Dear Friend, 

My mother read long books to me when I was a child, a chapter at a time. I remember how hard it was to stop at stopping time, how much I anticipated the next nightly installment.

I have been listening to the audio version of Watership Down lately, and I’m struck by what a good piece of writing it is, how thoughtful it is about human nature and how imaginative it is as a story. I realize, hearing it again now, that it had a profound influence on me.

The story follows a group of rabbits (Hazel, Fiver and others) who leave their home warren in search of a new place to live. Along the way, they encounter a strange community of rabbits. This new warren is thinly populated, but the rabbits appear strong, sleek, and well-fed. There is plenty of grass to eat and copious garden scraps are left regularly by a nearby farmer. After a little while, though, it becomes clear the apparently wild warren has been domesticated. The farmer ensures the rabbits have plenty to eat but sets wires around the grounds to trap them—never enough to drive them away, but enough to make his efforts worthwhile. 

The rabbits who live in the new warren know what is happening, but they pretend not to. Instead, they build an elaborate culture of denial. They reconcile themselves to the reality that some of them will be ensnared and killed, periodically and at random. Hazel and his friends discover the truth and escape.

There’s so much about that warren that reminds me of contemporary American culture. Watership Down isn’t pedantic. It isn’t allegory. It’s just a good story. The wired warren is just one of the dangers Hazel and Fiver and their friends encounter along their way to a new home. Their story is on my heart as election week continues.

I hope we have the courage and clarity to choose genuine thriving, to reject easy answers, and to choose reality over denial and lies. There’s a lot of anxiety in the air. As our colleague Dawn Robinson says, “Keep breathing.” 

If you volunteered to work the polls, thank you! If you have volunteered for a campaign or initiative or to get out the vote, thank you! If you have studied ballot initiatives and candidates to prepare, thank you! If you have voted, thank you! If you are helping your community count ballots, thank you! 

Warm wishes of the season to you, 

Recent news from the UUA and President Susan Frederick-Gray

• General Assembly 2023 theme is "Faithfully Becoming"; Program Proposals Requested by January 13, 2023 (General Assembly & Conference Services, October 28)
• UU World is Collecting Stories about UU Religious Education (Facebook, October 21)
• Unitarian Universalists Commit to Addressing Ableism (Press release, October 19)
• Nominations for the Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism due January 1, 2023 (Board of Trustees, October 14)

Honoring UU Veterans and Service Members

This Veterans Day we take a moment to honor all those who have served in the armed forces. For those who may or may not be stationed near a UU congregation, the Church of the Larger Fellowship's Online Military Ministry creates a powerful space to give and receive spiritual and social support.

The UUA oversees the process for endorsement and support of military chaplains and chaplain candidates. There are currently twenty-one chaplains serving in all components of the military, and ten chaplain candidates preparing for UU ministry. Eight UU chaplains are serving in the Veterans Administration. 

Several of our UU military chaplains have received promotions and/or awards for excellence in the past year or so. Of note, Navy Chaplain Cynthia Kane was promoted to Captain, and US Air Force Guard Chaplain Xolani Kacela was selected for Colonel. In addition, US Air Force Chaplain Julie Taylor was promoted to Major, as was Army Reserve Chaplain David Pyle. 

For congregations that seek to become more intentionally open and inviting to military service people, veterans, and their families, the UU Military Ministry Toolkit for Congregations is available, including the 22-minute video, "Embracing the Unitarian Universalist Behind the Uniform."

Transgender Day of Remembrance Service on Nov. 18

Transgender Day of Remembrance is November 20. To mark the day, there will be a special online worship service on Friday, November 18 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm Eastern,  hosted by the Rev. Michael Crumpler, UUA LGTBQ and Multicultural Programs Director. Register here to attend. Service description is below:

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

As Unitarian Universalists, we share the collective responsibility to build a world the affirms the inherent worth and dignity of all. Our transgender siblings are sacred and divine. Let us honor the inherit worth and dignity of trans people by remembering those we’ve lost and honoring those living among us.

Article II Draft Available for Review and Feedback

In September 2022, with the assistance of our new Outreach Team, the Article II Study Commission scheduled ten Zoom sessions for people to look at draft language and discuss it. The feedback collected aided the Study Commission in crafting a full draft of Article II (PDF, 3 pages).

You can also submit your feedback on the draft via this online Google form by November 28. After this new round of feedback the commission will put together its proposal in early 2023 to send to the board. The proposal will be considered in mini-assemblies before the vote at General Assembly 2023.

Giving Tuesday Monthly Gift Match Opportunity Coming Soon

Disaster Relief Update

Thank you to the many people and congregations who have donated to the UUA Disaster Relief Fund. Recent donations total $81,000 and counting, and your gifts make a real difference to congregations in affected areas. As of early November, four Florida congregations have received a total of $51,850 in grant funds. The DRF team anticipates at least one other congregation will submit a request, as recovery in Florida is ongoing. 

UU congregations can apply for a disaster relief grant using the online form on UUA.org.

Holiday Gifts, Free Shipping at inSpirit UU Book and Gift Shop

Need some holiday shopping ideas? InSpirit UU Book and Gift Shop has a holiday guide for you, with books aplenty. Other gifts available include bookmarks, chalices, UUA merchandise, and holiday cards. 

November is a great time to find gifts: from November 3 through December 4, inSpirit is offering free standard shipping for all purchases totaling $50 or more. There is no need to enter a code at the end of your transaction. The free shipping will be automatic when the $50 threshold is reached. 

