Mid-April NAUA Announcements & Events

North American Unitarian Association
naunitarians.org

The NAUA Compass Newsletter

Mid-April 2025 Announcements & Events

North American Unitarian Association is a member service organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the practice of liberal religion by embracing freedom, reason, and tolerance—rooted in our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person and all peoples.

Greetings, !

We have lots of announcements and events to share this month. But first, a reminder about tomorrow's monthly worship service.

Third Saturday Worship Service: "Life After Death"
Saturday, April 19th, 10:00 AM PDT, 1:00 PM EDT

This month's NAUA service falls the day before Easter, the day of the Christian Resurrection, so what better day to have a discussion of "Life After Death"? Bob Simoni will discuss the latest research in recalled experiences of death, formerly called near-death experiences, and then discuss the Hindu reincarnation belief system and finally end in real-life examples of young children who have inexplicable experiences of previous lives with vivid details that seem impossible to imagine.

The breakout rooms afterwards could feature interesting discussions of similar experiences by our members or those close to them.

Zoom Access: https://tinyurl.com/NAUAService

Guest Speaker: Bob Simoni is our NAUA Treasurer, board member, a long-time Unitarian, and a member of the Hayward Fellowship. Bob and his wife, Sandy, live in Paso Robles, California.

Board of Trustees April Meeting Summary by
Board Secretary Stephen Polmar

Your NAUA Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, April 9th. It was a busy meeting and much was accomplished.

Terry Anderson reported that the Technology Team had successfully completed the transfer of the NAUA website from its previous service provider to its new provider and that the website was functioning well. (We did encounter a website "hiccup" a few days later that caused our website to go down briefly. We think we may have been hacked but are still researching what happened. However, the website is back up with just a few minor adjustments still needed.) Terry also reported that the Communications Committee hosted two very successful workshops; one focusing on reflecting NAUA values in our communications and the second on communicating our values to non-members, such as through an NAUA "elevator speech." Some of the ideas and phrasing drafted by participants will be shared more widely within the NAUA in coming weeks.

Marga Hanna of the International Alliance Committee reported that she had made progress in developing a relationship between NAUA and the International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women (ICUUW) and that we would be exploring the possibility of engaging in joint projects with them. (More on how to assist with this endeavor is outlined later in this mailing.

Stephen Polmar reported that the Strategic Planning Committee was making progress toward the development of a Strategic Plan for NAUA with the expert guidance of Wayne Hanna. The committee plans to make a detailed presentation to the Board in June to seek its input. Joyce Kinnear, Chairperson of the 2025 Summit Committee, provided a detailed written report to the Board on plans for the next Summit, which will take place September 30th-October 5th and will be entirely online. More detailed information about the Summit can be found in an announcement from Joyce that follows.

The Board approved a motion by Judi Durham, Chairperson of the Member Services Committee, to create an NAUA Program Council. The Council will promote communication and coordination amongst the various NAUA Programs (e.g. NAUA Academy, Member Services Committee, Worship Committee, Communications Committee, etc.) The Council will consist of a representative from each of those groups/ programs and will periodically report to the Board of Trustees. The Board also created a mechanism to collect and retain information about participation in NAUA programs and activities, which will be set up by Board Trustee Mike Long.

The Board approved the creation of a Board Policies and Procedures Manual and a procedure for facilitating the attendance and participation of NAUA members in Board of Trustees meetings. Dates of Board meetings can be found on the NAUA website under Upcoming Events. Members wishing to attend a Board meeting should contact the Secretary of the Board at secretary@naunitarians.org for further information. NAUA member Thomas Reynolds attended the April Board meeting as an observer and Rev. Eklof invited him to introduce himself and share some of his thoughts with the Board.

Minutes of the meetings of the NAUA Board of Trustees are posted on the “About” page of the NAUA website after they have been approved by the Board. For any other questions concerning the Board meetings, feel free to contact the Secretary of the Board, Stephen Polmar at secretary@naunitarians.org

Summit Planning Committee Update from
Summit Chair Joyce Kinnear

Hello NAUA Members!

We have heard from you about what a great experience the first annual NAUA Summit was last October. We are currently putting together the workshops and schedule for this year's Summit. We are planning on making this year's even more interesting and helpful to all of our members and would really appreciate your ideas.

The theme for this year's Summit is Building Bridges: Unity and Diversity. If you have any suggestions for a Workshop, Panel Discussion, Ice Breakers or other activity you would like to see on the schedule or, better yet, coordinate or lead, please let us know! The Planning Committee would love to get your ideas. We will review them along with other suggestions, to see what works best for the theme and overall program. We are hoping to put together an interesting and educational Summit that fulfills your needs and wishes for NAUA.

This year will be an all-Zoom event, to make it easier for everyone all around the world to attend and interact on the same platform. Please save the dates of Tuesday, September 30 through Sunday, October 5 for our next Summit!

If you would like to help us plan the event, we'd love to hear from you. We are actively looking for another one or two members to serve on the committee after an existing member needed to resign for personal reasons. Please email us at summit@naunitarians.org to let us know of your interest in any of these areas.

Thanks, and see you at the Summit!

NAUA Member Services Update

The Member Services Committee has begun the development of virtual regional NAUA Groups, which might lead to in-person connections. These groups would provide members with additional opportunities to interact, network, feel a sense of community, and experience a greater connection to NAUA.

