Greetings, !

As the Northern Hemisphere moves into the season of darkness, let us find light and joy among our friends and family and within ourselves. 

To Know the Dark
by Wendell Berry

To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.

To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,

and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,

and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.

Due to the Christmas holiday, some NAUA events have been moved forward; read below to learn more. We hope you are able to take a break from your holiday decorating, shopping, baking, wrapping, caroling and more to spend some time with your NAUA friends this December.

Note: If you'd like to share a personal poem, work of art, photograph or short message with other NAUA members, please consider emailing it to jmkrettek@gmail.com for inclusion in this newsletter or posting to our social media accounts. We will try to include holiday-related messages in the mid-December Compass.

The NAUA board of trustees recently appointed two new trustees to fill open positions. They will serve until the 2026 Annual Meeting, when they may stand for election.

Dear NAUA community,

 

I want to express that being part of NAUA makes me feel a strong sense of belonging. I feel genuinely connected to the NAUA community, much more than I do with the UUA. In the UUA, only our leaders here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines can participate in gatherings via Zoom, and others in our congregations cannot easily connect. NAUA, however, makes me feel included, valued, and part of a broader community.

 

Thank you again for welcoming me and for your continued support. I look forward to staying connected and contributing wherever I can.

 

Warm regards,

Rev. Jeremias Jr. B. Bacaling

Dear UU Friends and Family,

Warm greetings from the Philippines.

I am writing with a heavy and prayerful heart to share that Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, my beloved hometown, has been badly devastated by Typhoon Tino and the recent earthquakes. This is the place where I grew up with my father, mother and siblings, and where many of my relatives and friends still live.

The situation is heartbreaking. Around 30 people have lost their lives, and there are still many missing. Countless families have lost their homes, and many are struggling without food, clean water, and shelter. My own family — including my father and relatives — are among those affected and in urgent need of help.

At this difficult time, I am humbly appealing to our UU friends and partners in the U.S. to extend your compassion and generosity. Your support will help provide food, clean water, and other essential needs for those most affected. After distributing the relief, I will share a full report and receipts for transparency and accountability.

Our Unitarian Universalist faith teaches that love knows no boundaries, and when we act together in compassion, light overcomes even the darkest times.

Your kindness and solidarity will bring hope and healing to many lives.

Thank you so much for your prayers, care, and generosity.

With deep gratitude and faith,

Rev. Jeremias Jr. B. Bacaling
Director for Religious Freedom and Relations
National Partnership Coordinator | Youth Coordinator | UMA Secretary
Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines, Inc.

Many thanks to NAUA members who have already donated a total of $750 for Typhoon Relief for the UU Church of the Philippines. These funds have already been transferred to provide immediate relief. The donation link is still open for anyone who may wish to contribute. 

The Thursday Connection CIRCLE is accepting new participants. We meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday each month from 9:00 - 10:00 am Pacific Time. If you’d be interested in joining this CIRCLE, please email circles@naunitarians.org

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If you are interested in joining or observing a board meeting, please read the board meeting participation policy on our website before emailing our board secretary for the Zoom link: secretary@naunitarians.org.

Note: Past board meeting minutes can be found on our website.

FROM THE BOOK COVER: From Johns Hopkins medical expert Dr. Marty Makary, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Price We Pay—an eye-opening look at the medical groupthink that has led to public harm, and what you need to know about your health.

More Americans have peanut allergies today than at any point in history. Why? In 2000, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a strict recommendation that parents avoid giving their children peanut products until they’re three years old. Getting the science perfectly backward, triggering intolerance with lack of early exposure, the US now leads the world in peanut allergies—and this misinformation is still rearing its head today.

How could the experts have gotten it so wrong? Dr. Marty Makary asks, Could it be that many modern-day health crises have been caused by the hubris of the medical establishment? 

If you are interested in attending, please email Ed Hudak at bookclub@naunitarians.org.

Our December service will be on the 20th. The 20th is the day of Solstice, and just before our Christmas and New Year holidays. This is a time to reflect on how lucky we are, to wish others well, to assist those we can, to enjoy family, friends, and food, to give and receive, to embrace life and new beginnings.  Our service will feature holiday music, stories, and reflections on the season by our members. For some, this year and this season are not what was wished for, but hopefully this gathering will offer a ray of sunshine. We invite you to join the service and share in our community.

To avoid interfering with members' holiday plans, NAUA will not be hosting regular events between Dec. 21st and Jan. 6th. These events have been pulled forward in December to maximize attendance. Please note any changed dates shown above.