Pacific Western Region
November 2025 |
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Content
Blogpost
Mylo Way, Youth and Emerging Adult Ministry Staff
News: Pacific Western Region
December Newsletter
Help Shape Our 2026 PWR Regional Assembly Theme
UURISE Justice Summit
News: Unitarian Universalist Association
UU Institute
Faith Communities Today - Survey Reminder
EQUUAL Access Sermon Contest
Unitarian Universalist Mental Health Network - Become a Companion
Meet the Moment Wave Cohorts
Where Do We Start?: Exploring Sing Out Love (the UUA Virtual Hymnal)
Building Beloved Community - Beyond the Binary
Congregational Leaders Conversation
Southern Region - Lead with Love Conference
Side with Love
Central East Region Winter Institute 2026
Central East Region Summer Institute 2026
Congregation Announcement
Pacific Central UU Women and Religion Spring 2026 Retreat
2026 Pacific Southwest Assembly - April 24-26, 2026
Important Resources
Non-Fellowshipped Ministers Gathering
UUA Job Board / UUA Job and Careers
Congregational Incident Form
Community Resilience Hub
Disaster Relief Fund
UU Mental Health Network
Publications
November Publications |
Pacific Western Region Board
Co-Presidents, Bob Miess and Libby Fitzgerald
Treasurer, Lisa Lake
Secretary, David Sheh
At-Large, Russ Menk, Ramon Urbano
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Pacific Western Region Staff
PWR Lead
Rev. Sunshine J. Wolfe
PWR Program Staff
Rev. Summer Albayati
Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh
Rev. Tania Y Márquez
Mx. Sam K. Pearl
PWR Administrator and Bookkeeper
Hara Madera
Melanie Buck |
Pacific Western Region Links
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Beloveds! It is November. Already.
It's the harvest season. For some of us, a time of gathering and sharing and gratitude. For some of us, a reminder of the lack and struggle. Abundance and absence surround us. This may be in material goods, may be in spirit, may be in emotional wellbeing. What a powerful reminder of the interconnected nature of all of our existences. A time for religious educators and ministers to lean on each other and offer support to prepare for and push through the holiday seasons. A time for congregants to deepen and engage their connections with each other and the communities around. And a time when I know that I need to be allowed to be and feel who I am and how I am in the world. Sometimes, I just need to be grumpy and for that to be ok. And sometimes I am ready to celebrate and share in the abundance. What a blessing we can offer each other and ourselves by being present to and as whatever is true today. A basic part of our covenantal community as I understand it. If you’re looking for more wisdom on covenant, may I direct you to the latest episode of JUUST Breathe, A UU Podcast or the latest Threshold Conversation exploring what it means to be together.
AND. Today is election day in this country, the air is filled with some possibility, some fear, some hope. Maybe some ennui for the minimal things on the ballot where we live. Tensions and stakes and emotions are high. There is no right or wrong way to land when it comes to this, and a reminder that voting is a sacred and holy starting point for good transformational work. If you’re feeling over or under-whelmed right now, I want to direct you to the Community Resilience Hub filled with resources to help channel and direct the energies that are building. Action, reflection, collective work and healing.
It's a time of big feelings and big needs. We need each other more than ever. Snuggle up, ask for help, offer support, rest, and show up. Again and again. Find the music that fuels you, share a meal, make art, scream, march, nap, dance, write letters… do what you do to thrive in these times. Want to improve your listening skills? Consider the Peer Pastoral Care Course. Want to connect with other UUs engaged in justice? Check out the Side With Love Action Center and our friends at UURISE are hosting a Justice Summit online November 21-22. Do what you can, rest when you can.
When you find your space in a place of abundance, please share generously and widely. When you find yourself in a space of want, please ask. May all our needs be met.
Be gentle with yourself and fierce with the world.
-Mylo Way, Youth and Emerging Adult Ministry Staff |
News: Pacific Western Region |
Greetings,
Please note there is no newsletter in the month of December, we will be back in January 2026.
- Hara Madera, PWR Regional Administrator |
Help Shape Our 2026 PWR Regional Assembly Theme |
Hello PWR,
We’re thrilled to announce that our Pacific Western Region (PWR) Regional Assembly will take place April 10–12, 2026! As we begin the joyful work of gathering and planning, we want you to be part of shaping this meaningful event.
