Mid-May NAUA Announcements & Events

North American Unitarian Association
naunitarians.org

The NAUA Compass Newsletter

Mid-May 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, !

Thanks for being curious about happenings at NAUA. We have three more upcoming events this month, including our monthly worship service on Saturday, May 17th, entitled "Conversations with Todd." On Thursday, May 22nd, both the Monthly Ministers' Support Group and the NAUA Book Club will meet.

Before we get to the details of these events, enjoy a poem about bees for World Bee Day, and consider adding some pollinator plants to your garden this year. Also, scroll through recent announcements from the Member Services Committee and the Summit Planning Committee.

Note: If you've written a poem, designed a work of art, or taken a photograph that might be a good fit for this newsletter, please consider emailing it to jmkrettek@gmail.com. If we aren't able to use it here, we may request your permission to share it on our Facebook page or via other communications. Thanks!

April / May 2025
Liberal Beacon

The most recent issue of the Liberal Beacon has just been released, containing a number of thoughtful articles, as well as reviews of books aligned with the NAUA values of Freedom, Reason and Tolerance.

To read and enjoy this issue, please click on the image at left or go to the Communications tab on our website.

NAUA Member Services Update

The Member Services Committee is still looking for co-leaders for our NAUA Regional groups. The groups will begin on Zoom, so a little experience with Zoom would be helpful, but not essential. We will train anyone who does not feel confident. If interested, please contact NAUA Member Services at memberservices@naunitarian.org and include your location.

Creating a New Fellowship?
Need assistance with your fellowship or congregation?

The ideals of truth, beauty, justice and joy are held dear by those who seek a liberal religion, and who share liberal religious values, such as Freedom, Reason and Tolerance. In order to serve the fulfillment of these ideals, some individuals, fellowships and congregations may wish to explore alternatives to the denomination that, in recent years, has undergone significant change, with more changes potentially on the horizon.

The NAUA Member Services Committee has as one of its action items to provide advice, support, and guidance to fellowships and congregations as they go about their discernment process, are breaking away from their current denominational affiliation, or need assistance in setting up a new fellowship/congregation.

NAUA Member Services Committee member Rev. Terry Cummings is the Committee’s point person for inquiries regarding the formation of a new fellowship or congregation, its leadership, or a change in the denominational affiliation for an existing congregation.

Rev. Cummings has served a number of congregations, and prior to beginning her second career as a minister, practiced corporate law in New York City for more than three decades.* She is available for friendly conversation and ideas for those interested in charting a new path forward. For more information or conversation, please contact NAUA Member Services at memberservices@naunitarian.org and add Rev. Terry Cummings to the subject line.

(*Disclaimer: Neither the NAUA nor the NAUA Member Services Committee are qualified to provide any legal services or advice, and no attorney-client relationship or privilege is offered.)

2025 Summit: "Building Bridges: Unity and Diversity"
Save the Dates: September 30 - October 5

Agenda and Registration

Your Summit Planning Committee is hard at work finalizing the agenda for this multi-day virtual gathering. Registration is expected to open in early July.

Participation Options

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. Participation can be as simple as logging into Zoom from your home computer. Or, as an alternative, some member organizations and local groups, such as UU Church of Spokane, are planning to host in-person gatherings for Zoom participation. This will allow participants to share snacks (if desired), chat in-between sessions, and discuss observations afterward. You may want to look into joining or setting up a group gathering in your area, especially during the keynote address and Saturday worship service.

Call for Volunteer Contributions

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.

If you would like to help us plan or host the event, we'd love to hear from you. In particular, we are seeking technical volunteers to serve as Zoom hosts during the Summit. Training will be provided. 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!

Volunteer Film Editor Needed

NAUA programs create 2-4 Zoom recordings per month. These videos usually need a “light edit,” removing any obvious distractions. We also like to splice in a title slide. The videos are then uploaded to YouTube.

Once this is completed, other volunteers then link the video to the website and social media. We are not looking for professional editing, just enough to reflect the quality of the recording. If you have time, interest and a capacity to learn, this can be a rewarding commitment for both you and NAUA. Please email communication@naunitarians.org to chat with someone from the communications team.

Third Saturday Worship Service:
"Conversations with Todd"
Saturday, May 17th, 10:00 AM PDT, 1:00 PM EDT

Todd Eklof, NAUA President, will be the main speaker for May's worship service. He will discuss where we are, where we have come from, and where we might go. This will be a chance to reflect on our course and offer your thoughts to the community. In addition, with our annual Summit only a few months away, participants will be invited to share their priorities and suggestions as we plan, prepare, and move forward.

Zoom access at https://tinyurl.com/NAUAService

Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Todd F. Eklof has been the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, WA since 2011, and president of the NAUA board since 2023. Eklof has two undergraduate degrees, one in Philosophy, the other in Communications, a master’s degree in religious studies, and a Doctor of Ministry. He is also a founder of NAUA and author of The Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays by One Pesky Minister (2019).

NAUA Forum CIRCLE
May 18th,
1 PM PDT, 4 PM EDT

Prior Reservation Required

May 18: "What’s good and bad about foreign aid? How can aid be usefully reformed?"

The NAUA Forum CIRCLE meets every other week to discuss a selected topic relevant to current events and issues. 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 are interested in joining, please send an email to circles@naunitarians.org to get added to the waiting list.

NAUA Book Club:
"Sapiens"
by Yuval Noah Harari
May 22, 4:30 PDT

Our May meeting features a discussion of Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.

"From renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be 'human'."

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

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Monthly Ministers' Support Meeting
May 22nd, 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
June 4th, 4:00 PM PDT

No Reservation Required

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 June, 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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NAUA Academy News

The NAUA Academy is taking a traditional ‘academic break' for the summer. Academy attendees will be receiving an evaluation survey next month. The Advisory Board will be meeting over the summer to plan an engaging and stimulating 2025-26 season. If you have ideas for topics or suggestions of speakers you would like to hear at an Academy Session, please email your ideas to academy@naunitarians.org.

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