We are in a time where more liberal believers need to become comfortable in speaking about – and acting from – their moral and religious beliefs when it comes to crafting a radical community that protects Black, Indigenous, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people living with disabilities.

"It’s time for influencers in the media and elsewhere to recognize that voices of faith don’t only come from the right but also from the middle – and the left. As UUs, we have hope – and a moral obligation – to fight for a more just world. We know this requires persistence and a calling to dismantle systems of hatred and greed. We are committed to this work."

Read The Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray and Rev. Jo Murphy's piece in CommonWealth Magazine on how progressive people of faith can be an important political force for social justice.

https://bit.ly/3PgHujw


UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS are very outspoken regarding our beliefs and we consider ourselves a vital, progressive spiritual and religious movement. As a faith that centers on covenant – our promises to each other and the world – we are compelled not only to be vocal, but to put actions behind our ...

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Today is the International Day of the World’s #Indigenous Peoples. As Unitarian Universalists, we celebrate the world's 476 million Indigenous people and work in solidarity with Indigenous communities to preserve their lands,
waters, peoples, sacred sites, and sovereignty. Today is a day to celebrate Indigenous histories, cultures, traditions, and achievements while remaining committed to protecting and promoting the rights of Indigenous people.

Photo Credits:UN



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In honor of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is documenting several Indigenous tribes’ fight for justice as they battle environmental racism and climate change. Check out this two-part photo essay, to see the real-life impacts of climate change on these communities and the effects of poor resource allocation for Indigenous peoples.

https://bit.ly/3bKD1YM


Indigenous wisdom drives a campaign for the preservation of culture and community in Louisiana.

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From the deck of the Starship Enterprise to the storied parquet of the NBA — Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell changed how the world saw Black Americans. And off the court and away from Hollywood, through their efforts on behalf of civil rights, they helped the country to understand that we could do better when it comes to racial justice. By going boldly where few Americans had gone before, they defined what this country can be.

In order to create a more equitable future for BIPOC communities, we must learn from those that came before us. Unitarian Universalists lift up the hope and power of Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell, and we carry the light of their inspiration forward. We are grateful for their fight for justice.

https://wbur.fm/3C0uhbB


From the deck of the Starship Enterprise, to the storied parquet of the NBA -- Nichelle Nichols and Bill Russell changed how the world saw Black Americans. We remember the legacies of these two pioneers.

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On August 4th, the Washington Post reported that the teacher shortage in America has hit crisis levels, and school officials are scrambling. Experts point to pandemic exhaustion, low pay, and politics - during the last two years, classrooms have increasingly become ground zero for debates over gender, guns, race, and COVID. Our teachers face poor pay and benefits, poor health guidance, gag rules on instruction, book bans, denigration of science and humanities, bullying, intimidation, and death threats constantly.

Before the school bell rings this fall, how can we show up for our teachers? This staffing crisis is crashing down at a time when students need their teachers the most.

Unitarian Universalists have historically affirmed the value of public education in a pluralistic society and we believe that free inquiry strengthens minds in the individual search for knowledge. We are so grateful to teachers, who are often so integral to our children's educational journeys. As parents and students prepare for this upcoming school year, we must demand action to support our teachers.

https://bit.ly/3P9PxPf


The first day of school is less than a month away for many but will there be enough teachers to lead the classrooms?

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On this #ThoughtfulThursday, we offer you a message from Worship Web by Shari Woodbury. "Let us model the health we seek for all
and lean into community. Somewhere out there, all we dream is possible.
Somewhere in here, we are sowing the seeds."

There are only a few weeks left of summer - find balance and joy in the present moment. Make room in your days for spiritual care and renewal. Give yourself permission to rest, to simply be, and take one day at a time.

https://bit.ly/3C3xHKG

Photocredit: @zeaink



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“Every day of your lives is practice in becoming the person you want to be. No instantaneous miracle is suddenly going to occur and make you brave and courageous and true.”

- Audre Lorde

Use every day to move at a pace that will help us collectively become the religious people we want to be. Apply a lens of equity, inclusion, and change to all you do. May this remind all of us to fill our lives with the Unitarian Universalist values of love, justice, and truth.



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5 years ago today about sixty members of the clergy - including Unitarian Universalist Association President Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray and Southern Region Congregational Life Field staff member, Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith - marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, in an interfaith, nonviolent protest against a white supremacist rally.