Your voices, creativity, and shared spirit make our community thrive—and we’d love your ideas for the Assembly theme. What calls to your heart right now? What stories, values, or visions do you hope will guide us as we come together in faith and fellowship?
Please take a few moments to share your thoughts using the form below. Together, we can co-create a Regional Assembly that celebrates our UU values of connection, justice, and collective imagination.
Here are some of the theme ideas:
- "Good Enough for Now, Safe Enough to Try"
- "This Is Who We Are"
- "Who Are We?"
- "Rising Resilient"
- "PWR: Pacific, We Rise!"
Complete survey HERE. Survey ends on November 11 at 11pm PT.
With gratitude and excitement,
The PWR Regional Assembly Committee
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Dear Friends,
Mark your calendar! On November 21 & 22, we gather for our UURISE Justice Summit designed to fortify your connections, deepen your learning, and inspire your action!
This online event offers:
- Knowledge and skill-building workshops on immigrant justic, policy updates, and organizing tools and strategies.
- Spiritual nourishment, creativity, and joy woven throughout each session to model sustainable approaches to justice work.
- Networking opportunities to strengthen partnerships for building collaborative power.
Whether you join as an individual or with your whole team, you'll lave with renewed energy, practical resources, and deeper connections to sustain your justice work.
INVITE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES! HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! Forward this email and/or encourage people to sign up to get more information. LINKS FOR NEWS SIGN UP.
Stay tuned! More information coming and registration opens soon!
In solidarity,
The UURISE Team |
News: Unitarian Universalist Association |
Congregational Life Online Leadership Courses. Transform yourself and your congregation to ensure that liberal religious values will have more impact in the world. Deepen your faith, connect with other UU leaders and grow your congregation.
Courses range from safety policies, stewardship, leadership development, board basics, to the membership journey, intercultural skills, creating covenants, youth advisor training and more. Every area of congregational life is represented. Courses range in cost from free to $30 per person. Registration for the site is free. Learn more. |
Faith Communities Today - Survey Reminder |
Reminder: Survey - Due November 14th
UUA congregations are being asked to participate in a national study of religious life in America. The Faith Communities Today (FACT) series, begun in 2000, provides critical information from 25+ different faith groups about the changing nature of congregational life. Congregational Administrators, Board Presidents and Ministers received a link to the survey on 10/1, followed by a reminder on 10/21. The survey is completely confidential and the combined results will be published early next year at www.faithcommunitiestoday.org. In the late Spring, the UUA will also host a learnings conversation for our communities. Thank you for helping be sure our congregational information is reported! |
EQUUAL Access Sermon Contest |
The EqUUal Access Carolyn Cartland Sermon Award Contest is accepting sermons on disability-related themes and topics. The entry deadline is May 1, 2026. A cash prize of $500 will be awarded and presented as the online annual EqUUal Access celebration. For more information the see Sermon Contest Entry Information. |
Unitarian Universalist Mental Health Network - Become a Companion |
The Unitarian Universalist Mental Health Network is running a “Become a Companion” Workshop on Saturday, November 15 from 1:00 to 4:00pm ET. Companionship is a dynamic and inspirational model that empowers everyday individuals to support those experiencing emotional or mental distress. Through a three-hour interactive training, participants gain the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to build authentic relationships with people in need.
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Meet the Moment
Wave Cohorts |
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Meet the Moment is a movement-wide framework helping Unitarian Universalists to collaboratively analyze, discern, and take values-based action in response to today’s religious, cultural, generational, and political realities.
Normalizing Change in Congregational/Communal Life Wave Cohort
Saturday, November 15, 2025, 11am PT, 4 hours with breaks.
Making changes in congregational life can be challenging. Yet, as uncomfortable as change may be, it is one of the few constants in our lives and the life of our UU communities. It is, in fact, a necessary element of our Living Tradition. On Saturday, November 15th, we invite all UU congregational/communal leaders to join the Normalizing Change Cohort in exploring the nature of change. Cohort members will share their knowledge and experience during times of change in their UU communities. Change work is easier with partners. Come and meet some of your partners. Come and get some tips on leading for change. Come and share ideas with others. Come and have your cup filled a little so that the work of change can be exciting once more. The changes we choose that help us to amplify our deepest values are good for our congregations and good for the world. We hope you will join us in this rich discussion! Details on the event webpage. |
Where Do We Start?: Exploring Sing Out Love (the UUA Virtual Hymnal) |
Designed for congregations without professional music staff, and led by Rev. Erika Hewitt and Sing Out Love composer Soren Austenfeld, this webinar will help worship leaders and choir members choose, learn, and teach some of the 60 new hymns in Sing Out Love.
