If you would like a print copy of this newsletter mailed to you, please reach out to the office administrator at administrator@evergreenuu.org.
. Poetry ..................................................2 Youth Con Testimonials.............3 From Rev. Joe ................................4 News From the Board ...............5 Children & Youth .....................6&7 Evergreen's Offerings........... 8-11 Actions For Justice ................... 12 Broader Community ......... 13-15 UUA, Holidays and Days of Observance ................................... 16
Fall 2026 | Covers September 22nd through December 20th, 2026
2nd annual holiday craft bazaar
Newsletter
This year's Holiday Craft Bazaar will be held on November 15th and December 6th after Sunday service. Planning is just beginning, further updates will be published in the weekly newsletter. Last year's Bazaar was lots of fun so let's do it again. Contact Sandie Biggerstaff for more information, skbigg@live.com.
Upcoming Worship Services
Submit something for the Weekly Update, Newsletter or Sunday Announcements using this form or go to www.bit.ly/EUUFblurb
Evergreen
This Fall you can look forward to some excellent guest speakers: we will have Rev. Justin Almeida on October 11th, Rev. Silvia Behrend on October 18th, Joseph Bednarik will be back in the pulpit on November 15th, and on November 29th Rev. Bruce Bode will join us. Stay tuned for more details!
Table of contents
Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner Service
Since we've been using space at the Carl Gipson Center, every Fall there is a Sunday or two where we don't have access to the main Cascade View room. We've gotten creative with the shuffle of making a Sunday service happen with what we have. Those little rooms can get cramped on a Sunday. This year, on November 22nd, we are shifting to a thanksgiving potluck dinner service to start at 5pm. This will be in lieu of the Sunday morning service. Stay tuned for more details!
An Autumn gift by Nancy B. Miller
Photo by Katherine Rogers
Photo by Cynthia Becker
I was just out for a late summer stroll, A short walk was my only intentional goal. But there are times and you have known them too, When a pleasant surprise springs up right out of the blue. Hearing was my first sense that it was to reach, and it's sound held the lesson it had to teach. I had felt a morning chill a day or two ago, and now, earlier and earlier I see the sunsets glow. So what was that unique and identifiable sound? It cannot be mistaken or any imitations found. It is nature announcing "fall is near, fall is near". Prepare yourself, their message is so loud and clear. As I look up I see this honking choir fly by, Each member holds it's spot, not asking why. It's like a winged dance up in the sky, The leader honks, "We must fly South, so fly, fly, fly." Does your life compass speak to you? Does it tell you beneficial things to do? Like join a flock that serves you well, and by so doing creates positive stories for you to tell.
If you've been coming to EUUF as a friend and would like to learn how to become a member, the path begins by attending one of our Membership classes! We have a handful of classes throughout the year. You will learn about Evergreen membership, history, our UU Principles and have your questions answered. Then later in the year, we'll welcome this year's new members for a new member breakfast and a brief ceremony during our Sunday service. Please contact Alonna Chatburn, our Membership Chair, if you'd like to attend a class.
