Guided meditation from Susan Frederick-Gray, Giving Tuesday results, UU@UN news and more
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December 2021
Dear Friend,
Our family never observed Advent when I was growing up, apart from the occasional purchase of calendars filled with tiny (slightly stale) chocolates. Somewhere along the way, however, Advent became one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.
In a time of scurry and anticipation, I cherish the invitation to stillness and presence.
I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate the sweetest gifts of the season: hope, peace, joy and love. This week my daughter lit a pink candle representing joy. Joy, in the spiritual sense, runs deeper than happiness. It is a kind of grateful gladness, the humble remembrance of gifts received.
I wish you joy today and in the year ahead. I wish for you experiences of kindness, generosity and solidarity that meet you when you need them most—and the wisdom to recognize them as the blessings they are.
Thank you for all the ways you have expressed your commitment, your courage and your care this year. Because of all that you have given, the world is a better place.
Happy holidays to you and yours,
Rev. Lauren Smith
Director of Stewardship and Development
The UUA will be closed for the winter break starting Monday, December 20, and will re-open on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Stewardship and Development staff will be available via email (development@uua.org) and phone (888-792-5885) to assist with year-end giving questions from 9am - 5pm Eastern Time between December 20-23 and December 27-29, and from 9am - 4pm Eastern Time on December 30 & 31.
Remember the last day for making a 2021 donation is Friday, December 31. We suggest you make year-end gifts online to avoid any mail delays. Thank you!
Recent news from the UUA and President Susan Frederick-Gray
Susan Frederick-Gray speaks at a Poor People’s Campaign demonstration outside the U.S. Capitol on December 13, 2021. Photo by Jack Jenkins, Religious News Service.
Faith leaders arrested while protesting in support of Build Back Better bill, Religion News Service (December 13)
The Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, told the crowd, “I’m here representing 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations across the country who hold democracy, the right to vote and the quality and dignity of every single life as sacred. We demand that the Senate pass the Build Back Better Act for all people. All children and families deserve a healthy life, economic stability and the opportunity to thrive.”
In an interview with Religion News Service, Frederick-Gray said she was participating in the demonstration because of her religious tradition’s support for voting rights, democracy and human dignity.
Recent Videos from Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray
Susan Frederick-Gray recently released several videos focused on gratitude in the holiday season. You can find her 13-minute homily on gratitude on YouTube, along with the two videos linked here.
Practicing Gratitude this Holiday Season
Guided Meditation on Gratitude
Thank you, Giving Tuesday donors!
We are so grateful for the generous support you and so many other UUs have provided to our UU congregations and to the UUA over the last 18 months.
Our growing monthly donor program helped the UUA ride out the months-long shutdown early in the pandemic by providing a steady and reliable stream of income to fund our core programs.
For Giving Tuesday, 95 people signed up to become Faithful Sustainers—with their first twelve months of monthly gifts being matched—and an additional 50 made generous one-time gifts. Thank you all!
UUA Observers attend COP26 with the UU@UN and UU Ministry for Earth
This past November, the COP26 summit brought parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The UUA is a non-governmental organization officially designated to send observers to meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Six people attended on behalf of the UUA: three Unitarian Universalists and three people from UU Service Committee partner organizations.
The UU@UN has published several blog posts related to what comes after COP26. You can also learn about the six UUA observers and their experiences on UUMFE's page.
Direct from the UN Climate Conference: Loss & Damage, Pierre Candelon
Fulfilling Promises for Climate Justice, Bruce Knotts, UU@UN Director
Indigenous Heritage Month and COP26, Amanda Newlove, UU@UN Intern
This coming year, the UU@UN Intergenerational Spring Seminar continues its focus on climate justice with Displacement & Human Rights: All In for Climate Justice. The 2022 event will take place online April 22 - May 1 in partnership with the UU Ministry for Earth and UUSC. There will also be opportunities for in-person local gatherings.
UU the Vote Report: Lessons on Electoral Organizing in the 2020 Election
UU the Vote was imagined as an “all hands on deck” project to articulate UU values in the public square and activate and organize Unitarian Universalists on a mass scale. It was motivated by two primary objectives:
- Responding to the moral call to combat the rise of white supremacy and fascism and imagine a just society where all have inherent worth and dignity, where our communities are governed democratically, and where we live sustainably.
- The opportunity to move Unitarian Universalists to embody our values by centering the marginalized and building organizing infrastructure across the UU ecosystem.
Download the 18 page report about UU the Vote, the foundation we built on, and the things we learned along the way. More on UU the Vote here.
Registration Open for General Assembly 2022
General Assembly 2022, to be held June 22 - 26, will be a multi-platform event, with registration options for both in-person and online attendance.
In-person registration for GA 2022 in Portland, Oregon, is now open. Registration for Virtual participation will open March 1. Financial support for registration as well as a payment plan are available.
Faithify an Option for Congregations Upgrading Equipment
Is your congregation looking for new equipment for multi-platform services? Faithify is a crowdfunding site where passionate people inspire, unite, and fund Unitarian Universalist ministries.
Recently funded campaigns include a new A/V setup for the UU Church of Jackson, MS, so they could continue livestreaming their worship services with new speakers, camera, mixing board, laptop, and assorted supplies. Check out all the current Faithify campaigns and watch for an updated Faithify platform in mid-January 2022.
Upcoming Events
UU the Vote Skill Up: Get Involved in a Volunteer Squad
Sunday, December 19, 1 to 2:30 pm PT / 4 to 5:30 pm ET
Our UU faith calls us to be lifelong learners, and organizing traditions teach that we need to share what we know for our movements to grow. So we are kicking off Squad Skill Ups: a monthly series of trainings on organizing skills to help build our UU the Vote Volunteer Squads and help you build stronger teams in your congregation and community. This is also a chance to find out how to get more involved as a UU the Vote volunteer and meet members of the Volunteer Squads. Register here.
Winter Light: a Solstice Celebration (UU Ministry for Earth)
Wednesday, December 22, 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET
Join Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen and UU Ministry for Earth for Winter Light, a special Zoom service celebration of the Solstice.
This sacred gathering reminds us of our interdependence with Earth, life, and the universe. Enjoy an hour of music, reflection, ritual and meditation as we gather in the sacred darkness of Winter to honor all that life brings. Register for Zoom link.
Coming in February...
Our Shared Future: Legacy Giving in UU Congregations
Saturday, February 5, 2022, 1 pm ET – 3:00 pm ET
Join the UUA’s Legacy Gifts team for a free webinar about the basics of legacy giving and best practices for building a healthy legacy giving program in your congregation. This workshop is designed for congregational leaders who want to learn about soliciting, managing, and stewarding legacy gifts to support the future of Unitarian Universalism. Email legacy@uua.org or call (888) 792-5885 (select option 3) for more information.
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.