Our hour-long program will begin with a brief tour of Sing Out Love, including a way to find new songs that are easy to learn. Soren and Rev. Erika will then provide tools & strategies to both learn new hymns and teach them in worship, using hand-picked examples from the hymnal. Our final ten minutes will focus on participants' questions.
Please join us at either of these times:
- Sunday, November 9 at 4:00 p.m. PT
- Tuesday, November 11 at 4:00 p.m. PT
By signing up, you'll receive a reminder and a Zoom link for both sessions. The Zoom link will be sent on Friday, November 7th and again on the mornings of Sunday, November 9th and Tuesday, November 11th. Learn more about Sing Out Love at the UUA website. |
Building Beloved Community
Beyond the Binary |
Please sign up to learn more about being a satellite Congregation on Saturday, April 18, 2026, during the Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary (BBCBB) event in Syracuse, New York. Satellite Congregations will create and hold space for transgender people in the community to come together and connect with one another. They will also create and hold space for allies who want to learn how to better support transgender people in their families and communities. In this session, Congregations will learn the how, when, where, and all the details of being a satellite congregation for the BBCBB.
Live info session: Monday November 24th 4:00 PM - 5:00PM PT. Please fill out this form if you are interested in hosting BBCBB this year and did not host last year. We will forward your information to your regional staff. They will reach out to you! Please register by Monday, November 17th. Learn more on the event page. |
Congregational Leaders Conversation |
November 18 (monthly, generally 4th Tuesdays), 4:30-6pm PT.
Making changes in congregational life can be challenging. Yet as uncomfortable as change may be, it is one of the few constants in our lives and the life of our UU communities. It is, in fact, a necessary element of our Living Tradition. The changes we choose that help us to amplify our deepest values are good for our congregations and good for the world.
Two members of the UUA’s Normalizing Change Wave Cohort will join us for an exploration of how change happens in congregations. These changemakers will share their stories and learnings about the nature, sustainability, and joy of change-leadership, and you’ll be invited into the conversation. Register for Congregational Leaders Conversation |
Southern Region - Lead with Love Conference |
The Lead with Love conference is an in-person event as part of SR’s Leadership Experience. Save the date, February 7, 2026, in Greenville UU Fellowship, Greenville, SC. Registration will be open soon. Details at the UUA website. |
The Gathering by Side with Love on November 10, 5pm PT
The Gathering is a monthly virtual event from Side With Love, designed to offer:
- Spiritual Grounding – Strengthen your heart and spirit for the work ahead.
- Political Analysis – Understand the threats to democracy and justice.
- Collective Action – Organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world.
Upcoming topics for The Gathering:
Upcoming Gatherings
Side with Love News & Resources
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Central East Region Winter Institute 2026 |
Winter institute is back for 2026. Come join us for this relaxing weekend in UU community, February 13-16 at Salt Fork State Park in Cambridge, OH. The event page and registration will open in the first week of November. Early bird registration runs through January 15 and rooms must be booked directly with the Lodge by January 15 to be part of the block. Learn more on the event page. |
Central East Region Summer Institute 2026 |
The Summer Institute Planning Committee is pleased to announce that the 2026 Theme speaker will be Rev. Susan Ritchie, speaking on Co-Creating Hope: The Art and Beauty of Resilience. Join us at Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH, July 5-11, 2026. Like the theme? You can submit a t-shirt design for 2026. Learn more at the CERSI website. |
News: Youth and Young Adults |
There are no Youth and Young Adults announcement this month. |
Congregational Announcement |
Important Note: If your congregation would like to share an event in the PWR Newsletter, please email pwr@uua.org with the following: event poster (if available), brief summary of the event, and any relevant links. Please note that events listed in this section are sponsored by local congregations and have not been reviewed or endorsed by the UUA or the Pacific Western Region (PWR). |
Pacific Central UU Women and Religion
Spring 2026 Retreat
February 27 - March 1, 2026 |
We return to Enchanted Hills in the redwoods west of Napa, California—now completely renovated and more enchanting than ever. Workshops will include music, art and dance; nature walks through the redwoods, and more.
