Dear Friend, 

I first walked through the doors of Arlington Street Church in Boston more than 25 years ago. I was 27, a few years out of college, lonely and lost. I thought church might be just the place to find meaning and connection. My mother, who grew up at Follen Church in Lexington, MA, said, “Try the Unitarians. You’ll like them. They’re liberal.”

So I did. I put on a dress, hopped into my beat-up old pick-up truck and drove to Boston for the Sunday service. The truck was a mess. It came to me from my grandfather after he died, by way of my brother who lived in New York City and parked it somewhere near the West Side Highway. The cap door had been ripped off its hinges and there was nothing but air where the driver’s side door lock would typically be—a clean round hole. She was a banged-up beauty, one of my two favorite vehicles of all time.

I was a little banged up, too, but I didn’t feel particularly beautiful. Church brought me back to my senses and reassured me that I had something beautiful to offer the world. Here’s to the miracle of a good faith community, and all it can call out in us.

Turns out my mother was right: I do like the Unitarian Universalists. And hats off to all those who are crossing thresholds this June—retiring, graduating, entering into religious leadership. I can’t wait to celebrate you at this year’s Service of the Living Tradition. My minister Kim Crawford Harvie is retiring after 35 years of ministry at Arlington Street.

This year’s all-virtual GA is an excellent opportunity. There are important topics to take up together about the language we use to describe our faith and about how we show up in the public square. Resources about the Article II Revision process and this year’s Business Resolutions are included below. There are also a host of learning, fellowship and worship opportunities—and because the format is virtual, it’s much easier to dip in at a level that feels right for you. I encourage you to participate! It is good to gather with other UUs and our robust presence brings the democratic process to life.

May your congregation and its precious ministries thrive, and may your welcome be expansive, inclusive and loving. And may this General Assembly be meaningful, connective and inspiring.

Article II Information and Resources

• Learn about the Article II Study Commission and its years-long process
• Or find basic information about Article II of the UUA bylaws
• The final proposed revision to Article II will be voted on at this year's General Assembly
• Learn more about this year's process by viewing the General Assembly 2024 Business Agenda and business from past assemblies 

Recent news from around the UUA

• Side With Love: PRIDE is Political (Newsletter, June 7)

• UUA Board of Trustees Adds Business Resolution Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary and Intersex People to General Assembly Agenda (Press release, May 30)

• UPLIFT Access: May 16 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (Blog post, May 16)

Matching Gift Challenge Ending Soon

Braver/Wiser: Pride Month Series

Pride Month is upon us! To celebrate, Braver/Wiser is running a four-part series written by authors who identify as either queer or members of the LGBTQI+ community. "Home to Myself," shared below, is by Mare Martell. 

“Fitting in is becoming who you think you need to be in order to be accepted. Belonging is being your authentic self and knowing that no matter what happens, you belong to you.” —Brené Brown

In 1978, I was in the sixth grade in West Michigan at a public school. We had a student teacher in our classroom who had a Dorothy Hamill haircut and a kind demeanor. I trusted her so much that I got the courage to tell her a secret I’d figured out about myself: I told her that I wasn’t a girl.

She dismissed my secret by telling me that being a woman was incredible. “Give it time,” she told me. I was confused at her response. In my heart of hearts, I knew that I was neither a boy nor a girl, but the language that fit who I am didn’t exist yet. Gender was either a boy or a girl. I became upset because I knew there were more genders. I remained, unhappily, a girl.

WorldPride 2025: UUA Welcoming Congregations Presence

2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC. The Capital Pride Alliance is excited for Washington, DC, to host WorldPride 2025 and share this momentous and exciting milestone with our international community.

WorldPride DC 2025 will feature a vibrant and innovative slate of events and cultural programs. From music to film, from the National Mall to Embassy Row, experience the world through Washington’s multi-faceted and multi-cultural community.