Fall 2026
Hello Evergreen Community! As some of you might know, my name is Oliver & I recently returned from the summer UU Youth Co. These youth cons are where UU Youth from communities across the Pacific Northwest area gather in one congregation to learn, have fun, & gain community. In these cons, I have made friendships that have lasted yeas, & have had the privilege of being in and incredibly welcoming, warm, kind, & fun community, full of people sharing our core values. I've leaned about how to include others, make more friends, dodge military drafts with conscientious objection, and how to properly resist fascism. My experience with cons has always been good & I hope to attend many more in the future. -Oliver
At first, I only wanted to go to SUUmmer Con because of all the things I had heard about it from my brothers (and Oliver), and . But then I actually went, and it was the best con I have ever been to in all my years of overnight camp (and that says a lot, considering I’ve been to lots of Girl Scout camps)! We got to have Chalice Circles where we had deep conversations, played games, and just learned about ourselves. We also had plenty of swim time to even out the hot days, and there was also The Game , where we didn’t know what the theme was until we were already playing (The theme was totally Finding Nemo,) spent time journaling and making art. My absolute favorite part, though, was worship. Every night we all gathered together, listened to a sermon, and sang songs. It always left me feeling so content and fulfilled. The thing I want to bring back with me the most is definitely the music, tales from our games, and all the lore that goes around. -Helen
SUUmMer Youth Con Camp Testimonials
the path to membership at Evergreen
Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am Online via Zoom & In-Person at the Carl Gipson Center, Cascade View Room Evergreen Unitarian Universalist Fellowship P.O. Box #3262, Everett, WA 98213 www.evergreenuu.org 360-659-6621 In-Person Office Hours Sundays 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 am - 5:00 pm MINISTER Rev. Joe Rettenmaier BOARD PRESIDENT Ken Rines boardpresident@evergreenuu.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES board@evergreenuu.org OFFICE ADMIN Alli Curtis administrator@evergreenuu.org RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR JW Wenzel redirector@evergreenuu.org
Members of the Board 26-27
The Board of Trustees will be busy this year. Now that we've settled into the Carl Gipson Center, it's time to think about our longer-term home. The Home Sweet Home task force will be investigating some options and reporting to the Board. We anticipate proposing changes to our Bylaws at next June's annual congregational meeting. We plan on changing the size of the Board to reflect our current size. Another change is to update our Bylaws to reflect the recent changes to the Bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We plan on collecting input from the Fellowship on these important changes. Looking beyond Evergreen, the coming year may hold some turbulent times. I am grateful that we have such an open, welcoming congregation where we can find community and fellowship throughout anything that life brings us. Ken Rines, EUUF Board President
Contact the Board via email at board@evergreenuu.org
Fall committee Fair
NEWS FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Evergreen's Board of Trustees meets once a month for their business meetings on the second Sunday of the month. All are welcome to join at Noon in the Mt Olympus room or online via Zoom.
I’ve been reflecting on community, and how the rhythms of communities and programs gather and disperse and gather and disperse rather like seasons themselves. Communities have their own ways of turning gently and almost without notice just as September’s air changes before we notice it. Autumn has a way of inviting us back into rhythm as a community. Back into one another’s presence as we share in the work of new beginnings…. As I shared during last Sunday’s Ingathering service, the sounds of our traditional Water Communion stay with me. Those soft, prayerful swooshes as each person pours water into our shared bowl is like an act of holiness, blending our gathered waters from each year past into a tangible metaphor of congregational life: each of us returns with our own lived wisdom, hopes, discoveries that makes what we create larger than any one of us could manifest alone. But this fall, I’m noticing how Evergreen is turning toward one another with a steadier trust and faith in our community’s processes and covenants. Now that we’ve acclimated to our community center home in downtown Everett, it feels like we’re relaxing into some quiet, contemplative ideation. We’re making more room for our youth to step forward with inspiring ideas. Those of us who are actively parenting or grand-parenting are showing up for familial pastoral moments that most will never see. In short, I see us turning toward one another with trust that covenant is a kind of art of not knowing yet, promising to stay in blessed relationship even as weathers shift. I spoke briefly in my sermon about the one universal essence shared across the world’s religions and cultures: compassion. I mentioned how compassion continually orients us toward what is genuine -- like a map connecting every spiritual path worth walking. As we walk into this new church year, beloveds, I see that essence throughout Evergreen: volunteering with enthusiasm, the generative imagination of our families’ and our staff’s religious explorations, growing resilience in learning how to better navigate life’s harsh turnings. I do believe autumn reminds us to trust and enjoy the steady work of beginnings, rather like trees letting go of what has already served its purpose so they can extend their roots more deeply. Communities do this too, especially beloved ones. A beloved community lets go of what no longer fits and roots into what is genuine and life-giving. As Yom Kippur reminds us this week, the work of atonement is part of every honest beginning, making repair where we can so we can more fully open our hearts and minds to possibilities for renewal. So beloveds, I want to offer a simple invitation: to once again turn toward one another, to trust the quiet steady work of growing as a community of the genuine, and to remember that every act of care and every gesture of generosity generates the beginnings of new seasons together. I am deeply grateful to be alongside you. In faith, warmly, Joe
Every fall Evergreen trots out our list of committees and reminds everyone just how much goes on behind the scenes. "We are a Fellowship of ourselves", as we acknowledge in the Offertory pledge, and part of that acknowledgment is participation where it is needed. After the service on Sunday, October 4th, the tables at the back of the Cascade View Room will be transformed into a Fair of Opportunity for everyone to talk with the leaders of all the committees we have at Evergreen, and to sign up as participants. People can certainly volunteer for more than one committee, and attend them all, if you like. More information will be shared in the coming weeks, but mark your calendars for this important event! See Desmond Smith with any questions you may have.
