This Month lets learn about Mental Wellness and
Asian Heritage!
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When Big Feelings Come to Church
by Rev. Erica Baron
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There are lots of things in congregational life that can cause big feelings. In a recent webinar, we asked participants to name some of these things, and they did! Technology, finances, music choices, covid policy, revising the bylaws, experiencing racism, anti-racism concepts and work, any kind of change… Finally, one person said, “EVERYTHING!”
Right, everything! Everything we do together in our congregations has the potential to bring on big feelings.
In UU congregations and communities, we often talk about these big feelings as “reactivity.” So we might say that a given person is “reactive” if they have a lot of visible big feelings about things. We might even imagine a whole congregation “reactive” if visible big feelings are a common occurrence in congregational discussions.
Julica Hermann de la Fuente, Meck Groot and I have been working to build a different approach to our big congregational feelings. We believe it’s more helpful to frame this as “activation,” specifically the activation of the nervous system of our bodies.
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Admin Zoom Gathering
This is a zoom gathering for New England Region administrators, Thursday May 19, 2022, 12:00-1:30. Join your peers to share ideas, strategies, questions, concerns, and support.
Registration Deadline: Friday, May 13 or until max capacity is reached.
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Meet & Eat Series
Bring your lunch and come meet & eat with colleagues! The New England Region invites New England and Central East religious educators to a quarterly series of targeted conversations via Zoom.
Register for the next gathering: May 10th, 2022 12pm-2pm (ET)
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After our introductory gathering in January, this community of practice will reconvene this month to explore the theme:
Reactivity to Resilience: Inner Work in Congregations
Daytime offering: May 24, 1:00 PM (ET)
Evening offering: May 26, 7:00 PM (ET)
Our gatherings allow congregations to learn from each other; share concerns, stories and questions; and explore opportunities for collaboration. This month, the springboard for our exploration of the theme is a conversation on shifting our understanding of “reactivity” and how to better support each other in moments of struggle.
If you have not already joined the community of practice, you can do so using this form. The community is open to all — religious professionals and laity. Once you join, you will automatically receive registration details and the pre-work assignment before each gathering.
To learn more, follow these links:
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Congratulations Joy
This June, Joy Blanchette celebrates 20 years of UUA service as Northern New England District and subsequently New England Region administrator! Concluding this legacy of faithful service, she will be retiring at the end of June.
We welcome you to choose 1 of the 3 options to send her well wishes.
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Make a video! Share what her presence and work has meant to you with a quick video. Upload your video to this folder. All video files must be in MP4 or MOV. format and submitted by Thursday, May 26.
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Write Joy a message and feel free to include any photos on our Kudoboard. Click 'add board' on the left corner of the page to add your message & image.
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Want to send a physical card? Mail it to ATTN: Chanel Gomez/Hilary Allen at 24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210.
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Or join us in person on June 9 from 5-7pm at the UUA Headquarters at 24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210 for a short gathering to celebrate this momentus occasion. Space is limited, if you would like to attend, please RSVP.
We know that Joy’s talents and presence have touched many of you, so we invite you to help us celebrate Joy!
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Peer Pastoral Care Training
This the first of a three part series on pastoral care for and with youth for High School aged students and adults. Session 1 stands alone and future sessions are optional additions.This interactive online workshops for youth and adults who support youth to learn peer pastoral care skills in a way immediately useful in their online lives.

The three workshops are:
Part 1 - Intro to Peer Pastoral Care and Listening Skills, May 7, 2022, 4-7 pm ET - this training is required to take parts 2 or 3.
Part 2 - Supporting Youth in Crisis, May 14, 2022, 4-7 pm ET.
Part 3 - Pastoral Care After Microaggressions, May 21, 2022, 4-7 pm ET.
Registration is open Learn more at CER.
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Emergent Strategizing for Liminal Times
Join other congregational leaders for this real-time introduction to emergent strategizing in liminal times. A follow-up online workshop will be available through the UU Leadership Institute for congregations wishing to facilitate their own emergent strategizing sessions. These offerings are inspired by the facilitation work of Adrienne Maree Brown and UUA Congregational Life. Presented by Shannon Harper.
It is recommended that only one person from a congregation attend since registration is limited. Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm EDT
Everyone who registers will receive all the materials needed to help with your own congregation’s emergent strategizing.
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Scholarship for GA
Youth and Young Adults (those who’ve competed 9th grade [or the homeschool equivalent] up to 35 years old) can get a scholarship in the form of a discount code. Please invite youth and young adults to fill out this Youth and Young Adult Scholarship Form for General Assembly 2022 before they register to get their code. Codes can be used for virtual and in person registration.
Anyone, including young adults and youth group trip organizers, using the UUA GA Housing Reservation System, can use the Financial Support Application to apply for lodging credit.
Scholarships are distributed by Lifespan Faith Engagement and provided by contributions from GA registrants, the Katie Tyson Fund for Youth and Young Adult Ministry and the Jerry And Denny Davidoff Fund For Lay Leadership.
To talk with a friendly UUA staffer in Lifespan Faith Engagement about additional options for youth and young adult funding to attend GA 2022 email yayaministry@uua.org.
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For those who have been missing the physical experience, GA 2022 will also feature face-to-face interactions, hanging banners, a browsable exhibit hall, meals with friends old and new, local site attractions, and more! Join us June 22 - 26, 2022 online or in-person in Portland, Oregon.
Register and learn more.
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Young Adults Conference: Practicing for the World We Want
We will gather from June 19-26, 2022 (with a 4-night option from June 22-26) on Star Island in the Isles of Shoals, off the coast of New Hampshire. The Young Adults Conference (YAC) is an intentional community of creative and dynamic people in our first decades of adult independence, committed to learning, growing, and celebrating together.
Learn More
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UUA President Application Process is Open
Association’s next chief executive and spiritual leader to be elected at General Assembly 2023. A new Unitarian Universalist Association president—the public, spiritual, and executive leader of the UU movement and the UUA organization and staff—will be elected at General Assembly 2023, for a six-year term.
The PSC posted the application form online on Monday, April 4, 2022. The deadline to submit applications is July 15, 2022. Nominees will be announced on November 15, 2022.
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How Are You Really Doing?
Earlier in the pandemic, the UUA asked senior ministers and the congregations how they serve were doing; we’re thankful to all who participated and encourage you to take a look at the results Faith Communities Today published about the impact of COVID on congregations. Learn More
Complete the Questionnaire
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Save The Farmers Market
The farmers market at Westminster Unitarian Church is a monthly event (July through October) held in conjunction with The Sharing Locker, a monthly non-food giveaway outreach program. The Sharing Locker serves low-income residents of Southern RI. Our farmers market is a seasonal supplement to The Sharing Locker. Learn More.
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