The UUA is planning a Welcoming Congregations presence in the 2025 parade and participation in the 2025 Pride Interfaith Service. Your congregation is invited to join us to create a Unitarian Universalist presence onsite and online. We will also support each other to create concurrent events in your home area. Let’s open a conversation to the power of presence and visibility.

The LGTBQ Ministries Office will be hosting a "meet and greet" for those interested in joining the UU World Pride Planning Team. To learn more, please complete the interest form. 

General Assembly: Collections Preview

At General Assembly this year, there will be opportunities to support the following funds. During the Service of the Living Tradition, a collection will be taken up for the Living Tradition Fund, and during the Synergy Bridging Worship, for the Katie Tyson Fund. Sunday Worship will include a collection for the Disaster Relief Fund. In addition, there is a special opportunity to donate to Side with Love during General Assembly and help unlock matching funds. 

Streaming Schedule: Virtual 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.

• Opening & General Session I (1 hour): Thursday, June 20, 1:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. CT / 11:00 a.m. MT / 10:00 a.m. PT
• General Session II (2 hours): Thursday, June 20, 4:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. CT / 2:00 p.m. MT / 1:00 p.m. PT
• General Session III (3.5 hours): Friday, June 21, 2:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. CT / 12:30 p.m. MT / 11:30 a.m. PT. Note: the President's Report will occur during this session. 
• General Session IV (3.5 hours): Saturday, June 22, 2:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. CT / 12:30 p.m. MT / 11:30 a.m. PT
• General Session V (approximately 1 hour): Sunday, June 23, 3:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 p.m. MT / 12:00 p.m. PT

And don't forget Sunday Morning Worship (1.5 hours), Sunday, June 23, 1:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. CT / 11:00 a.m. MT / 10:00 a.m. PT. Embrace the electrifying spirit of the year's largest UU gathering, where we come together in unity for an awe-inspiring Sunday worship celebration like no other! It's a vibrant, communal worship experience that promises to uplift your soul and ignite your passion. Everyone is invited to be a part of this event through a live stream accessible to the public. 

UU the Vote: Defending Abortion from Arizona to Florida

Last month, UUs showed up to protect abortion care in Florida for Yes on 4’s monthly Super Saturday volunteer actions. These monthly organizing gatherings are happening across the state and many of them are being hosted at UU congregations. No matter where you are, consider joining an upcoming virtual phonebank to call voters in Florida.

Image description: Two side-by-side group photos. On the left, UUs are kneeling and standing together, holding up 4 fingers and holding signs that say “Doctors Not Politicians,” “Médicos No Políticos,” and “Stop Political Interference.” All around them are green plants and palm trees. In the photo on the right, UUs are kneeling and standing together and holding signs that say “Doctors Not Politicians,” “Médicos No Políticos,” and “Stop Political Interference.” In the background is a row of white closet doors and large windows.

During the first weekend of June, UU the Vote volunteers also partnered with UU Justice Arizona and Arizonans for Abortion Access, collecting signatures for a petition to protect abortion care access. 

Summer Resource: Recorded Worship Services

Now that summer is upon us, your congregation's worship planners might be on vacation. Or perhaps your minister is taking sabbatical time. Or maybe you're a lay leader who would just like a week off from coordinating music and readings. The UUA has a number of recorded worship services, both whole services and modular parts, available for use in your congregation or community. 

As for upcoming Sundays, remember that General Assembly's Sunday Worship will be streamed on June 23 at 1 pm ET / 10 am PT. This 1.5-hour long service, "Weaving Our Lives," will be led by Rev. Molly Housh Gordon, joined by Violet Vonder Haar, Jamila Bachelder, Rev. Leon Dunkely, Rev. Eric Kaminetsky, Rev. Joan Javier-Duvall, Rev. Jordinn Nelson Long, Rev. Aaron Wisman, Rev. Sadie Lansdale, and Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan.

If music is what you might be missing this summer, be sure to check out WorshipWeb's library of pre-recorded music. 