FROM REVEREND JOE
Ken RInes, President Desmond Smith, Vice President Karen Winchell, Secretary Kate Mallahan, Treasurer Sage Billings, Past President Wes Cain, Member-at-large Bernard Wacher, Member-at-large Rev. Joe Rettenmaier, Ex-Officio Member
Interested in Learning More?
RE Vision: We are a compassionate, interconnected community of spiritually-rooted carbon-based life forms living our values.
October 4: Family Fellowship October 18: Youth Gathering November 1: Family Gathering November 14: Youth Gathering November 22: Dinner Church
RE VOLUNTEER DISPATCH
All children and youth need to registered to participate! Thank you!
Building Community, Supporting Our Youth, and Growing Together
Every week, incredible things happen in our youth and children’s programs. We provide values-based opportunities to explore new ideas, build confidence, and discover where they belong. None of this happens by chance—it happens because of people like you who step up to share their time, encouragement, and hearts. Whether you enjoy leading a lesson, helping out from the sidelines, offering one-on-one encouragement, or mentoring a youth through a major milestone, there is a role tailored to your strengths and schedule. OUR WHOLE CHURCH RE MODEL Religious Exploration shouldn't feel overwhelming! To ensure our adult leaders and kids thrive, we run a co-teaching team dynamic on Sundays. By pairing a Lead Teacher with a Second Adult, we separate instructional delivery from room management. Class Lead Focus: Sunday RE Class What You’ll Do: Lead interactive, age-appropriate class, using provided curricula or work with JW to bring your own interest to share. You get to focus entirely on sparking curiosity and leading without worrying about room prep or minor distractions. JW or Bo have your back! Time Commitment: 30-45 minutes on a Sunday that works for you. Class Assistant Focus: Sunday RE Class What You’ll Do: Partner directly with the Class Lead to assist with providing supervision, helping hands, and encouraging kids and youth during activities. You help keep the room organized, calm, and low-stress so the Lead Teacher can teach and every child gets help when they need it. Time Commitment: 30-45 minutes on a Sunday that works for you. INDIVIDUAL CARE & YOUTH MENTORSHIP Not every volunteer role involves leading a whole group. Some of our most vital impact happens in 1:1 and small group relationships. Service Buddy The Focus: Sunday in Service What You’ll Do: Pair one-on-one with a child who to help with behavioral, sensory, physical, or emotional support during Sunday Service. You model how we behave in service with your buddy, helping them stay regulated, safe, and included without pulling focus from the rest of the service. Time Commitment: 20-60 minutes while in Sunday service. Coming of Age Mentor The Focus: Relational Youth Mentorship (Ages 12–18) What You’ll Do: Partner with and connection with youth as they explore personal values, heritage, identity, and transition into young adulthood. You serve as a trusted adult listener and guide during a pivotal developmental rite of passage. Time Commitment: 30 minutes at the start of Youth Gathering 3rd Sundays after service. Commitment might change as connections build, settle, and shift.
