October 5, 2012
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On Thursday October 4, 2012, the Second International Convocation of Unitarian*Universalist Women kicked off its three day conference in Marosvásárhely, in the Târgu Mureş region of Transylvania.
Drawing over 240 participants from Transylvania, the United States, India, Hungary, Japan, England, the Netherlands, Germany, and beyond, the meeting’s theme is centered around “Keeping Your Balance in a Changing World.”
Among the many purposes of this conference is the rare and wonderful opportunity for U*U women to come together from all over the world in solidarity around women’s issues. Participants are afforded opportunities for cross cultural understanding and sharing, in essence, the chance to broaden horizons while strengthening our global community. Continue Reading
This year, the Unitarian Union of North East India (UUNEI) celebrates the 125th anniversary of its founding with a series of special events from June 2012 through February 2013.
Rev. Eric Cherry recently returned from a trip to the Khasi Hills where he celebrated the UUNEI's anniversary with our Unitarian brothers and sisters there:
Among the special events that took place was a parade through the streets of Shillong a few days ahead of the anniversary. 1,000 Unitarians, representing every congregation in the UUNEI – some traveling 10-12 hours to attend – marched through Shillong amidst cars and trucks with immense lit-up flaming chalices on their roofs. We sang Khasi songs, cheered and laughed throughout the 5k parade. And upon arriving back at the Madan Laban Unitarian Church the festivities exploded into music and dance. I don’t know that I’ve ever had as much fun being a Unitarian.
Continue Reading
A Memo: Connecting with Unitarians and UU’s Around the World, Carefully
To: UUA Ministers and Religious Leaders
From: Eric Cherry, UUA International Office
Cathy Cordes, UU Partner Church Council
Jill McAllister and Steve Dick, International Council of Unitarians and Universalists
Dear Friends,
It is so exciting to see the many ways that our UU faith is connecting around the world – so many congregations and ministers are now making a variety of international connections! We are thrilled that UUA churches and individuals are looking beyond their own doors and even beyond their own geographic communities and connecting. The UUA, ICUU, the UUPCC and other organizations stand ready to support your outreach in a variety of ways. We invite you to contact us at any point where we can be helpful. We are writing today to offer some advice based on our joint experience working with UUs here and in other countries.
Much of this new activity is aided with new communication tools that make contact easier and keeping in touch possible. Social media programs such as Skype and Facebook make it easy to learn of possibilities and to meet people over the internet.
Our UU global community is growing both bigger and smaller! Bigger in the sense that people around the world continue to discover our liberal tradition and establish it in their own countries and regions, and smaller in the sense that it is so easy to connect with each other around the world. This gives us reason to both celebrate and pay close attention, for there are good ways to connect, not-so-good ways to connect, and ways to connect which can cause huge problems. Continue Reading
 Save the Date! The Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office invites you on November 3rd to celebrate our 50th Anniversary at the United Nations.
Join us as we celebrate the 50 Years of achievements, 50 years of Human Rights Justice, 50 Years of iconic work at the United Nations
Time:
6:30pm to 10:00pm
Location:
The Times Center, 242 West 41st Street, New York, NY (Between 7th & 8th Avenue)
Special Guests:
Reverend Peter Morales, Gillian Sorensen, Former Senator Adlai Stevenson III, Prof. Maura Roosevelt
Purchase Tickets Online | Donate to the Scholarship Fund
Donate to the Silent Auction | Bid on the Silent Auction
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: Beyond Borders - Breaking Barriers of Race and Immigration.
With its official launch at General Assembly 2012, the mission of the UU College of Social Justice (UUCSJ) is to increase the capacity of Unitarian Universalists to catalyze justice.
A formal collaboration of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), the UUCSJ will assist UU congregations in discerning their focus for social-justice work, effectively harness collective UU power for change, and build capacity for moving justice forward through its domestic and international service learning programs.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
Haiti Just Recovery
Trip Dates: February 3-10, 2013
Registration Deadline: October 28
On this weeklong trip, participants will work with members of the Papaye Peasant Movement (MPP), a UUSC partner, on projects to help former Port-au-Prince residents build new lives in rural Haiti. Every day, you will work with Haitian peasants to build new homes, construct food gardens from old tires, or contribute to other sustainability projects.
Sienna Project: Building Schools in Guatemala
Trip Dates: February 15-23, 2013
Registration Deadline: October 31
Travel to the beautiful country of Guatemala, delve into an exploration of human rights, and build a school with the Sienna Project! This all-encompassing adventure will enable you to see Guatemala while gaining an in-depth understanding of issues affecting the country and the local indigenous culture. You will meet with local human-rights experts and work with both your hearts and your hands to build a school for children who otherwise may not have any educational opportunities.
BorderLinks: Immigration Justice Tour
Trip Dates: February 1-4, 2013
Registration Deadline: December 1
Human rights are at stake on the U.S.-Mexico border, and this trip is your chance to delve into various on-the-ground aspects of immigration. Through education, partner meetings, service opportunities, and theological reflection, you will explore immigration through a program designed by BorderLinks. Return home informed and inspired to be a leader for immigration justice.
For information on additional service learning opportunities, visit the UU College of Social Justice online!
The Church of the Larger Fellowship, a unique UU congregation without walls, offers online worship. If you feel like going to church this Sunday (via your computer), click here.
Join us for worship on Sundays at 8:00 pm (Eastern Time, US), with a rebroadcast of the same service on Mondays at 9:00 am (Beta test during September) and 1:30 pm (Eastern Time, US). Although the service is prerecorded, many viewers arrive at the worship link early and stay late, to participate in a live chat. It’s our version of coffee hour!
Take a look at this You Tube video. Hope to see you at worship!
ICUU announces the 110th of 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.
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 English and Cebuano by the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines. It is to be used during October 2012.
Like the burning flame that shines,
like the passionate feeling of love that glows,
we are together again;
to sing and to pray, to give and to receive
the burning passion that we've celebrated and shared
in our coming together as one.
Sama sa kainit sa kalayo nga misidlak,
sama sa kainit sa gugma nga migilak
nia na usab kita;
aron sa pag-awit ug pag-ampo, aron sa paghatag ug pagdawat,
sa kainit sa gugma nga atong gisaluhan ug gipakig-ambit
sa atong panaghiusa.
-Susan Quisel
Submitted by the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines
- October 26-28, 2012: European Unitarian Universalist Fall Retreat in Cologne, Germany
- October 28, 2012: UN Sunday
- November 3, 2012: UU United Nations Office 50th Anniversary Celebration, NYC
- November 10-20, 2012: UUCSJ: UUA/UUSC Supporter Journey to Tanzania and Burundi
- November 20, 2012: Universal Children's Day
- November 26-December 5, 2012: UUCSJ: UU Holdeen India Program: Justice for Rural India
- December 5, 2012: UUPCC Virtual Conference Call: UU's in Kenya
- February 1-4, 2013: UUCSJ: BorderLinks Trip to Arizona/Mexico
- February 15-23, 2013: UUCSJ: Sienna Project: Building Schools in Guatemala
- March 5-13, 2013: UUPCC: NE India & Khasi Hills Pilgrimage
- March 15-24, 2013: UUPCC: Meet the UUs in the Philippines
- May 11-23, 2013: UUPCC: UU Transylvanian Pilgrimage
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