Skinner House Book Wins Nautilus Award

UU Climate Justice Revival Coming This September

Have you heard about the UU Climate Justice Revival, happening this September? Here are some quick facts to get you up to speed:

• It’s available to be held (in person) at your congregation on September 28-29, 2024 (unless those dates don’t work, then just pick another, but register now).
• Everything is provided for you by our fabulous UUA Organizing Strategy Team (the folx who brought you UU the Vote and Side with Love).
• Saturday's guided conversations come with complete facilitator training, dialogue outlines, and all ages curricula.
• Sunday morning's worship programming offers everything you need, from plug-and-play resources to easily adaptable materials you can weave into your own worship format.
• Appropriate for every size congregation in any geographic location.
• Just $50 per congregation to participate – but the price goes up to $100 on July 1 so… 

Register now! Best to do it before General Assembly so you’re ready at the end of summer, and already have this on your congregation’s calendar.

Ways to learn even more about the UU Climate Justice Revival:
•    Check out the website and FAQs
•    Get the overview by watching the organizers talk on the VUU. 
•    Attend an info session! 
•    Still have questions? Email organizers at uurevival@uua.org

Meet Stewardship and Development: Abigail Bays

To help connect members of the Stewardship and Development team with you, our Seasons of Giving readers, we will be periodically featuring brief bios of team members. 

UU Connection: My connection to UUism is very layered. I auditioned for "Fiddler on the Roof" at the local UU church when I was younger--did not get cast in the show. And my mother, Rev. Martha Bays (UCC) went to Andover Newton Theological School with many UU ministers, including her close friend Rev. Janet Bush.

Outside of work... my passion is musical theatre and theatre in general. I love going to see shows at American Repertory Theatre and on Broadway. I enjoy traveling, reading, pickleball, anything that has to do with the water, tennis and walking my dogs. I am also a member of Pride dodgeball team.

What would you like people to know about working at the UUA? 
I came to work at UUA after working at Boston College. I am so honored to work for an organization that not only tolerates me but celebrates me as my whole LGBTQ+ self.

You can reach Abby at abays@uua.org.

Upcoming Events

Side with Love Monthly Gatherings

Side with Love has recurrent, monthly offerings for a variety of individuals, congregational leaders, and campaign leads:

• 1st Wednesday: Green Sanctuary Orientation
• 2nd Monday: Side with Love Monthly Mixer
• 2nd Friday: UPLIFT Trans/Non-Binary Pastoral Space
• 3rd Sunday: Skill Up Trainings
• 3rd Wednesday: Green Sanctuary Community Meeting
• 4th Tuesday: UPLIFT Trans/Non-Binary Monthly Gathering
• 4th Thursday: Faithful Grounding

LREDA Professional Day: Accessibility is Love with the Rev. Julián Jamaica Soto

Tuesday, June 18 | 12 pm to 6 pm ET / 9 am to 3 pm PT

Join the Liberal Religious Educators’ Association for our Professional Day 2024 as we proudly proclaim that Accessibility is Love. This online gathering will offer us a chance to engage with some of the heart of Disability Theology, to share questions and expertise, and to spend some time focused on the areas of accessibility that matter to us most. Blend in some worship time, nice big breaks, and maybe even a chance to show off your amazing spaces, for an enriching professional development experience for new and seasoned religious professionals alike. Find out more here. 

General Assembly 2024: Love Unites, Stories Ignite

Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23

Yes, one more reminder that General Assembly is happening next week! Find the details and schedule here, and please consider registering to access the online cohorts and all events, including the Ware Lecture, Synergy Bridging Worship, and Service of the Living Tradition. Register for GA. 

UPLIFT Transgender/Nonbinary+ Monthly Gathering

Tuesday, June 25 | 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT

Join the UPLIFT monthly gatherings for trans, nonbinary, and other not-entirely-or-at-all-cis UUs and friends of UUism. 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 are a cozy community space where we connect with each other with games and breakout groups, share ideas and stories on all kinds of topics, listen to music and poetry (often by trans/nonbinary+ creators), and much more! This is a drop-in space, where folks can come and go as works best for them, and where people can join us at any time. 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.