Registration
Save The Date!
To help all adults get involved, we are happy to provide childcare for children whose guardians are attending any Evergreen UU adult programs, covenant circles, or committee meetings held at the Carl Gipson Center. Simply reach out to JW Wenzel in advance to coordinate your childcare needs. We look forward to seeing you there!
Book Discussion Group Last Wednesday of the month 7:15 - 8:45 pm, online via Zoom September 30th - "Theo of Golden" Allen Levi, the endearing story of a curious old man who quietly moves into a southern city and, for reasons unknown to anyone but himself, undertakes a campaign of anonymous generosity. 400 pg October 28th - "Zone One" Colson Whitehead, Blending elements of genre fiction and literary fiction, the novel takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States ravaged by zombies. 322 pg Contact Michelle Valentine for more information.
WISE Women's Group 1st Tuesdays We welcome women of all ages to share fellowship, interests, ideas, life challenges and opportunities. We meet once a month, typically on 1st Tuesday afternoons in person at locations to be decided each month - out to lunch or field trips. Coming up: Tuesday, October 6th, 10:20am, HiBulb Cultural Center, 6410 23rd Ave NE, Tulalip, WA 98271
evergreen's offerings
Covenant Circles
Great Opportunities Are Coming Your Way! Maintain that summer glow and warmth by joining a Covenant Circle as we head into Fall with vibrant colors, fewer hours of daylight, the chilly days of autumn, and the beginning of a new EUUF church year. Covenant Circles or Small Group Ministry is based on three things: First small group members are committed to each other by actively supporting and caring for one another, while fostering close friendships by developing trust and mutual respect over time. Secondly, the small group commits to the fellowship by engaging in service projects that support the fellowship as a whole. The third level of covenant is the commitment of the small group to a service project to care for those in need in our wider community and beyond the fellowship. The Covenant Circles are made up of a group of a maximum of ten members and friends who meet once a month for an hour and 1/2 to 2 hours. The structure of the Covenant Circle groups offer its members the opportunity to engage in meaningful topics for discussion each month presented by their group facilitator / leader. Through these discussions we explore our spirituality and the meaning of life while developing close bonds with one another. Now is a great time to join a Covenant Circle or become a Covenant Circle Leader. Look for more information in the next few weeks about our committee fair in October where you can sign up for a Covenant Circle or the training to become Covenant Circle Leader. We hope you will JUMP into fall by joining a Covenant Circle or becoming a new Covenant Circle Leader and get to know fellow UU’s on a deeper level. Please give me a call or send me a text if you would like more information. We Welcome Newcomers! With UU Warmth, Sue Gaskin, Covenant Circle Coordinator scsg103@comcast.net, 425-220-4678
Men's Circle 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7:00 pm We are a group of men who gather to share with each other our authentic joys, challenges and insights, with the goals of personal growth and mutual support. We pledge to create affirmative, compassionate gatherings through heart-felt sharing, deep listening, honest communication, and confidentiality. We meet in various homes. Contact Dan Hall for more information.
Big Questions 1st & 3rd Fridays, potluck dinner at 6:00 pm, discussion at 7:30 pm, in person at the home of Judy & Desmond Smith in Snohomish, and Online Join us to discuss fundamental questions in philosophy. The questions take the Socratic form, What is??? What is justice? What is truth? What is it to be spiritual? All are welcome. Contact Desmond Smith for more information. http://bigquestionscafe.blogspot.com/.
