November 21, 2025

Something For the Moment 

UUMA Member Access to Sing Out Love: The UUA’s new virtual hymnal, Sing Out Love, is now available to UUMA members who aren’t eligible to participate in a congregational plan. This multimedia resource is packed with new music (over 65 new songs–and more coming every month)! Click here to request access to our subscription (member login required). Please note your UUMA membership must be renewed to access this benefit. 

Meet the Moment: Did you miss the webinar with the primer on Meet the Moment, specifically tailored for ministers? We are happy to bring you this recording with lots of links to helpful resources and information where you can learn more and get involved.

Something for the Journey

Hannah Franco-Isaacs, Program Administrator

On Sundays at the congregation I have recently returned to (and spent many of my formative years) we are told “we hope Unity Church is a place that helps you find and keep your balance.” Hi Oscar, Amy, and Shay! I have been back from sabbatical for three weeks and upon my return my biggest goal (and challenge) has been finding and keeping my balance. 

As the staff blessed me before I left for sabbatical at the end of August Janette reminded me that this was the first time I got to go on leave just for me. Not parental leave. Not bereavement leave. Just time for what I wanted and needed. It turns out, much to my virgo-8 on the enneagram-ENTJ chagrin, what I needed was rest. Rest and organizing our new house. Rest and time with my kids and husband. Rest and Rest and Rest. The sabbatical was a gift I will be forever grateful for. Especially to the UUMA staff who shouldered the vast majority of my responsibilities and Arran Morton for coming back to help us all stay afloat. 

This transition back to work means the official start of my new position as Program Administrator. As sad as I am to say goodbye to the membership portfolio I know that you are all in good hands with Denise Cawley at the helm. I am also not going far. My new position includes supporting the ministry of Good Offices, the forest of UUMA continuing education, the ever evolving Ministerial Formation Network and more. I will still be with you all and supporting the wider ministry of the UUMA. I am committed to the UUMA being a place that helps you find and keep your balance. I am committed to continuing to find and keep my own balance as I move into this new role.

Something for Learning 

Our Learning Together monthly gatherings are an opportunity to explore how to decolonize our learning habits. Rather than focusing on content or expertise in the front of the room, we use the popular education model that begins with the collective knowledge of those who have gathered, and then we identify the gaps that need to be filled. Some of our learning needs to happen in specific identity caucuses, as was the case last month where we help space for white-bodied colleagues, and this month, which is focused on the needs and experiences of BIPOC UUMA members. Also, there is only one gathering next Tuesday, November 25 at 4:30pm ET/3:30 CT/2:30 MT/1:30 PT (because the last Thursday of the month is That Holiday). Join us! The link above will provide the needed zoom information.

                                           Program ✷  Registration  ✷  Housing

• Registration deadline is December 15th! (Unless you are hoping for scholarship funds, in which case please wait to register until after you receive your notification). For everyone else please make sure you are registered and signed up for your learning track(s) before then.
• Read our most recent Institute Mailing here which includes the top five reasons to attend virtually! 
• There are a limited number of hotel rooms available – book today if you haven’t already. Would you prefer a larger room with a balcony? Limited upgrades are available – let us know if you are interested If you are interested in finding a roommate or creating/joining a local pod you can find connections on our member forum. 

Something Extra

An Invitation for Engagement: Colleagues — many folks are now serving more than one setting as a minister or other religious professional. Matthew Johnson, a member of the Mid-America UUA staff team, is gathering a learning community of folks doing this to share with each other what’s working, what they are learning, and how to do this well.  We’d love you to participate. Sign up here!