The groups will likely be within the same time zones, and around areas of higher member populations. If you are interested in volunteering to assist in the leadership of one of these groups, or have ideas for their programming, please send a message to the Member Services Committee at memberservices@naunitarians.org.

NAUA and the International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women

The International Alliance Committee of the NAUA has recently made contact with Ms. Tina Huesing, President of the International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women (ICUUW). We informed her that we would be interested in developing a collaborative relationship with her organization.

To move forward in developing this relationship, we would like to invite NAUA members who are also ICUUW members to join us. If you are presently a member of the ICUUW, we would like to hear from you, so that we can involve you in our ongoing discussions. Please contact Marga Hanna, (margahanna@shaw.ca), member of the NAUA's International Alliance Committee and of ICUUW.

NAUA Forum CIRCLE
April 20th, 1:00 PM PDT
4:00 PM EDT

The NAUA Forum CIRCLE meets every other week to discuss a selected topic relevant to current events and issues.

April 20th Topic: Liberal Governments and Immigration

If you are already a member of this group, look for an email with readings and discussion questions from Forum CIRCLE host Mark Reimers a few days before the meeting.

If you are not currently a member but interested in joining, please send an email to circles@naunitarians.org to get added to the waiting list.

NAUA Book Club
April 24th, 4:30 PM PST

This month features a discussion of The Gospel of Inclusion by Carlton Pearson.

"Fourth-generation fundamentalist Carlton Pearson, a Christian megastar and host, takes a courageous and controversial stand on religion that proposes a hell-less Christianity and a gospel of inclusion that calls for an end to local and worldwide conflicts and divisions along religious lines."

If you are interested in attending please email Ed Hudak (bookclub@naunitarians.org).

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Monthly Ministers' Support Meeting
April 24th, 10 AM PDT

NAUA ministers and ministerial friends attend a regular meeting meant to foster support, collegiality, and learning.

If you are a minister and would like to explore or join this group, please email info@naunitarians.org.

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NAUA Conversation / Discussion CIRCLE
May 7th, 4:00 PM PST

The NAUA Conversation / Discussion CIRCLE is a monthly space for connection and community building. This CIRCLE is designed for NAUA members and friends to gather, share ideas, spark meaningful conversations, and deepen connections.

Our next gathering takes place on the first Wednesday of May, from 4:00 - 5:30 PM PDT / 7:00 - 8:30 PM EDT. The NAUA Conversation / Discussion CIRCLE has no limits on participation and is open to all NAUA members and friends. Join in creating a vibrant, supportive space for dialogue and reflection. The zoom link is: https://tinyurl.com/naua-circle

For questions or to register for reminders, email us at circles@naunitarians.org. The CIRCLE will be facilitated by a member of the NAUA Board of Trustees. We hope to see you there!

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International Alliance Study Course: "Mythology Then and Now: How Can It Inform Our Future?" Part V

May 10th, 10:00 AM PST

Mythology has an important connection for Unitarians and others who practice free religions aligned with values of inclusivity, spiritual exploration and the search for universal truths. As myths often embody the mystery and wonder of life, this will be an opportunity to think of your mythical connection to archetypes and the hero/heroine’s journey. During our sessions we will explore how the commonality of myths has fostered interconnectedness and provides a foundation for our spiritual and religious traditions.

We welcome new participants to the fifth and final session of this five-part series. The time is 10:00 AM Pacific Time, 1:00 PM Eastern Time, 6:00 PM UK Time and 7:00 PM Central European Time.

This discussion group is hosted by Marga Hanna, MA, a retired Registered Clinical Counselor/Psychotherapist and Art Therapist, with experience as a University Professor and Trauma Specialist. She will be supported by Wayne Hanna, PhD., FCMC with cross-cultural experience in leadership development.

In preparation for this final session, Marga Hanna recommends:

Watching the last video in Joseph Campbell’s lecture series: "The Shaping of our Mythic Tradition," titled “The Mystical Life."
Briefly reviewing the last four chapters of Maureen Murdock’s “The Heroine’s Journey."

Time permitting, the following books would also be worthwhile reading:

"King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetype of the Mature Masculine," Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette. Harper Collins, 1990
"When God was a Woman,” Merlin Stone. Harper Collins, 1976

If you have not registered for this study course before, please register by clicking on the 'REGISTER NOW" button above. If you have already registered, there is no need to register again.

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NAUA Academy:
"A Vision for Liberal Religion" with
Dr. Matthew Shear

Tuesday, May 13th,
4:30 PM PST

Ralph Waldo Emerson decried the Unitarianism of his day as “corpse-cold” and urged the religion to evolve with new understandings of the contemporary world. Those understandings are still with us today, but our Living Tradition asks us to continue evolving with the times. Dr. Matthew Shear will share with us a positive view of what a liberal religion for the 21st century could look like.

All Are welcomed!

Guest Speaker: Dr. Matthew Shear is a 1980 graduate of the New England College of Optometry, and completed a post-graduate program from the Baltimore Academy for Behavioral Optometry in 2002. He has also trained as a peer counselor, eventually teaching the technique to others. His particular interest is in the effects of misperception on our understanding of ourselves and the world, and how that affects our behaviors. This focus eventually led him from clinical practice to becoming a religious professional. He began preaching lay-led services in 2007, and in 2018 was engaged by Channing Church in Rockland, MA as their full time preacher, where he served for two years. A former Board member of UUMUAC, he is still an occasional preacher of their 3rd Wednesday Vesper services and elsewhere.

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