October 6, 2011
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In celebration of the founding of the United Nations on October 24th, 1945, the UU-United Nations Office invites congregations and individual UUs to deepen their understanding of the UN by devoting one service in October to reaffirming the connections between UU principles and vital issues dealt with at the UN.
The UN Sunday Resource Packet includes everything you need to plan a UN Sunday service, from the history of the UN to a sample Order of Service with suggested hymns and readings. The packet also includes information about our theme for this year’s UN Sunday: Empower Women for a Better World.
This year's UN Sunday will take place on October 23rd.
Weekly Readings
Each week the UU-UNO will be posting readings that you can use in your UN Sunday service focusing on this year’s theme: Empower Women for a Better World. View this week's reading by Rev. Peter Morales.
Get Involved With the UU-UNO!
Interested in actively working with the UU-UNO? Join the UU-UNO Spring Seminar Planning Committee!
Every April, youth and adults from around the United States and Canada gather in New York City for our exciting and educational Intergenerational Spring Seminar. This year’s seminar will take place April 12th-14th on the topic of “Race and Immigration."
The UU-UNO is looking for youth, young adult, and adult leaders to join its spring seminar planning committee. Three co-chairs will be selected to facilitate the committee as well as chair the sub-committees: Speaker-seekers, Fundraising, Publicity, Creative Programming/ Worship, and Youth Governance.
For more information visit the UU-UNO website and fill out an application today!
From September 28-29, UUA President Rev. Peter Morales will be in Zaragoza, Spain, where he will be guest speaking at the 5th Centenary International Congress on the Birth of Michael Servetus.
2011 is the 500th Anniversary year of the birth of Michael Servetus (c. 1511 - 1553). The Congress will focus on and celebrate the life and contributions of Servetus, a 16th century scientist and anti-trinitarian martyr, highlighting his importance in the history of ideas as one of the catalysts for the right to freedom of conscience in Europe.
President Morales will lecture on "The Reality of the Unitarian Movement in the World: Liberalism vs. Dogmatism"; during his time in Spain, he'll be sharing updates on the Faith Without Borders blog. Keep an eye on our Facebook and/or Twitter pages for these updates, or check out the FWB blog.
Did You Know?
There are multiple resources that Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations can make use of for celebrating Michael Servetus, including a worship packet, booklets, video clips, and more!
Christian Schmidt, a third year UU seminarian at Andover Newton Theological School, was the recipient of the UUA’s Tsubaki Grand Shrine Scholarship in August 2011.
Tsubaki Grand Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine in Suzuka, Japan, and an historic interfaith partner of the UUA. Christian shares his reflections of the experience on the Faith Without Borders blog:
I learned more than I will ever be able to express, but it might boil down to this: know where you are, be prepared and be open. If I can take these simple things from my two weeks at the shrine, visiting as part of a program that sends Unitarian Universalist seminarians to spend time at Tsubaki each year.
Last week, UUA Director of the International Office, Rev. Eric Cherry, visited the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians.
Enjoy a few photos from this special visit!
The fall edition of the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council's (UUPCC) newsletter is now available.
Included in this edition:
- Updates from Burundi
- Reflections from the UUPCC Board Chair
- Fall Ideas for Partners
- Rev. Gretchen Thomas Receives the 2011 Louis C. Cornish “Living the Mission” Award
- New Balázs Scholar at Starr King School
- Nominations for steward of Partnership Award
- And more!
The fall edition of the International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women's (ICUUW) newsletter is now available.
Included in this edition:
- Philippines Doldol Livelihood Project
- Rep. Luz Ilagan Keynote Speaker in Philippine
- Transylvanian Convocation
- Report on GA Micro Enterprise
- Olga Flores Marches to Preserve Rainforest
- CEDAW Update
- And more!
Join Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists from every continent for the International Council of Unitarians and Unversalists’ (ICUU) historic Council Meeting and Conference, meeting for the first time outside North America and Europe.
The Conference theme “Sharing Our Faith, Transforming Our World” (PDF) asks how we can “love alike” in appropriate right relationship. Creative tension in our multi-cultural dialogue will be explored through a variety of talks, workshops and other interactive experiences focusing both on our diversity and what we have in common. Some sessions will consider how the ways we express our faith can make an impact on social justice and the environment in our local communities.
South Sea Resort on Negros Island, the Philippines, is the location for the gathering from February 7 to 12, 2012. Situated near the headquarters of the UU Church of Philippines in Dumaguete City, this remarkable seaside hotel will offer comfortable accommodation and a picturesque setting for ICUU’s biannual Council Meeting.
Worship and spiritual sustenance will be a special feature of the gathering including acts of worship in the style and custom of different member groups, Chalice Circles for small group sharing and participatory workshops focusing on creative arts such as dance and music.
A limited number of eligible participants from member groups and emerging groups will receive sponsorships covering international travel and on-site costs for the Council Meeting and Conference. Details and an application form are available from the ICUU website or by email request to execsec@icuu.net. The closing date for applications is September 15. If you are considering applying for sponsorship, please do not register online at this time.
Read more about the ICUU gathering in the Philippines and register online today!
The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 98th in its monthly series of global chalice lighting readings. Congregations worldwide are invited to participate.
All ICUU-affiliated groups have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the project. Every month, a reading will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world. We ask each congregation to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the “Global Chalice Lighting” for that month and naming the group which submitted it. Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language.
It is hoped that the ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Project will enhance the worship experience in our congregations and raise awareness of the international dimensions of our religious movement. This Global Chalice Lighting is submitted in Czech and English by the Religious Society of Czech Unitarians. It is to be used during October 2011.
Czech
Scházíme se v tomto místě, které je pro tuto chvíli naším duchovním domovem. Je to místo nás všech, pro každého z nás. Jsme lidé různého původu, s různými životními příběhy; každý z nás je originálem. Jdeme mnoha různými cestami.
Zatímco cesta každého z nás je odlišná, máme společný cíl: prohlubovat naše spojení s Duchem Života; činit duchovní dílo v našich srdcích; a vztahovat se k druhým.
Zapalme tento kalich, abychom posílili své uvědomění pospolitosti. Toto je skutečně jedno místo, mnoho cest; mnoho cest, jeden cíl. Nechť světlo tohoto kalicha nám tuto pravdu připomíná.
English
We gather in this place which is our spiritual home at this hour. It is one place for us all. We are people of different origins, with different life stories; each of us is unique. We walk on many diverse paths.
While the path of each of us is quite different, we have a common goal: to deeper our connection with the Spirit of Life; to do the spiritual work in our hearts; and to reach out to the others.
Let us light the chalice to strengthen our awareness of togetherness. This is truly one place, many paths; many paths, one goal. May the light of this chalice remind us of that.
Rev. Petr Samojsky
Religious Society of Czech Unitarians
- September 28-29, 2011: 5th Centenary International Congress on the Birth of Michael Servetus, Zaragosa, Spain
- October 23, 2011: United Nations Sunday
- November 4-6, 2011: European Unitarian Universalist (EUU) Fall Retreat, Oberwesel, Germany
- January 30-February 6, 2012: UUPCC and ICUUW Philippines: Culture, History, Partnership, and Women’s Livelihood
- February 3-5, 2012: IARF US Chapter Conference: "Faith, Interfaith, and Freedom," Hilton Head, SC
- February 7-12, 2012: ICUU Gathering in the Philippines
- March 13-21, 2012: UUPCC NE India & Khasi Hills Pilgrimage
- April 14-26, 2012: UUPCC Transylvanian Pilgrimage
- April 20-22, 2012: European Unitarian Universalist (EUU) Spring Retreat, Rolduc, Netherlands
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