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Weekly News December 12, 2025

A Time of Preparation

December 13, 2025

Something For the Moment 


Institute Registration: The deadline to register for the 2026 Institute for the Learning Ministry is Monday, December 15th. We are getting excited about greeting all 450 attendees some virtually and some onsite in Albuquerque! Our planning team, learning track, worship and music leaders are busy working behind the scenes getting everything ready for you. Please register today if you plan to join us. 

Time with Kai Cheng Thom: We are thrilled to be welcoming Kai Cheng Thom, our KeynoteKai Cheng Thom Speaker and a worship leader at the Institute, to two sessions of conversations with UUMA members. If you are registered for the Institute you are welcome to join us January 13th at 3:30pm ET/ 2:30pm CT/ 1:30pm MT/ 12:30pm PT and/or January 20 at 2:30 ET/1:30 CT/12:30 MT/11:30am PT. These conversations will be 90 minutes and will influence Kai Cheng’s keynote. 

UUMA Search for a Director of Ministries and Programs: The search committee has met, established procedures and reviewed the position profile and is prepared to begin accepting applications. If you or someone you know is interested in serving the UUMA as its next Director of Ministries and Programs please visit the Position Profile Page at uuma.org

The Board is grateful to all those who applied to be a member of the search committee and is pleased to welcome Ali K.C. Bell and Sarah Lenzi as Member Representatives to the search committee. They will join the Board Representatives, Robin Tanner, Carol Thomas Cissel and Joseph Santos-Lyons; UUA Representative Rev. Cecilia Kingman, Staff Representative Janette Lallier, and non-voting members Rev. Arran Morton (Secretary) and Rev. Aija Simpson-Newbury (Chaplain). The full committee can be reached at search@uuma.org.

Something for the Journey

Rev. Denise M. Cawley, Membership Administrator Denise Cawley

I ADORE Advent. In our communities we are embracing many aspects of Advent – the Pagan roots, the Christian morphing and the Latin meaning of “Advent” meaning ‘that which is coming’. This time of preparation, waiting in the dark for the return of the light anticipating Winter Solstice or the celebration of the birth of an amazing revolutionary prophet. While our members are celebrating many holidays of light this time of year, we at the UUMA are preparing for 2026 events from Institute, to Ministry Days and the Community Minister’s Retreat. I can tell you “that which is coming” is going to be worth your time. Become a more resilient minister by connecting with our many UUMA offerings. Heal yourself and minister to our world.
Creativity Reilience Transformational Ministry Healing Innovation

TRANSFORMING MINISTRY

Since joining the UUMA I have been delighted to learn more about creative ways you are envisioning transforming ministry. The Find a Minister tool is growing with your offerings. urge you to opt-into that by logging into your UUMA Member account and filling out your biography and the form for your offerings. 

INNOVATIVE HEALING

Many of you are taking into account the scope of the world, needs for spiritual healing and innovating what ministry can be. I am seeing entrepreneurial ministers offer new ways to address trauma, care offerings, seminars, chaplaincy, as well as pulpit supply and more in the services you want to offer to the public and your colleagues in that registry. We hope to have another 100 of you sign up to be listed in this first phase of Find a Minister. Thank you to almost 300 of you who have posted your offerings. 

CHAPTER RESOURCES

Your creativity in developing new ministries reflects how ministry is changing to meet needs for healing. Our Community Ministers chapter is growing and one of our largest. You can join as many chapters as you like as part of your UUMA Membership. Plus, you as members of any chapter can send a broadcast message to members of your chapter when you are on the chapter page. Here is a short video on how to send a message to your chapter.

From my point of view at the UUMA, you are an amazing group of people. Please show up to these events and connect in small groups. These are all opportunities worth putting on your calendar, for ‘that which is coming’ is full of your creativity, innovation, resilience and healing. Have a blessed Advent season.

Warmly, 
Rev. Denise M. Cawley

Something for Formation

MFN Formation Conversation: Grief, Change, Identity and Authority: Join us on Tuesday, December 16 at 4-5:30pm PT/ 5-6:30pm MT/ 6-7:30pm CT/ 7-8:30pm ET

Aspirants and candidates are invited to a time of ritual and reflection as we consider how throughout a formation journey, one may experience loss of role, relationship and significant shifts and responsibilities along the way. As a new semester begins, let’s take time to honor the joys and sorrows of moving from lay leader to clergy, starting and ending internships/field work and chaplaincy, navigating those identity and professional boundary issues that inevitably arrive when one is growing and changing through the many and varied shifts that seem to come so rapidly.  

Something Extra

Community Ministers Retreat: The Community Ministers Retreat will be rich with pre-and post-retreat gatherings.

  • Pre-retreat sessions: April 19, 2026, and May 17, 2026
  • Retreat: July 31, 2026- August 2, 2026
  • Post Retreat Harvesting: December 6, 2026

You are not alone as you innovate and dream of new ways to partner with our changing world. 

Upcoming Events


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. 

Hello 2026 The UUMA offices will be closed Wednesday, December 24 through January 3. Our office will reopen January 5, 2026
 
 
 

UUMA Staff
 

Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer,
Director of Ministries and Programs

Janette M. Lallier
Director of Operations and Finance

Executive Leadership Team
Melissa & Janette


Rev. Denise Cawley,
Membership Administrator

Rev. Michelle Favreault,
MFN Program Manager

Hannah Franco-Isaacs,
Program Administrator


Rev. Julica Hermann de la Fuente,
Lifelong Learning Manager

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