Thanksgiving Holiday Resources on UUA.org, UU World

Observing the Thanksgiving holiday later this month? You can find resources for worship and inspiration on WorshipWeb on UUA.org or in the WorshipWeb app. Here are the items tagged for Thanksgiving, including blessings, chalice lightings, readings, meditations, rituals and more. 

In 2020, the General Assembly passed an Action of Immediate Witness (AIW): Address 400 Years of White Supremacist Colonialism. One of the items called for in the AIW is for UUs to "examine practices relative to Indigenous peoples, particularly the narratives regarding UU origins and US holidays including Thanksgiving."

Braver/Wiser has published several pieces on the topic, including the Rev. Daniel Gregoire's "A Cause for Thanksgiving?" And in light of the current Supreme Court case on the Indian Child Welfare Act, you might also be interested in Mike Adams's piece from last year, "Reclaiming My Culture." 

UU Ministry for Earth: Information on COP 27, Nov. 6-18

The 27th Conference of Parties (COP) is occurring from November 6-18, 2022. Egypt is hosting nearly 200 countries and their representatives to further the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) has information for UUs attending COP 27 and those following along from home. The UUA is approved to send observers from civil society to COP 27 through the UU Service Committee (UUSC) and UUA at the UN Office and will elevate these key messages:

1. Ensure the active and meaningful participation of civil society from the global south.
2. Protect the human rights of civil society and their freedom of expression
3. Act swiftly to address the issue of climate-forced displacement
   • Mitigation
   • Loss and Damage
   • Adaptation and Resilience
   • Climate Finance

The UUMFE is hosting daily zoom discussions and more. Sign up here to receive updates and connect with other UUs during COP 27. A list of UUSC and partner events happening at COP 27 can be found here (Google Doc). Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ) is holding an action hour on Monday, November 14 to urge senators to act for climate sanity. 

Essentials for Lay-Led Congregations Program

Is your congregation operating without a professionally-trained minister? Your UUA Congregational Life Staff is offering a program this fall just for you: Essentials for Lay-Led Congregations.

The program includes an email subscription to a newsletter (full of helpful tips, tools, training opportunities, and other resources), and admission to the December 10, 2022 Lay Led Congregation Convergence. There you will connect with leaders from other lay-led congregations. Registration fees are on a sliding scale, based on your assessment of your ability to pay. Register by December 2.

Upcoming Events in November

Taproot: A National BIPOC Space

Thursday, November 10 | 8 pm - 9:15 pm ET / 5 pm - 6:15 pm PT

The work of the spiritual community is complicated in the 21st century. From busy schedules to the ever pressing tension brought on by systemic injustice, the need for faithful leadership that is grounded and resilient is imperative. This is all the more true for leaders within our communities and congregations who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC). All too aware of this need, Congregational Life is excited to explore and co-create a network with congregational leaders that support them in this time in emergent ways through Taproot: A National BIPOC Space. We generally meet on the Second Thursday of the month, September through May, at 8 pm EST/ 5 pm PST. Register here to join. 

International U/U Young Adult Connections - Get Together!

Sunday, November 13 | 1 pm - 2:30 pm ET / 10 am - 11:30 am PT

Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists between the ages of 18-24 are invited to gather on Sunday, November 13, 2022 to build international connections with other young adults in Canada, the UK, the United States, and elsewhere. This is an emerging space that will seek to meet and adapt to the dreams and needs of participants. This will be a 90 minute gathering via Zoom beginning at 10 am Pacific time, 1 pm Eastern time, 6 pm UK time, 7 pm Czechia time. Register to attend.

UUA Board of Trustees November Dates

Meeting | Monday, November 14, 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT

The Board of Trustees holds monthly videoconference calls (using Zoom) and four major meetings per year. Agendas, meeting packets, minutes and reports are available online. Register for this month's meeting.

Open House | Tuesday, November 15, 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT

One way the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board of Trustees serves the more than 148,000 members and over 1,000 member congregations of the UUA is through open communication and transparency in its own work. To further encourage this open dialogue, the Board hosts monthly Open Houses. All are invited to attend and participate. Bring your comments, questions, and suggestions, and chat about the Board’s work and the Unitarian Universalist (UU) issues that matter most to you. Register here.

Blueprint for Successful Climate & Justice Teams with the UU Congregation of Columbia (Green Sanctuary Team Monthly Meeting)

Wednesday, November 16 | 8 pm - 9 pm ET / 5 pm - 6 pm PT 

Hosted by Rachel Myslivy. The UU Congregation of Columbia will describe step by step how their congregation created a Climate Change team in 2018—going from concept to over 100 participants on ten action teams in one year. They'll share positive and negative lessons learned, including how they got members to volunteer, act, and lead.

Come together for shared learning and mutual support with other UUs working on congregational transformation through climate justice on the third Wednesday of the month at 8PM ET. Each meeting includes a short presentation on a climate justice topic, followed by open discussion on pressing needs. Register here.

UPLIFT Trans and Non-Binary Monthly Gathering

Tuesday, November 22 | 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT

Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings focused on trans, nonbinary, and other not (completely or at all) cis UUs. Join us to connect with other trans/nonbinary UUs and co-create support and community across our faith. All you need to bring is yourself (and other trans/nonbinary friends, if you’d like). These gatherings focus on getting to know each other and on sharing our collective dreams, ideas, and talents for this space. Expansive definitions of trans, nonbinary, and UU all apply. If you are interested in this space, and you aren’t cisgender, it’s a space for you. To attend the next gathering, register today.

Seasons of Giving is the monthly e-newsletter from the UUA's Stewardship and Development Office. Questions can be directed to Suzanne Murray at development@uua.org or (617) 948-4392.

Check UUA.org and UUWorld.org, as well as UUA regional websites, for the latest updates.