Music has a way of bypassing the everyday noise and speaking straight to what matters. As Plato once put it, "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." If your soul is feeling a bit grounded lately—or if you just miss harmonizing with other human beings instead of your car dashboard—our music program is ready for you. We are currently welcoming singers and instrumentalists of all experience levels to join both our choir and our band. Whether you read sheet music like a novel or you primarily excel at enthusiastic humming, there is a spot for you here. After all, as Friedrich Nietzsche famously observed, "Without music, life would be a mistake"—and we don't want anyone making existential errors simply for lack of a good melody. Rehearsal Schedule Choir: Rehearses at 9:30 AM on the first, second, and third Sundays of the month. Band: Rehearses on the fourth Sunday of the month. This is a collaborative effort, and we genuinely mean it when we say we are open to your ideas. Come to rehearsal with your favorite suggestions about what we perform and how we perform it—whether you want to lift the rafters with a traditional choral piece, try out an unexpected folk arrangement, or introduce a rhythm that gets everyone tapping their toes. As the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, "Music is the universal language of mankind." Come help us speak it together. Drop in for our next rehearsal, bring your instrument, your voice, or just your curiosity, and let's make some joyful noise. David Stevens
Childcare at Evergreen
Music
Fall Seabeck retreat
Fun, Friends, Fellowship & Fundraising!
Friday, April 2nd - Sunday, April 4th, 2026, Pilgrim Firs Retreat Center in Port Orchard Stay tuned for more details!
Save the Date: EUUF Women's Retreat
Fun, Friends, Fellowship and Fundraising continue at EUUF! These are opportunities for those among us to be a Host / Provider of an event, activity, item or service to be made available for purchase by a Participant to support the fundraising efforts of Evergreen. How does this work? A Host will determine an event, provide the experience, at their expense, date, time and location, for a specified number of Participants. The Participant is a person who Signs up, either online or on a Sunday, Pays up the amount requested, Shows up at the event and then Talks up the good time that was enjoyed. Easy! Events, activities, experiences or items come in a wide variety, especially at this time of year. There are many holidays for parties or to help with decorating, music or food. Hikes, foraging, wreath making, pumpkin carving and cider pressing are all wonderful activities for large or small groups. Sing-alongs, games and crafting are cosy indoor activities for all ages. Making food, lending a hand, offering a lesson, sharing tickets, making a “something” are all thoughtful ways to make a donation. The details: Submit your donation online or in person BEFORE September 28. All donations will take place within the time frame of now through mid-January. All offerings with a specific date will close the night before three days in advance of the events. (If you have a Saturday event, then Tuesday night will be the last date accepting a sign-up.) All Hosts reserve the right to cancel an event if the minimum number of participants is not met. The recent fundraising events are still being talked about. Good times were had by many of us. Friendships were formed and enhanced. We as individuals benefit and so does Evergreen. How will YOU Host or Participate? Any questions, contact Judy.
Did you know our Fellowship maintains a secure online directory for members and friends through IconCMO? Because each user has their own unique username and password, your information remains safe from scammers. Plus, an online directory allows you to update your own contact information whenever it changes—keeping our records far more accurate than a traditional paper directory! You can even view your personal contribution records whenever you log in. How to Log In: Where to find it: Access the directory on our website under Member Resources > Church Directory (www.evergreenuu.org/church-directory), or log in using the IconCMO app (Google Play Store for Android devices or the Apple App Store for iOS devices). Organization Phone Number: When logging in, the system will ask for an organization phone number—please use the church office phone: 360-659-6621. Need help? If you don’t know or forgot your username, please reach out to Alli, the office administrator on Sunday or by email at administrator@evergreenuu.org. Time for New Directory Photos! It has been a while since we updated our directory photos! Rather than trying to coordinate a massive photo day, we are asking everyone to submit their own photo. Please send in an image of your entire household (note that IconCMO only allows one photo per household). You can email your image to Alli at administrator@evergreenuu.org or text your photo to the church office phone at 360-659-6621. Prefer a quick photo on a Sunday morning? Just snag Alli after the service, and she can snap one for you real quick!
