Glad Tidings from Sofia Betancourt, Article II News, Side With Love, and more
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Dear Friend,
I have come to love the deep dark days of winter, especially just before the winter solstice. Blessed as I am with a warm home and plenty of food in the cupboards, December offers gifts of stillness and retreat. This is true for me despite the hubbub of holiday life in a large-ish family.
In the dark and in the quiet, new possibilities often emerge—for our lives, for our relationships, and for the communities in which we move. It helps that the winter holidays align with the spiritual invitations of the earth. It will be a joy to light candles on Christmas eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and there is hope in welcoming back the growing light at Solstice. There is meaning in kindling the lights of the menorah at Hannukah, an annual encounter with the miracle of liberation.
For me this year, the shorter days before the solstice are a simple invitation to rest and contemplation. In some years, when sorrow has knocked hard at my door, the long nights have offered permission to reckon honestly with hardship and despair. This season has made space for acceptance—true acceptance, the kind that opens to new possibilities. The darkest time can be a turning place.
This December, as you celebrate the season in whatever ways are most meaningful to you, I wish for you moments of stillness, contemplation, peace—and expanding joy in the turning of the year.
Happy holidays to you, and deepest gratitude for all the ways your presence strengthens our faith.
Rev. Lauren Smith
Director of Stewardship and Development
The UUA will be closed for the winter break starting at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 20, and will re-open on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
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 21-22 and December 26-30.
Remember the last day for making an online donation in 2023 donation is Sunday, December 31, but if you plan to mail your gift, it must be postmarked by Saturday, December 30. We suggest you make year-end gifts online to avoid any mail delays. Thank you!
Recent links from the UUA
- New Democracy Strategist Boosts Side With Love's Impact (Side With Love, December 12)
- Final Proposed Revisions to Unitarian Universalist Association Bylaws on Core Religious Values Released; Congregations will have until February 2024 to propose amendments (December 12)
- As Unitarian Universalists Reassess Core Beliefs, Article II Study Commission Reflects on Progress Made (UU World, December 7)
UUA Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Executive Search Open (Koya Partners/DSG, December 1)
UUA Statement Regarding Shooting in Burlington, Vermont (November 28)
Glad Tidings from President Sofía Betancourt
UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt shares glad tidings on behalf of the UUA and a prayer for Unitarian Universalists that this holiday season will be a time for family, healing, recommitment, and dedication to the things that bring joy and meaning to our lives.
The Rev. Dr. Sarah Lammert Retiring from the UUA Dec. 31
The Rev. Dr. Sarah Lammert, Co-Director of the UUA's Ministries and Faith Development team, will be retiring from the UUA effective December 31. She will remain the UUA's federal ministry endorser supporting military, VA, and federal prisons chaplaincy until a new endorser is ready to take up the work.
Pictured above are Dr. Janice Marie Johnson, Co-Director of Ministries and Faith Development, the Rev. Dr. Lammert, and Carey McDonald, Executive Vice President, at the going away party held at the UUA headquarters in Boston.
Upcoming Offerings from Side With Love
The Side With Love team has a number of upcoming offerings for UUs in the new year. One offering developed this fall is a set of resources for UU leaders engaging on Palestine and Israel, inspired for and by a webinar held in late November on this topic.
As those who developed this resource acknowledge, "We are keenly aware that the current catastrophe is far from over, and the ripples will continue to touch the whole world for the foreseeable future. As Unitarian Universalists, we are committed to continuing to learn and heal together, struggling for justice and liberation for all, and working toward a global community in which all people are safe and free from violence in all its forms."
Access "Why We Cannot Turn Away: Resources for UUs Leaders Engaging on Israel and Palestine" here (Google Doc).
The two-session Digital Security 101 for Congregations is starting in January. This workshop from Equality Labs is a dive into the world of digital security and what that means for you and your organization. We will develop some common ground and shed light on types of attacks and security concerns that affect our communities, engaging with you at a strategic level as you plan for your organization. Learn more about this two-session workshop here.
In addition, 30 Days of Love runs January 15 through February 14, 2024. More information will be available online soon!
Article II Amendments Due February 1, 2024
The final proposed revision to Article II of the UUA bylaws was completed by the Article II Study Commission in October 2023. As the Committee notes in their letter (PDF) to UU congregations, this is not the final version, "as there is the opportunity to amend it at General Assembly 2024, as outlined in the UUA bylaws."
The next step in the Article II process is for congregations to submit amendments to the proposal, which are due by February 1, 2024. As the Board of Trustees communicated in their own letter to UUA member congregations, dated October 31, 2023:
"The UUA Bylaws allow for amendments to the proposal. Any proposed amendment needs to be endorsed by at least 15 certified congregations. This endorsement needs to be by action of their governing boards or their congregations. Bill Young, UUA Secretary, will provide a form to document these endorsements. Your UUA Board of Trustees requests that a single individual is identified as the primary contact for each proposed amendment. As we prepare for GA 2024, we will coordinate with amendment sponsors."
