Your NWA home for a liberal religion
We welcome two leaders from our community who are working to help people in Northwest Arkansas. Don Bennett is the founder and Executive Director of Tri Cycle Farms, a sustainable community urban farm. Solomon Burchfield is the Executive Director of New Beginnings, a bridge housing community working to move homeless folks into permanent housing. Learn what these groups are doing to make a difference and how we can help.
To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.
Join us as our own David Edwards speaks on this timely topic. David, a professor emeritus of the U of A, where he taught Russian History, addresses three questions: (1) What is the Unitarian Universalist Association’s stance on war? (2) What are the causes for the Russian “Special Military Operation?” (3) How might we respond? At the end of the service, we re-dedicate the Peace Pole that has stood in silent vigil for many years on our grounds, serving as an internationally-recognized symbol of a continued hope for peace on earth.
To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.
This is NWA Pride Weekend, and this Sunday is Rev. Stevie’s last as UUFF Minister, so let’s have a Pride service! Stevie speaks about Pride’s possibility and potential for all; and we enjoy music from Jori Costello and the UUFF Choir, as well as Skylar Conover.
To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.
A recent poll found that 72% of Americans believe that climate change is happening, but only 57% believe that humans are causing it. Join us as our own Bill Nichols speaks on “Human Induced Climate Change.” Bill will talk about what humans are doing to cause climate change and what we can do to help stop it. This is the first in a series of three messages on “Earth Care” from our Social Justice Team.
To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.
By Georgia Lance, UUFF Member since 1995
One of the distinctions UUFF is proud of is being a welcoming congregation. We had discussions, attended trainings and had speakers on the issue of being an inclusive congregation for LGBTQ+ people. Some of us would like to add the distinction of being a welcoming congregation for folks with disabilities. Several of us have recently formed a working group to attempt this very task. We are hoping to raise awareness, educate and help fellow members find simple ways they can help in making people with disabilities feel welcome in our fellowship.
I’d like to give a shout out to Gene Vinzant for listening to our concerns about aisles being left clutter fear and wide enough for those of us in either walkers or wheelchairs. I’ve seen great improvement in this area these last couple of months.
How to deal with service dogs is an issue I witnessed during our annual Pride Service. We had two women, one in a large electric wheelchair, with good sized service dogs, trying to cram themselves into a narrow space. It would have been a simple matter to have removed two chairs from the row behind them and give them enough space for their service animals. I suspect if anyone had offered to do that for them, they would have been very grateful.
Another disability issue we have in our congregation is both children’s and adult religious education is located downstairs, which is inaccessible to those of us in walkers or wheelchairs.
The sidewalk located on the lower level requires walking down and back up a steep incline, which is not possible for many of us. In a nutshell, the lower level of our building is off limits for some members of our fellowship. I have seen mothers carrying their children up and down the steep staircase because the children are unable to walk the stairs.
This past Sunday, three of us did a physical audit of our building and grounds, using materials from UUA, to see what is working in our building and what isn’t. We are hoping to help people understand that access for people with disabilities is a social justice issue along with the others our denomination has championed over the years. We are also hoping others will join us in exploring ways we can become a welcoming congregation for people with disabilities.
The 2022 UUFF Pride Service! Our band and choir provides lively, encouraging music, and Rev. Steven’s message feeds the flames of our Pride, redefining faith and reframing the phrase “Queer AF.”
To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.
In this trans visibility service, Rev. Dr. Steven Gaines will interview trans singer-songwriter Skylar Conover, who will perform a couple of her songs. According to Skylar’s Facebook page, she strives “to make the world a better place.” She will discuss her experience and her use of music to process life, identity, and spirituality.
CLICK HERE to view the order of service.
This Sunday, we honor the Earth with our “Climate Justice for All,” service and speaker, Shelley Buonaiuto. Many of us are very concerned about climate change and the detrimental and often disparate impacts on communities both locally and globally. We will examine these struggles and share actions we can take to accomplish positive environmental and social change. UUFF member Joanna Person-Michener will provide an overview of the issues before introducing Shelley, who will share her knowledge and experience from engaging with Arkansas Delta communities to promote climate justice.
About Shelley Buonaiuto: Shelley has been a member of Citizens’ Climate lobby since 2012. She is most active in researching and addressing the intersection of climate change and racial equity and is a regional representative for the Diversity and Inclusion Committee within Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Shelley is a sculptor who has long attempted to represent racial equity in her work and is also a mother and grandmother!
This Sunday, we joined with hundreds of other UU congregations around the nation for a joint service aimed at mobilizing our communities to #VoteLove and #DefeatHate in the 2020 elections. Speaker is UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray. There was a line-up of powerful, prophetic UU voices as we explore the intersections of faith, justice, and democracy in this collective virtual service.
Click HERE for the lyrics to sing along with the opening and closing hymns!
It is time to kick off our “church year” with our seasonal Water In-Gathering! This year, let’s do something a little different. We’ll call it a ‘Waterfall of Hope.”
As usual, all are invited to have a bit of water from a special place (and a place to safely pour it when the time comes), but this year, as you pour your water, you are ALSO invited to allot $20 of “Hope” from the UUFF Giving Fund to a specific LOCAL charity/organization of your choice (let’s give to those that help people, nature, environment…and leave politics out of it for this Sunday). For your convenience, you can click HERE to view a list of some local charity organizations to research and consider. We’ll do this up to $1000. A few of us will be present in the UUFF Sanctuary to pour a bit of water (on your behalf) into our UUFF Fountain and write down the requests so that we can fulfill the giving of Hope.
When all who wish to give water, and/or Hopes have spoken, we will close the ritual by starting our fountain and enjoying a bit of music! A Sunday of Hope, for each other in Fellowship, and the broader community as well.
With Ren Pasco
“Justice, UU, and UUFF.” Led by Adele Coleman and Brooke Eldredge.
