Matching gift opportunity, GA 2024, Love at the Center book, and more
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Dear Friend,
My husband Chris arrived home spent the other night, his face softened by the tender ministry of attending a deathbed. Chris is a bold soul, the extroverted and charismatic yang to my yin, but the privilege of sitting with a person at the end of life is universally humbling.
When he left the house earlier in the day, Chris gripped in one hand a small jar of water. Like many congregations, our current UU church invites water offerings from special places at the beginning of the year. That water is then used for baby blessings and other rites of passage. Each year’s water contains water saved from the previous year, which means that years of memories and blessings are co-mingled.
The year my paternal grandmother died, I helped my aunt clear Grandmother’s belongings from the home. On a shelf in her closet, I found a few small plastic bottles labeled “Water from the River Jordan.” Grandmother brought that water home from a trip to the Holy Land with her United Methodist church group in the 80’s. It delights me to know that my grandmother’s dear strong spirit is present when we bless babies, homes, or the dying. I can imagine no greater gift.
At the blessing of a baby, we dip a flower in the water. We bless the child’s eyes, ears, lips, heart, hands, and feet, that they may see clearly, listen deeply, speak the truth in love, follow a path with heart, love and be loved, find meaning- and purpose-filled work, travel far and always find their way home. At the hospital, we echo that blessing, touching the water and flower to eyes, with gratitude for all a person has seen, to ears, with gratitude for all that they have heard, to lips, for truths spoken in love, and so on.
The words can vary, depending on the circumstances of the person, to honor the different bodies and lives we inhabit. Whatever the words, the ritual is a call to presence and gratitude, a reminder to stay true to the deeper meaning and purpose of life.
May is a season of beginnings and endings—graduations and installations, some ministries ending and some about to begin. In this season, filled with rites of passage of all kinds, I wish for us all experiences that recall us to humility and presence. I wish for us all the assurance our UU faith is precious and meaningful, a blessing in all the phases of our lives.
Photo of Rev. Lauren Smith with a green stole around her neck.
Thanks, as always, for all that you are, give and do.
Rev. Lauren Smith
Director of Stewardship and Development
Recent news from around the UUA
Statement Supporting Student Activism on Gaza (Side With Love, May 6)
UU Academics Condemn Violent Repression of Student Movements (Press release, May 2)
UU World Shines a Spotlight on Shared Ministry and Communal Care (Press release, April 30)
At Historic Convening, Global UUs Have Candid Conversations on Future of Leadership Development (UU World, April 29)
Op-Ed from Carey McDonald: Unitarians Turn Empty Office Space into Shelter (CommonWealth Beacon, April 18)
Matching Gift Challenge: Help Unlock $25,000 in Additional Funds
Thanks to the generosity of two UU families, every unrestricted gift made to Friends of the UUA during the match period will be doubled, up to a total of $100,000.
Recently our match donors have offered to match an additional $25,000 if we reach $100,000 by May 15. We just need to raise $12,000 more dollars in the next five days!
The annual Matching Gift Challenge launched on March 1 and runs through June 30, 2024.
Every gift matters, no matter the amount.
Love at the Center eBook by Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt Available Now
Love at the Center, the much-anticipated new book edited by UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt that explores our Unitarian Universalist understanding and practice of love, is now available in ebook format from the UUA bookstore, as well as retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and wherever ebooks are sold.
Consider pre-ordering your copy of the print edition from our inSpirit UU Book & Gift Shop. Print copies will be available in the fall, and may include additional chapters not in the current ebook version.
Does your congregation need resources for discussing Article II?
In an effort to support congregations to continue to engage with the proposed Article II revision, UUA staff have collected and commissioned some resources from the field, including the Amplifying the Charge resource guide, the Article II Songbook, and full worship services. Visit Article II Congregational Resources for 2023 - 2024 to access these and other resources, including pre-recorded sermons, slide shows, stories for children, discussion guides, lesson plans and activities, TikTok videos, graphics, essays, and spiritual practices.
Article II Amendments were posted on the Discussion Forum in February. We encourage you to carefully read and discuss them with your congregations.
LeaderLab: How One Congregation Met its Staff Equity Goal
LeaderLab's Congregational Interconnections series shares stories, ideas, resources, and practices from UU congregations all over the Association in the spirit of creative interchange, group learning, and emerging practices. Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalists are a 10+ year honor congregation.
When the UUA released new Congregational Salary Program recommendations in late 2022, leaders at the Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalists (CVUU) church in Cedar Falls, Iowa, were concerned.
A relatively small congregation (120 members at the time), the CVUU employed a full-time minister and three part-time staff–an administrator, music director, and director of children’s religious education. The congregation supported the UUA goals of increasing equity and transparency, but significantly increasing all four employee salaries and compensation up to the new UUA guidelines seemed like a big lift, and perhaps an unreachable challenge in the short term.
CVUU Finance Director Mike Knapp was in contact with other UU finance leaders around the U.S., and he quickly realized the CVUU was not alone in experiencing some hesitation toward the new pay guidelines. “Most congregations supported the new guidelines overall, but figured it would take two to three years to get them fully implemented.” Knapp recalls, “I knew our congregation valued equity, but I didn’t know how soon we’d be able to reach the new pay scale goals.”
Image: The chalice at Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalists congregation
Faithify Accepting New Projects Once Again
Image: Graphic that reads "New campaigns are back!"
We're delighted to announce that Faithify, the UU crowdfunding site, is once again open for project submissions!
Check out current Faithify campaigns from around the UUA, including projects focused on helping refugees, funding youth summer trips, and more!
