September 2026 Newsletter |
Scroll for detailed information and links for each of these events (and more)!
- Sunday, September 6 at 5:00pm Woodlands (online)
- Tuesday, September 22, 7:30 to 9:00pm -OR- Tuesday, September 29, 9:30 to 11:00pm RE Kickoff (online)
- Monday to Friday, October 12 to 16 Moonrise (in-person)
- Thursdays, October 22 and 29, November 5, 7:00 to 9:00pm ET Pledge Drive 101 (online) |
2026 Ingathering Greetings from
UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt |
At the start of a new congregational year in this world full of heartbreak and struggle, UUA President the Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt shares a heartfelt message (YouTube) of gratitude and care for all Unitarian Universalists, as well as details about some important new programs now available from the UUA. |
Spotlight on UU Church of Saco & Biddeford |
Earlier this summer, a young father named Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero was murdered by an ICE agent in Biddeford, Maine. Rev. Lori Whittemore of our UU Church of Saco and Biddeford, along with UU clergy colleagues including Rev. Jodi Hyashida and Rev. Tori Rosati, responded immediately. Together they helped hold sacred space for mourners meeting in quiet clusters on sidewalks and streets usually bustling with beach goers and lobster roll lunches - now dampened by grief. Our deep gratitude remains with our UU clergy in Maine who responded to the call of public witness, and to the congregation who leaped in and hosted a deeply moving interfaith vigil. You can hear more from Rev Lori herself - she shared her story with the August meeting of The Gathering. |
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Let’s connect! Join with your peers to share ideas, strategies, questions, concerns, and to receive and offer support. Across all regions, we are trying something a little different this year. We will be offering our leadership gatherings monthly with some time dedicated to recorded content on a particular topic. These recordings will be led by your Congregational Life staff and others across the UUA, and are intended to share the most recent trends and best practices across a wide variety of topics of interest to congregational boards. Then, we will spend time in break out groups to discuss either the recording or other areas of interest.
We will gather next month on Thursday, September 10 from 7:00-8:30pm ET (a full list of dates for the upcoming year is available at the previous link). Join us for Congregational Foundations with Natalie Briscoe (Director of Congregational Life).
This gathering is open to current Board members and those who will be on the Board within the next several months. Invites and reminders with the Zoom link will be sent to all Board members later this summer. To ensure receipt, please check that all information for your congregation on my.uua.org is current and correct. Latecomers and early departures are welcome.
We look forward to gathering with you! |
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Let’s connect! Join your peers to share ideas, questions, concerns, and support on Thursday, September 24 from 10:30-11:30am ET. This will be our first gathering for 2026-2027.
This gathering is open to all New England Region congregational administrators.
The Zoom link will be sent to all congregational administrators. To ensure receipt, please check that all information for your congregation on my.uua.org is current and correct. Latecomers and early departures are welcome.
We look forward to gathering with you! |
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Religious education is shared work—woven by staff and volunteers alike. To support that work, the New England Region team is continuing our gatherings for Religious Education Professionals (REPs) and lay leaders engaged in faith formation.
Join us to strengthen your leadership, build community, and find support for the transformative work of faith formation. The invite and reminders for the first gathering with the topic and Zoom link will go out later this summer and fall. All RE professionals and lay leaders will receive the invite via email. To ensure receipt, please make sure your congregation’s information is up to date on my.uua.org.
Save the dates below! Topics will be announced soon. All gatherings will be recorded.
- Tuesday, October 13 from 7:00 to 8:15pm ET
- Tuesday, January 19 from 1:00 to 2:15pm ET
- Tuesday, March 16 from 1:00 to 2:15 pm ET
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Upcoming UUA Events & Resources |
There is a lot happening in RE this fall and beyond!
