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North American Unitarian Association
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The NAUA Compass Newsletter

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July 2026 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, !

One of the gifts of summer is the feeling that there is time to explore—to visit somewhere new, read an unfamiliar author, learn a new skill, or ask a question you've never asked before.

Liberal religion has always valued that same spirit of exploration. It encourages us to approach life with curiosity rather than certainty, humility rather than dogmatism, and openness rather than fear.

As you read this month's newsletter, we hope you'll find opportunities to continue that journey. Whether you're participating in a Circle, attending an online event, joining this month's book club meeting or simply reflecting on an article that challenges your thinking, thank you for helping build a community where questions are welcomed and thoughtful dialogue flourishes!

 
 

Helen Pluckrose is our keynote speaker at Summit 2026. Helen is an independent author and journalist living in London, England, For the past decade Helen has been publishing and leading programs and initiatives that challenge authoritarianism and illiberal actions - both on the right and on the left.

To help us get to know Helen, we will be highlighting one of her blog posts from https://www.hpluckrose.com/ each month in the Compass.

This month’s Pluckrose Blog compares criticisms about recent heat deaths in Europe to ongoing gun deaths in America and how they both relate to individual freedom: Stop Comparing Heat Deaths to Gun Deaths: What a strange transatlantic argument reveals about liberty, resentment and online discourse.

"In comments on my last piece, a few people pointed out that I had not addressed the repeated (true) claim made by Americans that more Europeans die from heat exhaustion than Americans do by firearm. I shall now do so and I shall attempt to steelman rationales for this comparison.

I should note that my original piece acknowledged two debates going on around air conditioning. One concerns public infrastructure and policy: care homes, hospitals, schools and planning regulation, and the other concerns private individuals using their individual liberty to make individual decisions about their own health and safety based largely on cultural attitudes and personal economics. Criticisms of governmental policy making it difficult or expensive to own AC and failing to provide it to vulnerable people at high risk of heat exhaustion are warranted and generally conducted seriously and thoughtfully. People who are concerned with that debate are not generally trying to make arguments comparing heat deaths to gun deaths. There is no comparable issue of the US government making it difficult for people not to own guns thereby significantly increasing their risk of being shot. Americans who make the comparison between heat deaths and gun deaths overwhelmingly defend the right to bear arms on the grounds of individual liberty and are annoyed by Europeans who have been critical of this. This, then, is a debate on the level of individual liberty and transatlantic resentment and I shall address them both. [read more...]

Questions for Helen

In preparation for her keynote address, Helen Pluckrose has asked NAUA members to submit questions or concerns about her position on liberalism. If you have thoughts to share after reading Helen's blog post, please email them to summit@naunitarians.org. 

 
We Hold the Bridge

Most of us have crossed a bridge that someone else built.

We rarely stop to wonder who poured the concrete, set the steel, or imagined that one day strangers would depend on their work. Yet every safe crossing is a quiet reminder that many of life's greatest gifts come from people we will never meet.

Our religious communities are much the same.

The generations before us built congregations, wrote hymns, established traditions, defended freedom of conscience, and preserved spaces where people could seek truth without fear. Because they gave their time, their talents, and their financial support, we inherited something of lasting value.

Now it is our turn.

The North American Unitarian Association is still young. Every new congregation, every online gathering, every educational program, every newsletter, every conversation, and every welcoming community is another beam in the bridge we are building together.

Someday, someone searching for a thoughtful, compassionate, liberal religious home may discover NAUA—not because we happened to be here, but because today's members chose to invest in tomorrow's possibilities.

Giving is not simply paying today's bills. It is extending the bridge one more span so that others can cross after us.

Whether you volunteer your time throughout the year or your monthly gift is modest or substantial, it becomes part of something larger than any one person. Together, our contributions create stability, allow new initiatives to grow, and help ensure that liberal religion remains a living, welcoming presence for future generations.

If you'd like to volunteer on a committee or task force, please email info@naunitarians.org and describe the interest and skills you'd like to share. To make a financial donation, please click on the button below. Thank you for helping build a bridge that others may one day cross with gratitude! 

SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF LIBERAL RELIGION
 
Openings Available -
Register Today!

circles@naunitarians.org

Photography as Spiritual Practice Circle
1st Monday, monthly, 4:00 pm Pacific Time
~Description on our website

SatChat Connection Circle
Meets 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 1:00 pm Pacific Time
~Join us for connection and community
(Description can be found on our website)

Forum Circle
Meets 1st & 3rd Sundays, 1:00 - 2:30 pm Pacific Time
~Description on our website
NOTE: This Circle is on break until fall

Thursday Connection Circle
1st & 3rd Thursdays, 9:00 - 10:30 am Pacific Time
~You are invited to join us for connection and community
(Description can be found on our website)

Joys & Sorrows Circle
4th Sundays, 4:00 - 5:00 pm Pacific Time. No registration required. Description on our website 

Note: The Wednesday Drop-in Conversation Circle is taking June, July, and August off and will return in September 

** For more information or to register for any of these Circles, email the Circles Team at circles@naunitarians.org **

 
NAUA Drop-In Conversation Circle

On Summer Break

Sessions will Resume in September
 

Suggestions for new NAUA programs, or changes to existing programs, are always welcome. Please email your suggestions to info@naunitarians.org or speak directly to one of NAUA's board trustees.

 
 
Photography as Spiritual Practice Circle
Monday, July 6th, 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
This Circle is for those who love expressive photography and experience the act of making photographs as meaningful in itself. Through our lenses, we can enter moments of contemplation, flow, and deep presence with the world around us. Read More....
 
The Circle is led by Lorraine Day, current president of the Bellingham Photography Club, and a known local artist.
 
Registration is required at circles@naunitarians.org
 
NAUA Board of Trustees Meeting
NEW DATE for this month!
July 3rd, 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET

The monthly NAUA board meeting is open for members to attend and observe. The NAUA Board of Trustees normally meets at 11:00 AM Pacific time on the second Wednesday of each month, but check the calendar or upcoming events page to confirm the time. The board is meeting early this month due to scheduling conflicts.  

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.

 
July NAUA Academy Session: "What Do We Need from Liberal Religion in the 21st Century?"
Tuesday, July 14th
  7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT

Panel members Rev. Twinkle Marie Manning, Nils Pedersen, Kevin McCulloch, and Mark Reimers will address this question and explore implications for troublesome issues facing us now. Then the audience is invited to pose questions or briefly address the question themselves.

The zoom URL for this event is  tinyurl.com/nauaacademy

 
Advance registration is requested.
 
Download iCalendar entry for this event
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REGISTER NOW
 
Monthly Worship Service:
"Sustaining Through Change"
Saturday, July 18th
10:00-11:30 AM PT / 1:00-2:30 PM ET

Worship Leader: Rev. “Twinkle” Marie Manning

Change permeates the human experience and the world we live in. Spiritual Growth is only possible through change. Yet, even with the natural realities of the need for change, we tend to resist it, often to our detriment and the detriment of others. This service explores ways to approach inevitable change positively.

More About Rev. Twinkle: 

Rev. “Twinkle” Marie Manning is an ordained interfaith minister currently serving as the Contract Minister for the UU Congregation of Waterville, Maine. She is a semi-retired television producer, published author, poet, artist and retreat leader. The focus of her ministry is that of “Living Life as a Prayer.” 

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

 
 
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NAUA Book Club: "Love Your Neighbor"
by Douglass & Tausen


Thursday, July 23rd 
4:30 PM PT / 7:30 ET

The NAUA Book Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month starting at 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET. All are welcome. The book choice for July 23rd is “Love Your Neighbor: How Psychology Can Enliven Faith and Transform Community” by Katherine Douglass and Brittany Tausen. 

The biblical call to “love your neighbor” echoes through centuries, yet remains one of Christianity’s most profound―and challenging―practices. In this innovative synthesis of practical theology and psychological science, professors Katherine M. Douglass and Brittany M. Tausen bring ancient wisdom from Scripture and cutting-edge research into a conversation that can revolutionize how you build meaningful connections.

Pulling from their respective areas of expertise, Douglass and Tausen illuminate the psychological pathways and spiritual practices that activate neighbor love. Through engaging stories and evidence-based insights, they reveal why human connection often falters―and provide actionable strategies to overcome these barriers.

Join via Zoom http://tinyurl.com/naua-book-club.

 
Download iCalendar entry for this event
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Joys & Sorrows Connection Circle
Sunday, July 26th
4 - 5 PM PT / 7 - 8 PM ET

The Joys and Sorrows Circle invites participants to bring a joy, a concern, a moment of gratitude, or a sorrow from their lives to be witnessed by others in a spirit of care and respect. Sharing is optional; listening is a meaningful way to participate.

No registration required. You are always welcome to join whenever you feel the need for a space of reflection and connection. 

The zoom link is: https://tinyurl.com/NAUACircles. (If you have questions or want a reminder email, contact circles@naunitarians.org)

Download iCalendar entry for this event
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