Be Ours a Religion🌟 Weekly News from the UUMA 🌟
April 18, 2025
Something For the Moment
Annual Meeting: Each year we gather for our Annual Meeting to complete the business of our association, to elect new leaders and to live our values out loud. Please be sure to attend our Annual Meeting where we will receive important guidance about our legal standing in these times from senior UUA Leadership. Join us for this two part virtual meeting onJune 3 and 5 from 4-6pm ET/ 3-5pm CT/ 2-4pm MT/ 1-3pm PT/ 10am-Noon HT. Please register to indicate that you plan on attending. You only need to register for one of the days to attend both sessions.
I have a spiritual practice that calls me into community with a few colleagues early in the morning to write and center three times a week. We’ve been at it since April of 2020 and I cherish this time, the pace and the intimacy of our sharing stories through the joys and sorrows of our lives in ministry as we make meaning. Making meaning of love, of loss. Making meaning of our vocations. Making meaning out of these times in which our grief and rage sometimes make it hard to get out of bed and face the page and each other.
This morning I was responding to a prompt from the poet Joy Harjo and thinking about liturgies at the table of our shared faith. Of the lovingly prepared meals and lengthy committee meetings. The virtual tables of worship in cluster and chapter gatherings since April 2020 and the remembrance of altars created in Lexington & Boston, Oakland & San Francisco and too many GA and conference cities to name – but all places where my formation has taken place: calling me to make meaning again and again.
We’re at that time of the year where some colleagues are preparing for new ministries, fitting caps and gowns for graduations, navigating MFC paperwork and the joys and sorrows of renewals, contingencies and sometimes deep disappointment. As members of the UUMA we have the blessing of companions who help us make meaning and I’m feeling thankful today for those who set the tables: Good Officers, Mentors, Friends. Leaders and risk takers and rebels who inspire new ways of knowing, challenge the heart and mind with prophetic words and deeds. Who teach me, again and again, that this religion of ours is good. Is nourishing. Is a banquet of growth and learning especially when I’m afraid, alone and wondering if I’m worthy. I hope you will join me at the upcoming programs that will feed your spirit and help us make meaning of our callings together. At tables that have room for more and where your gifts are so very needed.
Something for Formation
Theologies of Play and Rest: An MFN Retreat: TRAVEL STIPENDS ARE STILL AVAILABLE – register soon! Join us onsite in Baltimore, MD (with pre- and post virtual sessions*) on Monday, June 16th from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET.
This is an ON-SITE retreat for Aspirants and Candidates to gather before the start of UUMA Ministry Days. Participants will take a deep dive into personal and collective discernment practices through poetry, embodied ritual and deep listening. With attention to theological framing and sustaining practices to support flourishing ministries, we’ll play, learn and rest in a community of care. Please note an all virtual offering of this program will happen later in 2025 – date TBA
Starr King School for the Ministry Summer Learning:
You can view our calendar events here. Please make sure you are logged into uuma.org to see our full calendar as some events are available for members only.
