November 17, 2011
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The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was honored to host an International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) Tent Summit for the 5 largest U/U groups around the world in Boston from November 6-10, 2011.
Present for the meeting were representatives from Transylvania, Canada, the UK, and the Khasi Hills of North East India.The Tent Summit gave the leaders from these groups and opportunity to talk about collaborative opportunities, and priorities they hold for ICUU.
Marking this special occasion, President Rev. Peter Morales hosted an International U/U Reception at the UUA headquarters in Boston.
Read more about the ICUU Tent Summit and view photos from the visit!
Universal Children’s Day: Sunday, November 20th
Involve your congregation in observing Universal Child’s Day! Marking the day on which the Assembly adopted the both the Declaration and the Convention on the Right of the Child (1959 & 1989, respectively), Universal Child’s Day promotes the welfare of children throughout the world. Give your congregation the opportunity to make a difference in child’s life by supporting the UU-UNO’s Every Child is our Child (ECOC) Program which funds the education of orphans and vulnerable children in the region of Ghana with the highest HIV/AIDS rate. Learn more!
Get to Know the ECOC Students: In the next few weeks, the UU-UNO will feature a child that receives access to education, school supplies and health care through the ECOC Program in the Faith Without Borders blog: Read about Jessica, an ECOC student in Ghana!
As the winter season approaches, the UUA's International Resources Office recommends consulting our Winter Holidays resource booklet for suggestions on ways to express commitment to our Sixth Principle: We Covenant to Affirm and Promote the Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty and Justice for All.
View our resource guide of suggestions for celebrating the winter holidays!
Date: Tuesday, December 13th, 6:00 - 7:30pm EST
Event: "Think Globally, Act Locally" Envoy Training
Hosts: Envoy Outreach Coordinator, Holly Sarkissian Youth Envoy Coordinator, Kamila Jacob
Description: For the first time, the UU-UNO will be offering comprehensive Envoy Trainings via conference call!
Join a training to learn community organizing strategies for:
- building global awareness and support in your congregation
- engaging fellow UUs in the work of the UU-UNO and United Nations
- planning a UN Sunday or UU-UNO event
- AND MORE!
Email Holly Sarkissian to RSVP. Participants also have the option of particpating online using video technology. Learn more about this feature when you RSVP.
Questions: Email us at hsarkissian @ uua.org and/or call (212) 986-5165
With several service learning opportunities abroad, there are numerous ways for UU seminarians to connect to the basic tenets of UU faith and ministry while gaining an international perspective.
Whether providing short-term supervised ministerial services to London-area congregations, working with children living at the Anne Margaret Barr Children’s Village in the Khasi Hills of India or at the New Life Orphanage and School in Uganda, or spending some time at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Japan, there are many ways to develop and grow your international and multicultural understanding, in tandem with your seminarian studies.
Learn more about the various service learning opportunities available to UU seminarians!
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 99th 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 by the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association. It is to be used during November 2011.
May this flame remind us of our own inward light,
the centre of our being, that connects us to all Being
and gives us strength and comfort in a troubled world.
Jan Tendys
Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association
- November 20, 2011: Universal Children's Day
- December 3-10, 2011: UUSC-UUA JustWorks Trip to Haiti
- December 10, 2011: International Human Rights Day
- January 30-February 6, 2012: Culture, History, Partnership, and Women’s Livelihood, Philippines
- 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 10-17, 2012: UUSC-UUA JustWorks Trip to Haiti
- March 13-21, 2012: UUPCC NE India & Khasi Hills Pilgrimage
- April 12-14, 2012: UU-UNO Spring Seminar, New York City
- April 14-26, 2012: UUPCC Transylvanian Pilgrimage
- April 20-22, 2012: European Unitarian Universalist (EUU) Spring Retreat, Rolduc, Netherlands
- April 28-May 5, 2012: UUSC-UUA JustWorks Trip to Haiti
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