Opening words from Artist and Vibe Curator Eso Tolson:



I don’t know who needs to hear this but rest is not a reward. You don’t have to earn rest. You need rest. You deserve rest. You are worthy of rest simply because you are a living being. And don’t ever feel guilty for taking time to rest. 

_____

As I write this message in mid-November, peering beyond the upcoming National Day of Mourning (alternatively known as “Thanksgiving”) and toward the turn of our calendar into the season of Holy Days (as every season is, really), and pulling up my chair to jot down a thousand or so words to share for the December newsletter (whose deadline is a week earlier this month because of the aforementioned holidays), my phone, laptop, and radio feed me stories that tell me it’s been more than 600 days of quarantine time, and that four of the six New England states remain in the bright red High Risk zone today, the COP 26 conference closed with a less ambitious climate plan, and white tail deer will keep passing Covid-19 back to humans forever

Really, white tail deer??

If all of that sounds like a jumble of a run-on-sentence, there’s a reason for that, friends. We are 600-something days into the global covid pandemic and this is not where we thought we’d be. Remember when all the people leaned out their windows at dusk and cheered for nurses and doctors on the front line? It’s such a foggy memory now. That was hundreds of days ago. So far away from this current November full of wondering whether we dare attend an in-person feast or not. Will our Christmas pageant be online again this year, or should we dust off the old costumes? Will we light solstice candles in the dark together, passing the flame one to the next, or will we once again see each other’s candles through dozens of tiny zoom boxes?

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Spiritual Leadership for Culture Change

Culture change takes practice...company...and remembering. You're invited to join Spiritual Leadership for Culture Change, a community of practice for anyone working to embed the practices of Spiritual Leadership into their congregation's ways of being. Learn more in the video below.

Mark your calendars for our first gatherings in 2022. We will send details for each 90 minute gathering as it approaches. The topic and design for both daytime and evening offerings will be the same. 

• January
• Day time: January 25, 1:00 PM
• Evening: January 26, 7:00 PM
• March
• Evening: March 22, 7:00 PM
• Daytime: March 23, 1:00 PM
• May 
• Daytime: May 24, 1:00 PM
• Evening: May 26, 7:00 PM

Learn more here and use this form to join this community of practice.

UUA Publications, in collaboration with the UUA’s legal counsel and staff from Congregational Life, Faith Development, and WorshipWeb, is glad to announce a new resource on copyright and permissions that we hope will make it easier for congregations to determine quickly whether they need permission to use copyrighted material and obtain permission when it is needed.

The new page consolidates information that was previously on separate pages and uses 5 questions to lead users to the information that is most relevant to their own circumstances. The Copyright Primer for Congregations includes information about the religious exemption in copyright law and what it does and does not cover, how copyright law applies to the online environment, permissions that some copyright holders have already granted to Unitarian Universalist congregations, how to request permissions from the UUA and other publishers when needed, and the answers to many other common questions.

Please send questions and feedback to Mary Benard, Publications Director.

Human Rights Day in December: Resources for Reflection



The UUA’s International Office has created a resource for congregations to reflect on cross-cultural engagement and the role of identity in organizing for justice. The resource includes stories from our work with justice partners in India, provoking congregants to reflect on themes like identity and privilege, trust, cultural difference, relationship-building, and human rights.

This guide for a 75-minute online discussion would work well as an Adult Religious Education program or even an opportunity for a congregation’s Religious Education program to partner with their Social Justice leaders to hold a reflective and inspiring online discussion. Human Rights Day is coming up on December 10! This month presents a great opportunity to hold such a conversation in your congregation. Sign up and find out more here.

Share your story with us!

Has your small (<120 members) congregation done something interesting lately? A new partnership? A unique social justice project? A new way of connecting you members? Would you like to share your success with others? A Second Slice of Pi is looking for stories to share with participants at the conference via a short video (we can help!). Contact your regional staff to let them know you’re interested or submit your idea with this form. Deadline for material submissions is February 1.

Please Help Us Keep Your Information Current



We track ministers, administrators, religious educators music directors, presidents, vice-presidents and treasurers in your congregation. We would appreciate you completing this form if people in these roles change during the year. If you have more than 3 updates, please start a new form. Note this is note a replacement for updating you MyUUA data.

A Second Slice of Pi: An Online Conference for Smaller Congregations

Remember Pi Day, March 14, 2020 (3.14) when we were going to have synchronized conferences across the country for smaller congregations? There was going to be a theme of pie for everyone and lots of connecting? And...the pandemic happened instead?

Join us online at the UU Leadership Institute (UULI) on Saturday, March 12th, 2022 from 3 to 5 pm ET for A Second Slice - an updated, pandemic safe conference for smaller congregations! What will be doing? Easy on demand resources for small congregations, opportunities to connect with leaders of other small congregations, and a chance to share your story.

Explore the Full UUA Events Calendar for more!

Leadership Resource Library

If your congregation is discussing how to come back together in person, the Leadership Resource Library may help in that process!

List COVID-19 Resources

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We thank all congregations whose generous contributions to the Region

and to our UUA Annual Program Fund make all of our work possible.

We offer learning opportunities throughout the New England Region for congregational members, lay leaders, and religious professionals.

Regional staff services and support are available to UU congregations year-round.

Contact us!

(617) 948-6415

newengland@uua.org

Website: uua.org/new-england

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