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Dear Friend, 

This is a busy time of year for my family. I have begun traveling for work again, most recently to California for Finding Our Way Home, the annual gathering of UU religious professionals of color. My children are looking forward to Massachusetts's April school vacation week, beginning in a few days.

This month, I'd like to share a message recently sent to congregational leaders. There are important opportunities to be involved in Unitarian Universalism this spring and summer. I hope you will participate in shaping the future of our faith.

"We are entering a momentous time for Unitarian Universalism. In a few months, we will gather for General Assembly (GA) either in person in Portland, OR, or online wherever you are. This will be an exciting and inclusive multiplatform experience with unprecedented opportunities to engage with UUs from across the country and around the world.

To support broad participation and provide time for discernment about business decisions up for a vote this year, the UUA Board of Trustees is offering multiple online events for UUs to take part in now and in the coming weeks. In this time when democratic institutions in our wider world are ever more under threat, it matters that we can show up faithfully for the democratic practices that make our faith tradition strong.

Beyond GA, there are more opportunities to help shape our living tradition..." Continue reading on UUA.org.

Recent news from the UUA and President Susan Frederick-Gray

• Alabama’s Anti-Trans Legislation is Dangerous and Dehumanizing (Statement from Susan Frederick-Gray, April 7)
• The UUA Celebrates Confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to U.S. Supreme Court (Press release, April 6)
• UUA President Application Process is Open (UU World, April 4)
• Special Message on Supporting Ukraine (Message from Lauren Smith, March 31)

Help Unitarian Universalist Relief Efforts for Ukraine

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) continues its work to support the people of Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion:

"During any crisis, UUSC seeks to assist those who are left out of traditional relief efforts and those who were confronting injustice even before the crisis began. Right now, at the Hungarian and Polish borders, there are ongoing pushbacks of people of color and asylum seekers who have previously been displaced to Ukraine from other war-torn countries like Syria. 
 
UUSC’s initial emergency response includes providing immediate funding to the Hungarian Helsinki Committee (HHC) and the FemFund, two groups already on the ground working on equitable recovery for displaced people." Read more on UUSC.org.

Matching Gift Challenge: Now through May 31

UU Ministry for Earth launches Spring for Change 2022

Spring for Change: a Season of Sacred Activism — from March 20 (Spring Equinox) through May 22nd (International Day for Biodiversity) — is an invitation to the Unitarian Universalist faith community to embody the transformational, regenerative power of Spring through sacred activism for Earth and all our relations.

Upcoming events include an Earth Day Virtual Worship Service on Sunday 4/22 and the UU Office at the UN's 2022 Intergenerational Spring Seminar, held throughout 4/22 - 5/1.

Gayatri Patnaik named next Beacon Press Director

Patnaik (she/her) has a master’s degree in anthropology from The New School for Social Research, over twenty-five years of experience in book publishing, and previously held editorial positions at Rob Weisbach Books/William Morrow, Routledge, and Palgrave before moving to Beacon, where she has been Editorial Director, and most recently, Publisher. 

Legacy Giving in your Congregation: Webinar on Sat. May 14

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, May 14, 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.

Volunteer committees do not have to know everything; they ought to focus on knowing which questions to ask and where to find resources they need. We recommend that congregations looking to start or re-vamp a legacy gifts program ensure they have an up--to-date gift acceptance policy. Committees should also think through the procedures from the initial gift solicitation to when the legacy gift is realized, often many years later.

To register for the 5/14 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.

Will you join us in Portland or Online for General Assembly?

General Assembly registration for online and in-person options is up and running! We hope you will choose to join us as best suits you, whether that's in-person for a few days, a mix of online and in-person, or simply virtual only.

GA runs from Wednesday, June 22 through Sunday, June 29. Find out the GA schedule here, and check out your options for registration. Stewardship and Development team members will be on-site and online this year--we look forward to catching up with you!

UUA Board of Trustees Upcoming Webinars: Get Ready for GA 2022

At this year’s multiplatform GA, attendees near and far 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, the Board of Trustees invites you to join us to learn more about what will happen at GA this year.

