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Dear Friend, 

My life is a split screen: In the midst of geopolitical turmoil, my three children continue to grow and change. The developmental thresholds of youth go on, unabated.

Two Saturdays ago, I dropped off my eldest son at Camp Unirondack. It was to be his first experience of sleepaway camp. I was thrilled for him and also bereft. “Be sweet to my boy,” I said to a counselor as I turned down the dirt road that began my six-hour drive home. “We’ll love him,” she replied with a smile. Her kindness was a balm.

Our family moved from New Hampshire to Massachusetts three years ago, right before the pandemic hit. These events disrupted my kids’ experience of Unitarian Universalism—their relationships with people they knew and loved, and even the rhythm of Sunday mornings in the belly of their home congregation. Our Whole Lives and Coming of Age were both delayed, altering the pattern of rites of passage to which our family had looked forward.

These days, I am especially grateful for UU immersion experiences for children and youth. My kids have experienced chalice camp, Star Island, and now summer camp. They have witnessed youth preparing for learning and service trips and are excited for their turn. Immersion experiences like these have always been an important part of growing up UU, but they are even more important to our family than I could have imagined five years ago. They have given us roots in Unitarian Universalism that have steadied us through a move and a pandemic.

My son loved camp. Next year, he says, he’d like to stay two weeks instead of one. And plans are already afoot for his youth group to do a learning service trip next spring.

As your congregation plans its next retreat at a UU camp or conference center, or your youth group begins to plan its next major adventure, remember that the Faithify crowdfunding tool is available to help keep these experiences accessible for all. 

You can create a campaign to raise funds, you can give to an active campaign, or you can support UU crowdfunding by donating to support Faithify. UU camps and conference centers themselves use Faithify to fund building and improvement projects. And if you just need inspiration, you can browse the site to learn about some of the wonderful things UUs all over the world are doing.

Happy summer, everyone! May there be adventure and play in these long sweet days.

Recent news from the UUA and President Susan Frederick-Gray

• Unitarian Universalists Reaffirm Commitment to Racial and Reproductive Justice at General Assembly (Press release, June 29)
• From the UUA President: UUs Remain Committed to Reproductive Justice (June 24)
• Video: UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray addresses the crowd in Portland, OR, at a rally for reproductive rights (June 24)

Thank You to This Year's Donors!

Thank you to all who made donations to the UUA this year, and to the many UU congregations who made contributions at the honor level for FY22. We are so grateful to have your continued support. 

General Assembly 2022: Online and in Portland, OR

More than 3,200 Unitarian Universalists from all 50 states came together virtually and in Portland, Oregon, from June 22nd to June 26th for the denomination’s annual General Assembly. More than a thousand individuals traveled to Portland, Oregon for the opportunity to meet face-to-face for the first time in three years. In total, 1,776 delegates from 597 congregations and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee participated in voting democratically on denominational business. Read more about the business of GA in UUWorld. 

Special Collections show UU Generosity

Multi-platform General Assembly gave many the opportunity to participate online and in-person. This was true for the Special Collections as well, with many donors choosing to make gifts online or by mail in lieu of in-person gifts. Dollars raised are as follows: for the Katie Tyson Fund, $25,506. For the Living Tradition Fund, with gratitude to the Rev. Carlos R. Martinez for sharing his story, $58,042. For Side with Love, $40,636. These totals include the gifts made to through the Express Donate option, where donors could made one gift that was split evenly between all four collections.

Portland-area organization East County Rising Community Projects was the beneficiary of the collection during Sunday Worship. At latest count, a total of $48,253 was raised from donations on Sunday and from those made through the Express Donate option. 

Promise & Practice of Our Faith Campaign Report Available

Reproductive Justice Congregational Organizing: Three-Part Series for Teams to be held 7/21, 7/28, 8/4

With the fall of Roe v Wade in June, we know that there will be a huge need for local organizing, resource sharing, and collective action as abortion becomes criminalized in various places. By signing up for this three-part series, you are committing to being a part of organizing a team in your congregation that will organize the congregation for specific action(s) in support of abortion access and Reproductive Justice in your community.

Sessions are scheduled on July 21, July 28, and August 4, from 8 pm to 9:30 pm ET / 5 pm to 6:30 pm PT. Attendance at all three sessions is required. In addition, everyone who signs up for this series is expected to bring at least one other person from their congregation, with whom you will apply the learning from these sessions immediately in your own context.

This series is facilitated by Revs. Ranwa Hammamy and Ashley Horan of the Side With Love Organizing Strategy Team.

UU the Vote: Faith on Fire for Democracy event held June 23 

Check out the video showcase from the event for inspiration from UUA leaders including Susan Frederick-Gray. And here's part of a recent message from UUTV Campaign Manager JaZahn Hicks about what's going on with UU the Vote right now:

In the midst of our celebrations and optimism of all we could accomplish together, the Supreme Court turned back the clock on abortion rights. Beloveds, we are in a time where we are constantly reminded of why our work is critical. Our Side With Love team is hard at work supporting workshops and actions for our faith to show up in the midst of this devastating decision. UU the Vote is working with our State Action Networks in Kentucky, Michigan, Arizona, and UUs in Kansas to fight for abortion access through ballot initiatives and policy.

