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Friend,

I can feel the growing sunlight in these late January days, and it does my heart good. 

There are valentines and Easter bunnies in the stores, and I have never been so glad to experience the shameless pre-holiday marketing of chocolates and throw pillows. 

When I was a kid, I was a sucker for what I called “pre-spring”—the February days in Northern California when it was both raw and cold out and when the first renegade trees bloomed. I experience the same thrill and relief when I see the tips of crocuses and daffodils poking through the frozen ground in my New England yard—even knowing it will be many weeks before they bloom.

So many of us are ready for this hard winter to end. It helps to remember this season won’t last. Easter will come early this year and Valentine’s Day is two short weeks away. 

In the meantime, I hope you’ll check out 30 Days of Love, four weeks of reflection and action activities curated by Everette Thompson and the Side with Love team. It’s a wonderful offering, geared toward Unitarian Universalists of all ages. My favorite of the four weekly themes—Educating for Liberation—begins next week. 

Many thanks to all of you who support Side with Love. Especially at this time when congregational ministry to children, youth and families has been interrupted, it is a blessing to have access to multi-generational online resources. Your giving helps our communities stay connected when we need connection most.

May you and yours, and your communities, be well and safe in the latter half of winter.

Spring is coming soon.

This month has been eventful. Here's a recap of recent press releases and messages from UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray. They are posted to Facebook as well as on UUA.org.

• From The UUA President: We Remain Committed to Public Health and Safety (January 28)
• A Prayer for Inauguration Day 2021 (January 19)
• From the UUA President: Listening to the Call of Love (January 14)
• Unitarian Universalists Denounce Complicity with Extremists, Call for Courageous Action by National Leaders (January 8)

Registration Opens for General Assembly

Registration is a flat $200 per person. Financial support for registration as well as a payment plan are available; virtual volunteers have the option of receiving complimentary GA registration. Register early to join online discussions, familiarize yourself with the GA schedule, and find your place in our community of communities.

30 Days of Love 2021 Runs through Valentine's Day

In 2021, 30 Days of Love is focused on four themes from Widening the Circle of Concern, recently published by the Commission on Institutional Change:

1. Living Our Values in the World (January 17 – January 23)
2. Hospitality and Inclusion (January 24 – January 30)
3. Educating for Liberation (January 31 – February 6)
4. Restoration and Reparations (February 7 – February 13)

Each week, a ‘playlist’ or ‘menu’ of activities connected to the weekly theme is shared. There are playlists for general, kid, youth, and family/multigenerational audiences which include activities in the categories of Read, Watch, Participate, Listen, and Worship.

In addition, events are held on Zoom and streamed on Facebook Live throughout the '30 Days.' Some events require pre-registration in order to participate, but most are available on Facebook Live and available there afterward.

Live Events

• Reading, Writing, and Racism with Dr. Camika Royal and Dr. Bree Picower. Feb 3, 7PM ET / 4 PM PT. Note: this session will only be available to watch on Facebook for 48 hours after the original airing.
• Addressing Race, Racism, and Bias. A writing workshop with Willona Sloan. Feb 4, 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT. Pre-registration required to participate in the workshop, which will be livestreamed on Facebook.
• Gather at the Table. A webinar with Sharon Leslie Morgan and Thomas Norman DeWolf. Feb 9, 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
• Envisioning Restoration and Repair: Art for our Time. Offered by the Rev. Tony Coleman. Feb 11, 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT

UU@UN Sermon Competition: Enter by February 23

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. You can also follow the UUA on Facebook.