The dangerous rise of white supremacy was on full display as men with tiki torches marched on the University of Virginia's campus the night of August 11 and clashed with counter-protestors on August 12, 2017.

We remain so proud of the Unitarian Universalist clergy and lay people who were on the side of love and provided courageous witness on that day. Today's somber anniversary reminds us the stain of white supremacy is still part of our society. We must all find the moral courage to speak out against the white nationalist rhetoric that fuels ongoing hate crimes.

The UUA remains steadfast in its commitment to anti-racism. We are hopeful that the Beloved Community can be built here in the US but we know that is only possible through the hard work of listening to and organizing in solidarity with those most impacted by systemic racism.

https://bit.ly/3PkCVoc


Several events are planned to celebrate community in the wake of Aug. 12, 2017 violence.

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Minister and poet Kristen L. Harper unpacks the language, imagery, and cultural touchstones that reinforce white supremacy culture and invites readers to radically transform their perceptions of blackness.

Get your copy of "The Darkness Divine" from the UUA's Inspirit book store and your purchase supports this faith tradition we all love.
http://bit.ly/3eofwBS.



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We echo President Susan Frederick-Gray's remembrance of the power of nonviolent resistance as so many across the world mark the 75th anniversary of India's independence.

May the life, leadership and dedication of Mahatma Gandhi remain an inspiration to us all.


On this 75th anniversary of India’s independence from British colonial rule, I send good wishes to all who are marking the occasion.

For me, I am remembering Mahatma Ghandi on this day and the power of nonviolent resistance movements, when persistent and organized, to create liberatory change.

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Democracy is central to the faith of Unitarian Universalists, who work worldwide for justice. Demands for accountability are driven not by retribution but by the necessity to prevent the next attack on democracy.

This story from UU World reminds us as Unitarian Universalists to lend our voices to help ensure the January 6 investigations spark real action to save us from democratic collapse.

https://bit.ly/3zZPuQq


The January 6 Committee is doing its job admirably. Now we must make sure its work results in action.

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“Reproductive rights involve more than the right to reproduce." -Nafis Sadik

Nafis Sadik, was a doctor who championed women’s health and rights. She was most known for spearheading the groundbreaking UN program in 1994 that first recognized women's rights to control their reproductive sexual health and the choice to become pregnant.

Her bold vision and leadership set a path for the rest of the world to follow. As Unitarian Universalists, we honor those who came before and carry the light of their inspiration forward as we continue the work they began. May Nafis Sadik’s legacy live on forever.

https://n.pr/3prD3rA


Sadik became the architect of groundbreaking U.N. action that recognized for the first time that women have the right to control their reproductive and sexual health.

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Equal rights advocacy does not always have to be on a grand scale. As Unitarian Universalists, we are committed to welcoming, embracing, integrating, and supporting people with disabilities and their families in our communities. How can you be sure to show up to be a better ally to the disabled community?

We share this message from Crutches and Spice by Imani Barbarin as we all consider ways to be better allies to people living with disabilities in our communities.

https://bit.ly/3K8G7mc



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Join Side with Love tonight, August 17 at 8ET /5PT / 6MT / 7CT / for their monthly Green Sanctuary Team Meeting: Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet, led by Karen Palmer from the UU Society of Oneonta!

Sign up: https://bit.ly/3dzJ5Ur



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On this #ThoughtfulThursday, we offer you a message from Worship Web by Heather Rion Starr.

"help restore us —
our connections to one another;
our sense of hope, beauty, and fun in this world;
our deep knowing that we have to take care of ourselves and each other
with love and joy if we are to soulfully survive the world's mayhem."

https://bit.ly/3wd4TMf

photocredit: @zeaink



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We have a number of new job openings here at the UUA, including:

Children and Families Faith Development Specialist
Events and Communications Coordinator
LGBTQ and Gender Justice Programs Coordinator
Reproductive Justice Organizing Intern

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


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

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As some of us prepare to go back to school or prepare for our children to head back to school we offer some tips to help you through the new school year.

How do you support your children or students in your life as they make this annual shift?







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We echo President Susan Frederick-Gray's message. "In times of change, loss and uncertainty, there is a risk that fear will dominate. But let us remember: We are a religious people – a people of hope and imagination! "


We are in the churn of change. Systems and practices we’ve relied on are breaking down and shifting, while what is needed is being imagined but not yet here.

In times of change, loss and uncertainty, there is a risk that fear will dominate. But let us remember: We are a religious people – a people of hope and imagination!