As Unitarian Universalists, we know that every body is sacred. We know the stakes are great. But we also know that more people joining movements and taking action. Your support helps us build the capacity to train new folx, make calls to voters, and support our multi-state door-knocking events in the Fall. 

To support UU the Vote, make a donation here. And if you're not already receiving their newsletters, you can sign up here.

The UU Institute: Courses for Volunteers, Boards and More

Are you volunteering with your congregation, or interested in getting involved? Check out the UU Institute, a service of the Unitarian Universalist Association administered by UUA Staff, underwritten by congregations’ gifts to the UUA’s Annual Program Fund.

The UU Institute is an online learning community offering trainings and other learning experiences that support members, leaders and professionals in Unitarian Universalist communities. These trainings and other learning experiences include readings and video presentations that you can access online at your own pace, paired with discussion questions and activities you can share with others in “real time”.

All of our available trainings are categorized and tagged to help you find what you need! Some trainings require a modest fee. Trainings are sorted into three major categories:

• Trainings for Learners are general offerings for faith development (aka religious education) and spiritual deepening. 
• Trainings for Leaders provide skills, understandings, and sensibilities for those who serve our congregations, both lay and professional. 
• Trainings for Professionals are used for credentialing and continuing education. Most of these trainings are available only as part of a credentialing process.

Check out the UU Institute course offerings to see what you and your congregation can learn.

DRE-Led Youth Ministry Volunteer Orientation

Congregational Life and Lifespan Faith Engagement are offering a course that can be facilitated by a religious professional for the youth ministry volunteers in their congregation at their own pace.

Save the Date: October 15 is the UUA Legacy Gifts Webinar

The UUA’s Legacy Gifts Office offers a number of services, including an online workshop to assist congregations in creating legacy giving programs. This webinar, to be held Saturday, October 15, 2022, from 1 pm to 3 pm ET, covers the basics of legacy giving and how to set up a legacy giving program in your congregation. We aim to equip congregations with the knowledge they need to start a legacy program.

To register for the 10/15/22 webinar, email us at legacy@uua.org or call (888) 792-5885 (select option 3). In addition to assisting congregations in planning and connecting to one another, the UUA Legacy Gifts Office is here to help you plan your legacy gift to the UUA. We're happy to talk about a gift that meets your planning needs and will nurture our faith for years to come.

Upcoming Events in July and August

There will be no issue of Seasons of Giving in August to allow for summer rest.

UU the Vote July Skill Up: Prophetic not Partisan, aka Non-Partisanship 101

Sunday, July 17, 2022 | 4 pm - 5:30 pm ET

While there are some important limitations on what congregations can do in elections, there’s also a broad range of activities that are totally legal and highly effective ways to educate and engage voters. This skill up will review the basic dos and don’ts, with a focus on the areas that tend to raise the most questions. Sign up here to attend July's Skill Up. 

Green Sanctuary 2030 Monthly Meeting - July

Wednesday, July 20 | 8-9 pm ET / 5-6 pm PT

Monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month are open to anyone interested in the Green Sanctuary Process. These meetings will include a short discussion on a topic relevant to the GS 2030 process, followed by open discussion on pressing needs. July's meeting will spotlight the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Athens’ plans to offset their congregational carbon footprint by weatherizing low income houses in the surrounding community. Sign up now.

UUA Board of Trustees August Schedule

August Meeting | Monday, August 8, 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT

Join the UUA Board as it meets to discuss and make decisions about all facets of Unitarian Universalism.​ Pre-registration is required.

August Open House | Tuesday, August 9, 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT

One way the UUA Board serves the more than 148,000 members and over 1,000 member congregations is through open communication and transparency in its own work. To further this open dialogue, the Board hosts monthly Open Houses. Bring your comments, questions, and suggestions, and chat about the Board’s work and the UU issues that matter most to you. Pre-registration is required.

UU the Vote August Skill Up: Host Your Own Online Phonebank

Sunday, August 21 | 4-5:30 pm ET / 1-2:30 pm PT

Organizing an online phonebank for your congregation is an excellent way to accomplish social justice and spiritual goals. It creates accessible opportunities for you and your fellow congregants to fight for a multicultural democracy that stands on the side of love. It is also a time of shared experience, spiritual practice, and community building.

This skill up will provide you with simple, step-by-step instructions and a toolkit that you can use to plan and lead a successful online phonebank. The most effective strategies for mobilizing voting are those that involve the most personal contact with potential voters. One study found a 5.9% increase in voter turnout among voters who received a voicemail and a 17.35% increase in turnout when volunteers spoke with the voter in person. Register here.

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.