A version of the proposal is available on UUA.org including line numbers, for use when proposing amendments. Before filling out the amendment form, it's recommended to submit proposed amendments to Charles Du Mond (cdumond@uua.org) to ensure your amendment meets requirements.
Find the full details of this process on the Article II proposed amendment submission form, the UU bylaws, and on UUA.org. UU World has recently published an article on the Article II Study Commission, "As Unitarian Universalists Reassess Core Beliefs, Article II Study Commission Reflects on Progress Made."
The image shown here is a proposed visual representation of UUA values, putting love at the center surrounded by interconnected values in a rainbow of colors.
UU Ministry for Earth Winter Solstice Celebration on Dec. 21
The Winter Solstice occurs when Earth’s axis tilts away from the sun, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. Join the UU Ministry for Earth the evening BEFORE the Winter Solstice for music, reflection, meditation, and spiritual grounding.
On this longest night, we will be featuring the work of the Energy Democracy Project and sharing a portion of our offering with them. Let’s work for light for all on the longest night of the year. Our service is part of the larger arc of Clean Energy as a Human Right being led by Side with Love.
General Assembly Program Proposals due January 12; Theme is "Love Ignites, Stories Unite"
We invite program proposals for the 2024 Virtual General Assembly's on-demand library. Submissions from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences are welcome, with a special emphasis on historically marginalized communities, people of color, and the voices of our youth. Proposed programs should offer enriching learning and skill-building experiences, while aligning with our designated focus areas. The proposal deadline is Friday, January 12, 2024.
General Assembly registration is now open: Adult registration $280, and includes access to General Assembly 2024 in the Whova event app, as well as on-demand programming, featured speakers, and major worships. Register through February 29 with a down payment of $50 by selecting the Early Bird Payment Plan at checkout. Voting delegates who wish to participate only in General Sessions may also register with the business-only option; this option is no-cost, but a donation is suggested. Registration rates increase March 1, 2024.
Audiobooks on Libro.fm support inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop, including Skinner House titles
Do you enjoy audiobooks? Consider Libro.fm as the place to purchase them and support inSpirit: The UU Book and Gift Shop with your purchases. Or check out new and noteworthy titles from the UUA's Skinner House Books:
Seeds of a New Way: Nurturing Authentic & Diverse Religious Leadership, by editors Manish Mishra-Marzetti and Nancy McDonald Ladd, is available for pre-order now.
Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families, edited by Peggy Gillespie, includes a forward by transgender activist Jazz Jennings and her mom and fellow activist Jeanette Jennings.
A Fire at the Center: Solidarity, Whiteness, and Becoming a Water Protector, a memoir by UU minister Karen Van Fossan, was just released in October.
Upcoming Events
Please note the UUA offices will be closed from December 21 through January 3.
UPLIFT Trans and Non-Binary Drop-in Monthly Gathering
Tuesday, December 19 | 8 pm - 9:30 pm ET / 5 pm - 6:30 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)! Non-UUs are welcome if they are OK with being in a UU-focused community that won't proselytize. If you are interested in this space, and you aren’t (entirely or at all) cisgender, it’s a space for you. To sign up, please fill out this form.
NOTE: This space is intentionally multi-generational. It is open to and welcoming of trans/nonbinary elders as well as children, youth, and young adults. Standard UUA online safety measures apply to ensure all people under 18 are able to attend. We're glad to have you here! For information on registering someone under 18, please follow instructions on this page.
Green Sanctuary 2030 Celebration
Wednesday, January 17 | 7 pm - 8 pm ET / 4 pm - 5 pm PT
Let's celebrate the good work our congregations are doing to create Green Sanctuary in our communities. Green Sanctuary teams will share how they're transforming their communities through congregational transformation, climate justice, mitigation, and community resilience. Open to anyone transforming our congregations through climate justice. Register here.
Looking for basic info about the Green Sanctuary 2030 program? Attend one of the monthly orientations. The next one is Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT.
UUA Board of Trustees Upcoming Meeting
Thursday, January 18-Saturday, January 20 | Schedule TBD
We invite you to join the Board as it meets to discuss and make decisions about all facets of Unitarian Universalism. Please consult the board packet of the meeting (when it's available) for more information. Register to attend here.
Side with Love January Skill Up: Community Safety & Security
Sunday, January 21, 2024 | 4 pm - 5:30 pm ET / 1 pm - 2:30 pm PT; optional Q& A from 5:30 pm - 6 pm ET / 2:30 pm - 3 pm PT
Unitarian Universalists are called to grapple with the question of what is safety? Black liberation organizers say “We Keep Us Safe" as a way to proclaim that true safety comes from relationship, community and structures of care and mutuality outside of state structures of violence and control. How do we build our political and theological commitment to keeping each other safe in the face of state and interpersonal violence?
In this skill up, Nora Rasman and India Harris will define safety and security grounded in abolitionist practice, discuss our spiritual mandate towards building sanctuary and concretely outline what we can honestly offer to ourselves and each other. Agenda includes embodied grounding and interactive training, followed by an optional Q&A Conversation from 5:30-6 ET. Register here to attend.
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.