There is some powerful magic in our tradition – rooted in love, committed to prophetic ministry, and which welcomes the future, not with fear, but as the breaking of a new day.

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President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray was interviewed for the Weekly Witness Podcast earlier last week. Tune in as she discusses the focus of the UUA’s work protecting trans youth and reproductive justice. Enjoy some of her inspiring pastoral and prophetic words.

https://bit.ly/3CtUGio


This week we begin our series on the Texas Impact Legislative priorities in earnest. For the remainder of this series, we plan to welcome a faith leader to h...

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We are holding Randal Worcester and his family in our hearts. Policing in this country remains deeply broken. We need a different system of public safety—one that recognizes the humanity of all people at its foundation. Unitarian Universalist’s Principles move us to work together to build the anti-oppressive world we imagine where everyone can be safe and everyone can thrive.

#BlackLivesMatter



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"Kindness isn’t always easy. But kindness matters." On this #ThoughtfulThursday we offer you this UU World article by Kimberley Debus, "Kindness over niceness".

https://bit.ly/3dYcWpF



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In her #Ingathering video message for the 2022 Unitarian Universalist congregational new year, UUA Pres Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray offers us much love and deep care.

She reminds us that our world needs our message of love and justice.

Please share this video in your congregational or community multi-platform worship and other gatherings this fall.

https://bit.ly/3wvipuJ


UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray offers a new message of hope, healing and welcome for Ingathering in the 2022 congregational year. Please download an...

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Today is a time to reflect on Women’s Equality Day commemorating the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. A day to honor and celebrate the cultural and political accomplishments of women. It marks a moment for the beginning of gender equality.

The UUA is proud of our Unitarian Universalist legacy of fighting for democracy and voting rights.



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As Ukraine marked the 31st anniversary of their independence earlier this week, we continue to hold the people and families struggling to survive in this besieged country in our hearts and our prayers.

Read about Ukrainian resilience and creativity in resisting Russia’s invasion in this hopeful story by Waging Nonviolence: https://bit.ly/3AokXMs


With little more than the drive to help and an internet connection, some Ukrainians are finding creative ways to resist Russia’s invasion and fight for their future.

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The UUA is proud to be a national partner in #DayWithoutUs, a national day of action led by Black women and an invitation for all of us to abandon borders, boundaries, and binaries to build solidarity across the country.

Join tonight at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT for a special information session about the upcoming #DayWithoutUs National Teach-In on September 30th. Learn more about and how you can answer the urgent call to build and exercise our collective power.

@Day Without Us
https://bit.ly/3TujMDA



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Betty Reid Soskin, a Unitarian Universalist, community activist and the oldest park ranger, has retired — but at 101, she’s keeping the conversation going virtually.

Betty Reid Soskin shares her civil rights work with Hour Detroit Magazine. We’re grateful for UU women like Betty! We are thankful for all people who have had an undeniable impact on our history and who change our world for the better.

https://bit.ly/3R3YNWS


Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest park ranger, has retired at 101 years old, but she’s keeping the conversation going virtually.

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UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray reminds us "We are living in what I have come to call a liminal time – a time in between. The pandemic has upended so much. After two years of virtual and hybrid gatherings, the ways in which people connect to religious community have broadened and new patterns are developing. On so many levels, what comes next is still being imagined.

As we come together for Ingathering this year, may we each remember the hundreds of thousands of UUs gathered all across our Association celebrating and calling themselves back into the power and possibility of our faithful communities. For we are not alone – and we make each other strong."

Please watch and share this video message
https://bit.ly/3wvipuJ


UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray offers a new message of hope, healing and welcome for Ingathering in the 2022 congregational year. Please download an...

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The pandemic changed many facets of congregational life, including attendance. In the past two and half years, congregations have learned new dance steps to accommodate COVID-19. This fall will your congregation be ready to welcome visitors and former members?

Reverend Ken Sloane reminds us of the importance of connection. Any time someone enters online or in-person congregational space, there are several opportunities for multiple connection points from which a long-term relationship can continue and grow. Here are some examples:

Learn more here:https://bit.ly/3D21aW7









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The new 2022-2023 worship calendar has become available! With monthly worship themes used in four popular theme-based ministry programs, the calendar helps congregations create multigenerational connections as people of all ages explore common themes and extend faith development beyond Sunday morning.

https://bit.ly/3CPK8u1


Faith-based and secular holidays that UU congregations often celebrate, including monthly worship themes.