Stay Connected: Access the online directory
Shoreline UU & Evergreen Seabeck Retreat Seabeck Conference Center on beautiful Hood Canal October 2nd thru 4th, 2026 Registration is open for our Fall retreat at the gorgeous Seabeck Retreat Center. This year’s featured speaker will guide you through writing processes designed to help you know each other better. The writing invitations will be accessible and engaging, gently inviting you to express different aspects of yourself. The retreat is the first weekend in October: October 2 - 4. Learn more and find registration details on Shoreline UU's website here.
NO KINGS DAY!! October 17, at the Snohomish County Plaza Save the date and stay tuned for more details. From SnoCo Indivisible: NEW Indivisible Monthly Protest: ICE Out for Good! Every 2nd Saturday of the month, 2:30-4:30 pm, 7th Ave SE & SE Everett Mall Way, Everett Learn more HERE Refuse Fascism Friday 5:00-6:30 pm, Various locations, Find information on the website HERE Weekly Warm-Up Protest Every Monday, 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Historic Soapbox Corner (Hewitt & Wetmore Ave) in downtown Everett Start your week off right with a small but mighty group with signs, flags, and music near the Snohomish County Republican Party office every Monday!
We follow the themes of Soul Matters Sharing Circle in much of our programming. The Soul Matters Sharing Circle is a network of Unitarian Universalist congregations who follow the same monthly themes so we can more easily share small group material, as well as worship, sermon, music and children’s religious education resources. This Fall the themes are: September - Beginnings October - Courage November - Healing December - Awe
Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church, in partnership with Communities Rising, is pleased to host The Detention Lottery on Saturday, October 17th, at SUUC, at 6:30pm. Doors open at 6pm and childcare is available upon request. The Detention Lottery is a play that immerses the viewer in an immigration detention center courtroom, as several audience members are detained upon entry, assigned identities as immigrants, and defend themselves against deportation as best they can in court, without preparation. The play opens up the covert, capricious, and byzantine immigration enforcement system to public scrutiny. Written by Margaret O'Donnell and directed by Amy Youngblood. Tickets available by donation online through Eventbrite and also available at the door, space permitting. Register here beginning September 10th!
The EUUF Social Justice Committee meets once a month, typically on 4th Sundays at noon in the Mt Olympus Room. Bring your lunch, all are welcome.
Global unity event
Actions for justice
The Detention Lottery
Join EUUF in our participation in a global declaration of unity. On Saturday, October 17 all over the globe groups are meeting to declare global unity. Our event is held at the Everett Public Library in the Activity Room. From 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. We are inviting the public to join in this free important event. We will sing songs, meditate, read poetry and be together for an hour of visualizing global unity. https://ourorigin.earth
The UU Ministry for Earth Community Read 2026-27 kicks off on Monday, September 28 at 4:45 - 6:00 pm PT. Have you signed up yet? **If so, please note the updated start date on September 28** If not, what are you waiting for? SIGN UP HERE We’ll be reading Radically Reframing Climate Change: A Guide to Saving Ourselves by Will Hackman. In it, Hackman argues that the problem isn’t scientific or fact-based, but rather political, emotional, and ideological. Learn more here. We’re striving to make this a multi-generational program - people of all ages are encouraged to sign up! If you’re interested in being a group leader for your generation, email us at office@uumfe.org. We’ll meet via Zoom the fourth Monday of each month at 7:45-9:00 pm ET / 4:45-6:00 pm PT. The first 15 minutes of every gathering will be Community Time where we will gather to sing songs of climate resilience/resistance before transitioning to our Community Read discussion. SIGN UP HERE
Faith Action Network Annual Dinner
anti-racism learning circles
UUmfe Community Read
Celebrate the animals who share our lives and the wider world! Join UU Animal Ministry on Sunday, October 4 at 1 PM PT for our Annual Celebration & Blessing of the Animals. In celebration of the organization’s first 40 years, we’ll be hearing from a historian and four former presidents, reflecting on the future of animals in our UU faith, and of course, blessing the animals in YOUR life! This joyful online gathering includes music, readings, poetry. Bring your love for animals and connect with others in a spirit of reverence and celebration. All are welcome! Visit UUAM.org/current-events for details.
