ach, damn Jew bankers,’” Cohen told Jewish Insider. β€œThose lines... are not acceptable because these words have consequences, and the consequences that they have is they allow people to dehumanize other people... We’ve got to start challenging hate speech even when it’s β€˜minor,’ with quotes around that word.”

https://bit.ly/3sbyxhZ


Jeffrey Cohen was one of four hostages held for 11 hours inside a Texas synagogue.

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Timeline photos

Black History Month is as much about rediscovery as it is about celebration and commemoration. This month is in opportunity to get to know long-forgotten or hidden historical figures, unearth information previously unknown about prominent Black leaders, and get closer to the struggles and triumphs of Black ancestors.

In solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter and other movements that compel us to evaluate our country’s progress in racial justice, it’s important to get reacquainted with the work of Black forerunnersβ€”and their historyβ€”so we can better imagine how we will move this country forward.

Tune in these next 28 days as we lift up Black voices and celebrate the Black community. We'll also seek ways to broaden the conversation and explore how we can honor the legacy of all who have strived for freedom and justice all year around.



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After Year One, Climate Group Says Biden 'Failing Us'

"Biden can't be the climate leader he claims to be when he is actively conducting major lease sales and lobbying oil states to produce more fossil fuels."

https://bit.ly/3s1Qe3z


"Biden can't be the climate leader he claims to be when he is actively conducting major lease sales and lobbying oil states to produce more fossil fuels."

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A Parable of Privilege by DeReau Farrar for The Promise and the Practice

For decades, we have been preaching the message of how inequality and injustice are pervasive in our Unitarian Universalist systems and institutions. We do not talk enough about the fact that every person’s privilege is tied to our corrupted system of capitalism.

It’s important that we keep talking about the ways that capitalism and white supremacy are connected to privilege and how we as UUs can take action to change these systems.

https://bit.ly/3ATFQ1X



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Join me for this great event!

Join Side with Love for their Friday Songs of Joy: Embodied Practice: January 28 at 5pm PT/ 6pm MT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET.

This is a live time of connection, music, and joyful embodiment open to all! This 30-minute session will be offered each Friday of 30 Days of Love and will be hosted by 30 Days of Love Minister in Residence Rev. Ali K.C. Bell and co-facilitated by Rev. E.N. Hill.

Using song as a tool of spiritual engagement and embodied practice, participants will be invited to participate in:

Lectio divina (β€œsacred reading”) using song lyrics;

A short online dance party or embodied practice (keep your cameras on or off as you feel comfortable!); and

A chance to share joys, gratitudes, and blessings with one another

Attend one session, or all four! This is a participatory event.

Register at https://bit.ly/35jSMCh



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Week Two of our 30 Days of Love is On! β€” Side With Love

We have entered the second week of Side with Loves 30 Days of Love lamenting the immoral blocking of the Freedom to Vote and John Lewis Voting Acts. It is disheartening to witness our elected leaders sided with vote suppression and against democracy. As a faith community committed to showing up for justice and for our communities, this will not stop us.

Week two focuses on Democracy and Voting Rights. This week’s offerings include multigenerational resources, healing meditations, political education, and collective action to support our community in our democracy and electoral work.

We invite you to take the time to nourish your spirit with this week’s worship offerings. Together we can care for one another and build resiliency to remain committed to showing up. The love that drives our work during and beyond these 30 Days is here to hold you and welcome you to take action as we move into midterm elections and UU the Vote 2022.

https://bit.ly/33XOVdI


We enter week two of 30 Days of Love lamenting the immoral blocking of the Freedom to Vote and John Lewis Voting Acts. It is disheartening to witness our elected leaders sided with vote suppression and against democracy. As a faith community committed to showing up for justice and for our communitie

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Subscribe to UU World Magazine

Many things that are happening around the world right now are out of our immediate control. If you find yourself feeling helpless in the scheme of larger fights and issues, there are always smaller acts of change that you can tackle to make a difference.

Looking for ways to continue to be a part of change? Look to our latest issue of UU World, "Transforming Culture In Spiritual and Public Life" for inspiration to help create change in society.

https://bit.ly/3fXc6Ya


Secure Online Subscription Order Mail-in Print Subscription Form (pdf) Purchase additional copies of an issue Order Congregational Bulk Subscriptions Free for Members UU World is published twice a year in Spring and Fall.

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