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We're proud to share this review of "Swinging on the Garden Gate" by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew, published by our publisher Skinner House.

Bri Rooke writes in U.S. Catholic magazine about her experience in reading the book: "But mostly I wanted to cry because this book soothed something inside of me. It felt holy—as though the author had held out a piece of her heart and said, 'Here, this is for you.'"

Read more and get your copy today. https://bit.ly/3wNnPkI


Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew's 'Swinging on the Garden Gate' bridges a literary gap.

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We echo Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray's message: Covenants are life-affirming and life-saving, because the truth is, we need each other.



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Labor Day gives us another opportunity as a faith community to unequivocally side with the inspiring labor resurgence happening in workplaces across the country. As Unitarian Universalists, we have long believed that challenging inequity locally and globally for workers is a moral imperative.

This Labor Day, join in solidarity with people fighting for living wages, healthcare, and a more fair economy. Learn about the injustices that impact BIPOC individuals, low wage workers across sectors, and across gender and sexual orientations and encourage conversation around practical solutions.

And to all who believe in justice and democracy in our government, our communities and in our workplaces, we join you in solidarity.

https://bit.ly/3BgEr7e


As people of faith and conscience we rejoice in recent historic wins for workers.

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The UUA is proud to be a national partner in Day Without Us, an inclusive event developed by Black women-led reproductive justice organizers who understand we need to abandon borders, boundaries, and binaries to build solidarity across the country.

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

Learn how you can plug into the fight from where you are: https://daywithoutus.com/


LeslieLeslie Mac is a Brooklyn-born & raised Organizer, seasoned Digital Strategist & Communications expert. Via…Read More

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Our hearts break open further with the news of yet more senseless violence in #Saskatchewan over the weekend. We hold the Indigenous communities and the families and loved ones of all those impacted in love and light, and in our prayers.

We share this excerpt from "Meditation on Hope and Love in a Time of Struggle," by Alice Anacheka-Nasemann as a small source of comfort for us all:

"...[T]his morning, let us simply breathe together as we hold our hearts open.
Breathing in as our hearts fill with compassion
Breathing out as we pray for healing in our world & in our lives.
Breathing in, opening ourselves to the transforming power of love
Breathing out as we pray for peace in our world & in our lives.
Breathing in as we hold hope in our hearts
Breathing out as we pray for justice in our world & in our lives.
May we know our strength
May we be filled with courage
May our love flow from us into this world."

Read the full meditation on #WorshipWeb: https://bit.ly/3BfeWDm


In a world so filled with brokenness and sorrow It would be easy to lose ourselves in never ending grief, To be choked by our outrage To be paralyzed by...

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

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



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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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



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

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



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

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


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

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

https://bit.ly/3d1If36



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

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

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

https://n.pr/3qoFRXf


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

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

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

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

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

https://bit.ly/3QH1TPm


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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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


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

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

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

PC:nationalcouncilhepm



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

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

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



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

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

https://bit.ly/3dswOkS



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

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

https://bit.ly/3xvgqXX


Defund Fear by Zach Norris

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

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



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

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

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



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

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

https://bit.ly/3eSikv1


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

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

https://bit.ly/3fblavz


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

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

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

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

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

https://bit.ly/3DDzyGV


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

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

https://bit.ly/3EKGVdY


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

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

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



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



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

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



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



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



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

https://bit.ly/33A6U5O


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

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

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

PC: World Jewish Congress



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

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

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

https://bit.ly/3M9JDh1


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

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

https://bit.ly/3EdNUya


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

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

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



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

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



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

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



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



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

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

https://bit.ly/3MiA4fY



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



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

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

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



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

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


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

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

PC:UU Ministry for Earth



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



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



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

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

PC: iamsamkirk



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

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

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



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

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

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

https://bit.ly/3ME46t1

PC: American Writer Museum



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

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

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


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

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

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

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


When the world shut down, YUUP started up.

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

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

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


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

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

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

https://bit.ly/3s6Lh9R


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

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

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

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

pc: Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association



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

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

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



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

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

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


When the world shut down, YUUP started up.

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



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


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

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

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



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

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

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



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Today starts the observance of Samhain. For many, Samhain is a time to honor the dead and reflect on the changing of seasons. The new year begins tomorrow November 1st in the Celtic tradition and the veil between us and our ancestors is lifted.