UU the Vote: Get Ready for Upcoming Weekends of Action
UU the Vote is a bold initiative created by the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Side With Love team, providing UUs a thoughtfully crafted “plug-and-play” opportunity to bring our democratic values to life in the crucial struggle to build a genuine multiracial democracy. UU the Vote engages people in voter registration, issue education, get-out-the-vote drives, voter protection, state leadership development, and more.
Now, in 2024, we have progressed to shift from just election-year organizing to year-round movement-building work toward building a truly inclusive democracy. Upcoming weekends of action include one at the end of May for Arizona, in partnership with Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona (UUJAZ).
Need some support with your UU the Vote work? Confused about what electoral work is “allowed” for non-profits? Want help finding a local partner to work with?
On April 18, we walked through some of the first steps to making a plan at our Getting Started with UU the Vote: Community Gathering.
Image: Graphic that reads "Community Gathering: Getting started with UU the Vote"
Join Us Virtually at the 2024 UUA General Assembly
We extend a warm and heartfelt invitation to all Unitarian Universalists to join us for the 2024 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association, happening virtually from June 20 – 23. This year's theme, "Love Unites, Stories Ignite," promises to be an inspiring and transformative experience that you won't want to miss.
In a world filled with division and challenges, the theme for this year's General Assembly is a powerful reminder of the core principles that unite us as Unitarian Universalists. "Love Unites, Stories Ignite" celebrates the profound impact of love as a binding force that transcends boundaries and fosters connections within our faith community and beyond.
Our faith has always been rooted in the power of storytelling, and this year we'll explore how our stories can ignite change, inspire compassion, and help us build a more just and equitable world. Through storytelling, we share our experiences, our dreams, our struggles, and our triumphs. It is through these stories that we can find common ground, deepening our understanding of one another and the world around us.
Look Forward to:
- Inspiring Worship Services and Music: Join us for spiritually enriching worship services that will touch your heart and soul. Experience the power of music in our worship and programming, celebrating the creative expressions of our diverse community.
- Engaging Cohort Groups: Choose from a wide range of Cohort Groups and discussions that will deepen your understanding of our faith, promote personal growth, and empower you to create positive change.
- Community and Connection: Despite being a virtual event, we'll foster a sense of community and connection through a virtual exhibit hall, virtual gatherings, discussion groups, and networking opportunities.
- Inspirational Speakers: Featured speakers include Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi and J Mase III sharing Black trans perspectives, historian Rashid Khalidi and Haroon Moghul on the Gaza War, and Rev. Dr. Anastasia Kidd and Tigress Osborn discussing fat liberation.
And don't miss the Ware Lecture by Julia Watts Belser on disability and gender justice.
Let's come together virtually to celebrate love, share stories, and ignite change.
Mark your calendars for this inspiring event.
Webinar: What to Expect at GA 2024 to be held May 29, 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT
Whether you're a first-time delegate or a long-time attendee, you're invited to learn more about what will happen at General Assembly this year. Members of the Board of Trustees and the Office of General Assembly and Conferences Services will provide an overview, along with information for delegates regarding the business sessions. Register here.
JUUst Breathe Podcast: Latest Episode Available Now
Interested in podcasts? Check out JUUst Breathe, from UUA Lifespan Faith Engagement team members. In the latest episode from April 12, the Revs. Tyler Coles and Dayna Edwards explore the critical importance of faith development and its role in driving forward paradigmatic shifts for congregations toward greater equity, health, and vibrancy.
Job Posting: Int'l U/U Collaboration Network Facilitator
The Leadership and Design Team (LDT) working on the Unitarian, Unitarian Universalist, and Free Christian (U/U) Global Network is excited to announce a Network Facilitator part-time position. Check it out here.
Curious about the LDT? Their goal is to create a framework for a new global Unitarian, Unitarian Universalist, and Free Church organization.
An image of the International U/U Collaboration logo, a pair of blue hands holding a flame with rainbow-colored rays, and roots growing from the wrists the rays from the flame are rainbow colored.
Upcoming Events
Side with Love Monthly Gatherings
Side with Love has recurrent, monthly offerings for a variety of individuals, congregational leaders, and campaign leads:
UUA Board of Trustees Upcoming Meeting
Monday, May 20 | 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. Please review the board packet for each meeting before attending. We invite you to join the Board as it meets to discuss and make decisions about all facets of Unitarian Universalism. Please consult the board packet of the meeting (when it's available) for more information. Register to attend the May 20 meeting.
Webinar: What to Expect at General Assembly
Wednesday, May 29 | 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT
At this year’s Virtual GA 2024, 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 (joined by folks from General Assembly and Conference Services and the Commission on Social Witness) will provide an overview, along with information for delegates regarding the business sessions. Register here.
UU the Vote Arizona Weekend of Action with UUJAZ
Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2 | Phoenix, AZ, and statewide
Join us for a weekend of Action May 31 - June 2. Details forthcoming! Our work is to build a future where abortion healthcare is available on demand and where bodily autonomy, respect and dignity are centered. This year we are taking action to protect and defend abortion in Arizona. Sign up to receive information as it is finalized.
Taproot: A National BIPOC Space (Final Spring Meeting)
June 13 | 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT
The work of the spiritual community is complicated. From busy schedules to the ever pressing tension brought on by systemic injustice, the need for faithful leadership 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). Congregational Life is excited to co-create a network with congregational leaders that support them in emergent ways through Taproot: A National BIPOC Space. The organizing pillars of this collective are Rest & Renewal, Analysis Building, and Leadership Development. BIPoC leaders rooted in the Unitarian Universalist congregations are invited to take part in this monthly, virtual gathering to ground ourselves in resilient communities of care. Upcoming spring 2024 dates are May 9, and June 13 (no April meeting). Register here to attend.
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.