Members of the Board of Trustees (with occasional special guests) will provide an overview, along with information for delegates regarding the business sessions. Each webinar will be 75 minutes long, with recordings posted later. Pre-registration is required.

Article 2 Study Commission Individual Survey closes April 30

The Article 2 Study Commission (A2SC) welcomes input from all Unitarian Universalists to inform the reimagining of Article 2 of the UUA Bylaws. The A2SC has identified four areas of inquiry: Shared Values, Inspirations, Purpose, and Covenant. The survey includes questions for each of these areas. Toward the end of the survey, there are questions to collect demographic information, and you will have an opportunity to share any other input you'd like as well as to ask any follow-up questions you have for the Commission. 

Though anyone is welcome to complete this survey at any time, we encourage you to engage with some of the many events, workshops, small groups, classes, and materials on offer to allow yourself time and space to think deeply about the questions that follow. This survey will remain open until April 30, 2022. Visit the A2SC website to learn more about the Commission's work. 

Congregations can Pledge, Pay APF Support Online

Numerous congregations have worked hard to maintain Honor Congregation status by contributing the full APF ask every year—many have sustained this level of support for more than ten or even more than 25 consecutive years.

Early in the pandemic, as congregations—and UUA staff—shifted to remote work, the Congregational Giving team accelerated plans to offer more online pledging and payment options for congregations. Recently, UU congregations and fellowships were sent their FY23 APF Request for Support for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2022. Congregations are asked to submit their FY23 pledges by June 15. 

Not only can congregations submit their FY23 APF commitments online, they also have the option to set up automatic, scheduled direct debit payments on either a one-time (September), quarterly (September, December, March, and June), or monthly cycle. Congregations can also make individual online APF contributions via direct debit at any time during the year. 

Thank you for your support of the UUA. The generosity of our congregations makes the work of the UUA possible. Contact the Congregational Giving team with any questions via email or  phone at (617) 948-6512. 

Congregational Resource: Pre-recorded Worship Services

From WorshipWeb, which provides meaningful, inspiring resources for Unitarian Universalist worship services and personal spiritual practice: if you're a worship leader seeking a full-length service to share with your congregation, we hope you find this list helpful. Worship services from past General Assemblies are also online. Here are three of the services available:

• Woven in a Single Garment of Destiny, a service about covenant and our UU theology of interdependence
• Side With Love Sunday 2022, "What If I Only Had 30 Days to Love?"
• Church of the Larger Fellowship's 2021"Worthy Now" worship service 

Upcoming Events

2021-2022 Taproot: National BIPOC Space, Second Thursdays

Spring dates are April 14, May 12 | 8-9:15 pm ET / 5-6:15 pm PT

Black, Indigenous and People of Color Leaders rooted in the Unitarian Universalist congregations are invited to take part in this monthly, virtual gathering as we explore the pillars of rest and renewal, analysis building, and leadership development in creating means by which to ground ourselves in resilient communities of care. This space is explicitly for people identifying as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC). Learn more and register here.

UU the Vote April Skill-Up: The Art of the Ask

Sunday, April 24 | 4-5:30 pm ET / 1-2:30 pm PT

Hosted by Sarah Berel-Harrop. This month's topic: making clear, specific, and direct asks of volunteers and others, led by Nicole Pressley, UUA Side with Love Field & Programs Director. Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to be lifelong learners, and organizing traditions teach that we need to share what we know for our movements to grow. Our Squad Skill Ups Spring Series 2022 theme is Action Center 101 Soup to Nuts - a monthly series of trainings on organizing skills to help build our UUtheVote and Side with Love Volunteer Squads and help YOU build stronger teams in your congregation and community. We'll start the session with some spiritual fun and then launch into our training. This is also a chance to find out how to get more involved as a Side with Love volunteer and meet members of the Volunteer Squads. Please join us! 

Monthly Gathering for Trans and Nonbinary UUs of All Ages

Tuesday, April 26 | 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. Learn more and 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.