Join together this Samhain as we reach across the veil to ask our ancestors for their wisdom, guidance, and encouragement as we move again into the gentle darkness of the coming season.

https://bit.ly/3EwAtGb


Now the autumn shudders In the rose's root, Far and wide the ladders Lean among the fruit. Now the autumn clambers Up the trellised frame And the rose...

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There's a scramble to preserve the James Howe house, also known as the Freed Slave House in Montclair, New Jersey as it gets listed for sale. This home was owned by a formerly enslaved man and it holds historical value.

Members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Montclair have been involved in the effort, forming the “Friends of the Howe House” group to preserve this piece of history for this community.

To learn more, including how you can help: https://bit.ly/3DoXWdz

https://cbsn.ws/3NpeeaV


The Friends of the Howe House commit to advocacy and action that will ensure the preservation of the Howe House (also known as the Freed Slave House) as a landmark of African American history and heritage.

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UUA Pres Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray reminds us that in a time of emboldened racism, anti-Semitism, and white supremacy, voting is another important way to organize against these movements. #VoteLove #DefendDemocracy #DefeatHate.


This is a defining time. Across the country we are witnessing an emboldened racist, anti-Semitic, white supremacist movement trying take control of our government and move us in the direction of authoritarianism and fascism.

Voting is just one way to organize against these movements – but an absolutely critical one. That is why I am voting early and working with UU the Vote to #VoteLove #DefendDemocracy #DefeatHate.

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Let us remember and pray for all dear to us on All Souls Day. We offer you these words by Kathleen McTigue.

"They are with us still. The lives they lived hold us steady. Their words remind us and call us back to ourselves. Their courage and love evoke our own. We, the living, carry them with us: we are their voices, their hands and their hearts."



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There are so many ways to support and protect our democratic institutions during the days leading up to the November 8 midterm elections. UU the Vote will hold in-person events in key states, virtual phone banking and text banking events for folks to join from wherever you are, poll chaplain training events, and more in the coming weeks. Join them!

https://bit.ly/36rjqKm


There is a role for everyone in this work. The work of volunteers will be critical to building and sustaining this massive coordinated campaign. Fill out the form below if you're curious about or want…

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Join UU the Vote, Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, and UU Justice NC on Friday, Nov. 4 from 5-6pm ET to text voters in North Carolina!

Help turn out voters in this critical election and build a base of folks taking action in the fight for dignity and democracy.

Register at https://bit.ly/3E32lEO



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If you’re conscious of climate crises news, you know there isn’t much to feel hopeful about. None of this is easy. When we’re living within these existentially foreboding times facing this climate crisis, one good response to the harm and violence around you is to build kinship with one another. Practice staying present in building communities of genuine love and care.

Learn how to find hope in the uncomfortable truth in this UU World article.

https://bit.ly/3Ut2436


In the face of ongoing existential threats, how will you respond?

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On this #ElectionDay, UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray reminds us why our morals and religious values cannot be separated from our prophetic political action:

"Voting itself is sacred, because the right to vote is the recognition that one’s voice matters and is needed to shape the decisions affecting us all."

Read more in UU World. https://bit.ly/3NPjtRJ


Unitarian Universalists commit to defend voting rights as sacred.

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Election days are, by their nature, historic moments. And for the individuals, families and communities who are currently struggling in this country—struggling for access to quality healthcare, affordable housing, and safe working conditions, and struggling to have their voice heard and to cast their ballot without coercion—today is a crucial day.

It is also a crucial day in the fight for full inclusion, equity, and dignity for all—for all those seeking freedom from systems of identity-based violence and oppression, from anti-Semitism, sexism and patriarchy, from homophobia, transphobia and ableism. We continue to be in a generational struggle for a more just and peaceful world where all people and our planet can thrive.
Some of our ancestors fought and died for the very same rights and humane conditions we struggle for today. Let us name and honor them, for we would not be here without their courageous action. We can because they did. We carry their strength with us today.

We pray this day that everyone who is eligible to vote, will vote and can vote safely and freely. We pray that all votes are counted fairly. And by pray, I mean putting our faith into action. With prayerful hearts, we will take whatever action we can today to help ensure everyone is able to vote and we will continue to organize our communities all year round for the values that center dignity, collective care, and justice.

This is long-haul work, and it will take courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to show up for one another’s wholeness and dignity. May we find strength in each other and in what we hold most dear, on this day and every day of the journey ahead.



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