Registration is now open for our 2026 Annual Dinner! Please join us for an evening of inspiring stories, delicious food, and uplifting music as we celebrate the collective power of our multifaith voices! Together, we’ll honor the relationships we’ve built and the impact we’ve had over the last 15 years. We will also ground ourselves in the work at hand and look toward the future of multifaith advocacy in 2027 and beyond. This year we are holding two stand-alone events in Seattle and Spokane on different dates. At the dinner, you’ll also have the opportunity to invest in FAN’s ongoing advocacy and public action. Your generosity will help sustain Faith Action Network’s mission and vision of a strong multifaith voice across the state for another 15 years! Join us in Seattle at Seattle University or online on Sunday, October 18 at 5pm. RSVP for Seattle Join us in Spokane at Gonzaga University on Sunday, November 8 at 5pm. RSVP for Spokane
You are invited to join an Antiracism Learning Circle this fall. It’s on Zoom, so you can join from anywhere. Invite your friends, too. REGISTRATION plus full descriptions and schedules is HERE The website is HERE. LEARNING CIRCLES are small discussion cohorts based on a book or podcast that provide: Important learning about white supremacy, racism, and our national history The opportunity to build trust and go deep in small group discussions over time A safe place to have difficult discussions and deal with discomfort An opportunity to create and strengthen relationships with others Connection, focus and purpose in a virtual setting
Annual Celebration & Blessing of the animals
Pet loss support group
Losing a beloved animal companion is never easy. You don’t have to grieve alone. The UU Animal Ministry Pet Loss Support Group, led by UU Chaplain Rev. Russell Elleven, DMin, offers a compassionate space to share and heal. This free online group meets the first Wednesday of each month at 8 PM EST. Whether you are facing the loss of a pet now or mourning one who has passed, you’ll find comfort and connection here. For Zoom details, contact Rev. Elleven at relleven@gmail.com.
We are pleased to announce that the UUA’s Common Read for this year is the collection of essays, Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, edited by our Association’s President, Rev Dr Sofía Betancourt. We may agree that love is central, but what does that mean to us and what does it require of us? It is in that spirit that we asked more than two dozen leaders in our movement the question of what it means to put love at the center of our faith. In these pages, you’ll find personal testimony to love’s power, reminders of the centrality of love throughout the long histories of Universalism and Unitarianism, and theologies of love drawn from many different expressions of Unitarian Universalism—from the natural world to the justice rally, to a loved one’s deathbed, to the quiet moment before a worship service begins. May Love at the Center serve as an invitation to deepen your own understanding and practices of love. (from shopinspirit.org) Purchase Love at the Center from inSpirit: the UU Book and Gift Shop Love at the Center audiobook and ebook options are also available from other retailers.
September 22nd: Autumn Equinox 23rd: Celebrate Bisexuality Day 25th: (sunset) Sukkot begins October LGBT History Month 2nd: (nightfall) Sukkot ends 11th: National Coming Out Day 11th: Clergy Appreciation Day 12th: Indigenous Peoples’ Day & Canadian Thanksgiving 26th: Intersex Awareness Day 31st: Halloween & Samhain November American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month 1st: All Saints’ Day & clocks BACK one hour 2nd: All Souls’ Day 8th: Diwali 11th: Veterans Day & Remembrance Day (Canada) 20th: Transgender Day of Remembrance 26th: Thanksgiving (US) 29th: First Sunday of Advent December 1st: World AIDS Day 3rd: International Day of Persons with Disabilities 4th: Hanukkah begins 12th: Hanukkah ends 21st: Winter Solstice / Yule
submission deadline for the Winter newsletter: December 14th date range: December 21st through March 20th Send your submissions to newsletter@evergreenuu.org Or submit using this form
Please check the calendar on the Evergreen website for the most current offerings, activities, events and worship services.
2026-2027 UU Common Read
UUA holidays & days of observance