Dear Church –

This weekend we will join with hundreds of Unitarian Universalist congregations across the country in reflecting deeply together on the call of our faith in a time of climate crisis. It is the first of its kind UU Climate Revival! Each congregation is engaging in their own way, but it’s powerful to know we are united in this way across our denomination.

What’s a revival? Throughout religious history, revivals have marked periods of resurgence in people’s commitment to their faith traditions.  Classic American tent revivals took people out of the four walls of the church and into the world.  They brought the community together and served as a galvanizing force for the future, often during times of great change or anxiety.

In the midst of overlapping climate crises and mounting social injustice, we are in a time of great change and profound anxiety.  Taking a note from those who have gone before us, the UUA Climate Justice Revival is meant to be a time to come together and re-commit, or to re-imagine a way forward for how we at A2U2 will live in this climate-changed world.

10am Worship- Our service, “A Refugia Faith”, will explore the concept of refugia, articulated by author Debra Rienstra as “a biological term describing places of shelter where life endures in times of crisis, such as a volcanic eruption, fire, or stressed climate. Ideally, these refugia endure, expand, and connect so that new life emerges.”  What it might mean for us as Unitarian Universalists to be people of refugia?

11:15am All-Ages Outdoor Nature Gathering- Grab coffee/tea, a snack, and join us under the dawn redwood tree for an opening prayer. Then, those who would like to WALK will break up into groups for a guided contemplative land walk of our expansive church grounds (led by Tim Vogel, Pauli Juneau, Patricia Ellen, and Angie Dierks). Those who would like to SIT will stay on the lawn for a small group session (led by Barb Murray and Rev. Tara), reflecting on creation through storytelling and art. Bring a chair! You can learn more about the backstory of this event here, and what the hope is for the future.

The weather for Sunday looks great. Bring a friend! It will be good to be together.

In faith,

Rev. Tara   (they/them, keep practicing!)