Find these events and more on our new living NER RE Document (Google). This document will hold NER, UUA, and LREDA offerings while trying to make it more clear about who is leading what. We will also note important resources and professional development opportunities. Check back often! This document will be updated regularly through the year. Tip: click on the bulleted list icon to the left of the document to open the table of contents. |
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Designed for small congregations, lay-led congregations, congregations with part-time ministry, and any congregation that is seeking resources for worship, Congregational Life’s Sermon of the Month Series is a monthly subscription service that provides recorded sermons congregations can download and use for worship. Along with a transcript of the sermon, each month’s offering includes suggested readings and hymns. Check out our archives (UUA site) for a preview of what the subscription provides. |
Join the Treasurer Roundtables meetings, now open to any UU treasurer (all regions, Canada, everywhere)! Every third Thursday of the month from 4:00 to 5:00pm ET folks will gather to discuss and learn about finance and budget related topics. The roundtables are facilitated by Sam K Pearl (they/them), Pacific West Region Congregational Life Staff. September’s roundtable theme is Congregational Budget Processes, co-facilitated by Lisa Lake (she/her), Congregational Life Budget Manager. |
UUCEF Quarterly Investor Calls |
If your congregation has their endowment in the UU Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF), you may want to know that UUCEF holds Quarterly Investor calls. The next two dates are September 8 and December 1 from 2:00 to 3:00pm ET. Sign up to attend the September call. |
Do you have questions about what makes a pledge drive effective today? Join us for a three-session webinar designed for stewardship teams engaged in a spring pledge drive on Thursdays, October 22, 29, and November 5 from 7:00 to 9:00pm ET. We will explore current congregational giving trends, pledge drive practices that are working, and examples of real UU congregations who have experienced pledge drive successes. Congregations must register as teams, with three to four people per congregational team.
Registration is required for a fee (based on congregation size). Teams for registered congregations must be finalized by Thursday, October 15. Don't know who will be on your team yet? Register ahead for your group and send your team members the event registration form when you’re ready. |
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In concert with a local host, the UUA brings you the annual Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary Conference upcoming on Saturday, April 24. This is a conference where transgender people, allies, advocates, and accomplices can bravely (and with more safety than usual) explore, learn and grow, bear witness, and be witnessed.
Curious about hosting this event in-person or feeling a quiet pull to connect with people locally on a more intimate scale? We encourage you to have a conversation with your congregation about what that can look like. Then attend the information session on hosting this conference locally in November. More information is coming soon! |
UU Institute (UUI) Resource of the Month |
September is full of fresh opportunities to welcome visitors and reconnect with members in our congregations and communities. Tending Congregational Life: Guiding the Membership Journey equips leaders and teams with practical tips and tools as your congregation gains momentum this month.
Developed by UUA staff in collaboration with the UU Association of Membership
Professionals, this self-paced training explores everything from communicating your congregation’s essence to low-risk opportunities for connection, small-group ministry, and stewardship as a spiritual practice. Learn more (UUA site).
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Join Side With Love's monthly event to strengthen your spirit, make sense of the threats to democracy, and take meaningful action alongside others! You can watch or share the recording with your congregation afterwards.
The Gathering is on the second Monday monthly at 8:00pm ET. Register for the upcoming event on Monday, September 14. This month join for Declarations of Democracy - Solidarity. |
The Woodlands: Gender Expansive Spiritual Care |
The Woodlands is a monthly, online spiritual community gathering for trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender expansive, and intersex people, as well as the parents, caregivers, partners, and spouses who love and support them.
Join next on Sunday, September 6 at 5:00pm ET. Registration is free and required. |
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If you know recently bridged youth in the Boston area please share Sanctuary Boston's Campus Ministry program! The Sanctuary Campus is an opportunity to experience all of the gifts and goodness that The Sanctuary Community gets to share, and do it all with other college students from around the Boston area. The program offers regular gatherings, small group ministry, and opportunities to organize on your college campus. Join the kickoff service on Wednesday, September 16 from 6:30 to 8:00pm ET at First Church Boston! Questions? Email Mac Perkins-High, Campus Ministry Organizer. |
Restorative Justice Institute Free Workshop |
Restorative Justice Institute is hosting a free two hour virtual workshop for clergy and faith leaders on conflict transformation. Join on Friday, September 4 from 3:00 to 5:00pm ET. |
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Please be sure to check your congregation's staff and leadership information listed on my.uua.org; login to make any necessary changes so that we can be in touch about important events and resources!
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Unitarian Universalist Association, New England Region
24 Farnsworth Street
Boston, MA
02210
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