Tuesday 30 November 2010

Global Chalice Lighting for December 2010

The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 88th in its monthly series of global chalice lighting readings. Congregations worldwide are invited to participate.

All ICUU-affiliated groups have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the project. Every month, a reading will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world. We ask each congregation to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the “Global Chalice Lighting” for that month and naming the group which submitted it. Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language.

It is hoped that the ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Project will enhance the worship experience in our congregations and raise awareness of the international dimensions of our religious movement.

This Global Chalice Lighting is submitted in by the British General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. It is to be used during December 2010.

As we light our chalice
at the ending of one year
and the beginning of another year,
we affirm…

The radiant joy and beauty
of the world in which we live

The unity of all life and our interdependence
with the rest of creation

Our responsibility to care for and sustain
all forms of life on the planet for future generations

The uniqueness and equal dignity of every person

The power of unconditional love to transform lives

The importance of constantly seeking truth and wisdom

Our commitment to support each other
in the task of building the Kingdom of Heaven,
based on peace, justice and love

The divine ground of our being
that connects us with each other and the infinite
and which replenishes and heals us

-Roger Courtney
All Souls Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, Belfast, N. Ireland

In faith,
-Lorella
Lorella Thomas Hess
editor, The Global Chalice
ICUU newsletter
www.icuu.net

Thursday 18 November 2010

Contribute to the Szabó Árpád Memorial Fund

The Consistory of the Transylvanian Unitarian Church announces with gratitude the establishment of the Szabó Árpád Memorial Fund for PhD Scholarships in Unitarian Theology. Following Bishop Szabó’s recent passing to eternity, the intention of the church leadership is to immortalize his legacy by creating a motivational source of support and inspiration in a field that was most dear to him.

Bishop Szabó himself was a recipient of a PhD degree in Unitarian theology, from the Protestant Theological Institute in Kolozsvár; also, he was granted an honorary doctorate from both the Protestant Theological Faculty in Montpellier, France, as well as the Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, USA. Later, as he became a theological professor, he had led the PhD training of some of his spiritual successors, acting as a model for a theologian of dedicated research and prolific writing.

The creation of the memorial fund aims to provide financial and professional support for those choosing to enter a PhD training in Unitarian theology. The fund will act as an endowment, sharing its annual benefits among those enrolled in such a program. The coordination will be done by the executive committee of the Consistory; for inquiries on the fund, please write to ekt@unitarius.com.

Contributions in US dollars should be sent to the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council, PO Box 88, Bedford, MA 01730-0088. Please make the check payable to UUPCC and note Szabó Árpád Memorial Fund on the memo line.
Contributions can also be made in other currencies or using credit cards via PayPal through the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU). To arrange this, please contact Treasurer David Shaw at treasurer@icuu.net.

Friday 5 November 2010

Pray For Indonesia

Dear UU friends world wide,

I would like to share information and request of prayer from Indonesia.

Recently, Indonesia was beaten by several numerous disasters - started with Mud Flood at Wasior, Papua; then Tsunami Flood at Mentawai, West Sumatera; and the biggest Merapi Mountain Eruption at Central Java and Jogja. There was also a land slide at Toraja, Southern Celebes. We inform you that all of our church members - especially in Jogja, Klaten (central java), and Toraja - are safe from this disaster, not to neglect that this serial disasters create a deep wound and lost for a lot of people in our country.

The Volcano activity that pushes the merapi eruption seems to wake several other active mountains around Java - Krakatoa, Semeru and Bromo.

The Unitarian Christian Church of Indonesia - as a body - will send a donation through the Red Cross or a social organization named Jalinan Informasi Lingkar Merapi (Merapi Circle Information Network). We will also soon organize a volunteer among the youth to go to Jogja and join the national volunteer.

Please pray for Indonesia, especially for the victims of the disaster and their family, with hope that they can recover soon.

Regards,
Aryanto Nugroho
Unitarian Christian Church of Indonesia
(ary.nugroho@yahoo.com)