Cost will be $430 for the weekend, including all lodging and meals. Register with a minimum $100 deposit *before December 15* to get a $30 early-bird discount!
The 2026 planning team includes Angela R, Bernadette B, Bev M, Marnie S and Gretchen O.
Inclusion: We believe that trans women are women, without exception. We believe that gender-expansive, nonbinary, or two-spirit people who feel most comfortable in/identify with women's spaces should be welcomed and included in our work. When we say women+, we include these people.
UU Women and Religion was brought into being at the 1977 UU General Assembly, focusing on ending patriarchy in our denomination. |
2026 Pacific Southwest Assembly
April 24-26, 2026 |
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Save The Date for the Pacific Southwest Assembly, April 24-26, 2026, at the Rancho Palos Verdes, Unitarian Universalist (UU) campus. The Pacific UU Church is located South of Los Angeles and West of Long Beach and is central for those traveling in most directions. In the spirit of the former district assembly, we invite UUs and affiliated people to join in our Blue Sapphire reflection – 65 years of UU history – with a look ahead as we strive for Justice.
Help to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the merger of the Universalists and Unitarians in the US and the creation of Camp de Benneville Pines. Reflect upon 65 years (Blue Sapphire) of UU successes and struggles, the good and the ugly, while we keep our eyes wide open in the pursuit of justice for all. Let's learn from history and blend our voices with our ever-current arc toward Justice. The assembly is a unique creation of workshops, music, and keynote speakers, and we invite you to provide event planners with your ideas and suggestions for workshops and activities.
Formerly known as the Pacific Southwest Service Area Assembly and made up of the churches of the former PSWD, our annual assembly brings together UU's and affiliates from the 50 churches located in the Pacific Southwest. Congregations participate in meaningful exchanges and exciting workshops. The two keynote speakers help to carry the theme and stimulate deep conversations. Church leaders meet on Friday for the Leadership Luncheon with speaker. Sunday concludes with an exuberant worship and choir service.
More information to follow. Create a placeholder on your calendar, April 24 - 26, 2026, and plan to be a part of this historic event. Every church can have representation in person and/or on Zoom.
Dale Botts,
Pacific Southwest Assembly Planning Chair & Member Board of Directors De Benneville Pines, Inc. (dba Camp de Benneville Pines)
For more information and to provide your ideas, contact Dale Botts: dale.botts2@gmail.com, 714.686.2791 (he/him) |
Non-Fellowshipped Ministers Gathering |
Ministers who are not fellowshipped with the UUA and are serving UU congregations are invited to gather monthly with the MidAmerica's Regional Lead. We will share information, experiences, and resources with one another and explore questions concerning the UUA and Unitarian Universalism. Register now. Meets are second Tuesday of the month beginning September 9th. Details at the UUA website. |
UU Job Board / UUA Job and Careers |
Congregations are hiring, check out the UU Job Board to see what is available.
The UUA is hiring for several positions. Find job descriptions and application information at their Job Openings webpage. |
Congregational Incident Form |
The simple Congregational Incident Form provides a way for congregations to inform the UUA of a threat or disruptive incident that comes from outside the congregation itself, helping us track trends and create resources.
All forms come to Safe Congregation Program email, safecongregations@uua.org. Please let us know if you have any questions. |
If your congregation is struggling with how to respond in this moment, please check out the UUA's Resilience Hub. This is a location where we are gathering resources to help congregations build strong, connected, and resilient communities. |
The UUA has a Disaster Relief Fund for those who want to make a donation to help congregations who have faced losses due to tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires and more. Please donate if you can. Learn more about the work of the Disaster Relief Fund. We are Better Together. |
The UU Mental Health Network, is driven by a single goal; to empower the Beloved Community in honoring each individual 's unique mental health journey towards wellness..
We envision a world where the Beloved Community: is a place where all members feel welcomed, understood, and held in love; engage in respectful curiosity to understand emotional distress; welcome open, authentic, and fearless sharing about mental health; and passionately commits to mental health justice. For more information, click here. |
Pacific Western Region of the UUA Newsletter |
This email was sent to congregational leaders, committee chairs and staff.
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Pacific Western Region - UUA
P.O Box 567
Brighton, CO 80601
United States |
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