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G'day and Kia ora to all our readers, and welcome to the March 2024 newsletter!

As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, the interdependent web of all existence, and the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We respect the diversity of religious traditions and spiritual paths that enrich our world, and celebrate the diversity of beliefs and values that enrich our communities.

Let us collectively aspire to foster a sense of community, understanding, and compassion that will bring us closer together, inspire us to embrace diversity, and empower us to make a positive impact in our local and global communities. May this be a year of shared learning, meaningful connections, and the fulfillment of our collective aspirations, with love, laughter, and the realization of your deepest hopes and dreams!

ANZUUA Statement on the Middle East

The following statement has been circulated to our congregations, and following feedback, has been ratified by the ANZUUA committee and forwarded to Penny Wong, the Australian minister for Foreign Affairs and leader of the Government in the Australian Senate.

The congregations represented by ANZUUA have both a social justice obligation and a spiritual commitment to peace and therefore call out injustice and to stand for human rights for all.

ANZUUA therefore, condemns

a)    the slaughter of Israeli citizens on October 7,

b)    the outrageous destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, and

c)    the excessive bombardment of Gaza that has resulted in significant harm and deaths to innocent Palestinian civilians, international and local aid workers, UN representatives and journalists.

ANZUUA recognises that successive western governments have failed middle eastern peoples by dishonouring past commitments to Arab leaders, and by condemning Hamas atrocities, while failing to adequately address the unacceptable killing of civilians by Israel.

ANZUUA congregations join with the ANZUUA committee in a call for governments to support efforts for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, to contribute to a massive process of humanitarian relief, and to play an active role in seeking a long-lasting solution that includes the elected representatives of Palestinians. We recognise that in negotiations this will require Hamas to give up its objective of destroying Israel and will require Israel to stop settlements on Palestinian land, and to relinquish occupied lands to enable a contiguous and viable Palestinian state to be created.

ANZUUA have donated A$500 to Médecins Sans Frontières in Australia as an act of support for all the victims in this conflict. The statement above has been posted on the ANZUUA web site https://www.anzuua.org/blog.  

Celebrate International Women’s Day
on Friday 8th with UUWF and ICUUW!

Friday 8th March, #internationalwomensday2024, together with the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation and International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women are hosting an international Unitarian Universalist Zoom call of song, spoken word, calls to action, and community grounding. Renee Hills from the Brisbane UU Fellowship is one of the presenters in the service component of the call.

These five goals will be discussed:

1. Investing in women, a human rights issue: Time is running out. Gender equality is the greatest human rights challenge, benefiting everyone.

2. Ending poverty: Due to the COVID pandemic and conflicts, 75 million more people have fallen into severe poverty since 2020. Immediate action is crucial to prevent over 342 million women and girls living in poverty by 2030.

3. Implementing gender-responsive financing: Conflicts and rising prices may lead 75% of countries to cut public spending by 2025, negatively impacting women and their essential services.

4. Shifting to a green economy and care society: The current economic system disproportionately affects women. Advocates propose a shift to a green economy and care society to amplify women's voices.

5. Supporting feminist change-makers: Despite leading efforts, feminist organizations receive only 0.13% of official development assistance.

This event is open to all genders, members, allies, and co-conspirators.

It's on at 9.30 am AEDT (Sydney time) on Friday 8 March.

Register here: https://uuwf.org/event-5624753

ANZUUA Training Update

Course participants from Australia and New Zealand in the Worship Studies program recently presented a sample Unitarian service online as part of the assessment process for the UK Unitarian College Worship Studies course. They received feedback from fellow students, and in a separate one-on-one session with Unitarian College Director Helen Mason and an other college staff member.  To complete the Worship Studies course, participants are required to present two full services to be observed either in person or online by accredited Unitarian or UU ministerial staff. Students can then decided whether to continue their studies.

The Worship Studies program was run in 2023, organised and subisdised by ANZUUA. We are planning to run further training this coming winter, and sincerely thank everyone who participated in filling out the recent training survey. 

A Good News Story from Spirit of Life Fellowship

The Spirit of Life Fellowship in Sydney received some good news this week, the two sons of an Afghanistan refugee family have arrived safely in USA.  Approximately a year ago, Candace Parks, a SOL Life Member now living in Vermont USA, requested financial assistance to obtain passports for two teenage sons of an Afghanistan refugee family she is sponsoring and accommodating in Vermont. The father worked as a security guard for a contractor at the US Embassy in Kabul for 10 years and as the war was concluding, was promised his family would be relocated to America. When they arrived at the airport to leave, they became separated from their 14 & 15 year old sons, resulting in the father, mother & younger son having to leave without them. 

The Spirit of Life Fellowship made a financial donation to assist with acquiring their passports and safe travel.

More details of the harrowing situation the family have experienced are available in the newspaper article here.

The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person

There is a poignant and inspiring story titled "The Gift" by Nancy L. Dahberg. In this thought-provoking narrative, Dahberg explores the depth of human connections and the profound impact of generosity. "The Gift" takes us on a journey that transcends the material realm, revealing the true essence of giving and receiving in the context of our shared humanity.

As you delve into this heartwarming tale, you will encounter the transformative power of compassion and the beauty that arises when individuals help one another. Dahberg's storytelling invites us to reflect on the significance of altruism, empathy, and the bonds that connect us all. We encourage you to explore this timeless narrative, resonating with the Unitarian principles of acceptance, love, and the inherent worth and dignity of every person. May "The Gift" inspire us to cultivate a spirit of generosity in our own lives and foster a community that thrives on mutual support and understanding. You can find the story by Nancy L. Dahberg on this blog post: https://rogernolan.blogspot.com/2009/12/gift-by-nancy-l-dahberg.html.

Beliefs and Values: A Unitarian Perspective

In the vast tapestry of human belief systems, our individual affiliations often shape our perspectives and values. With over 4,000 religions, faith groups, and denominations worldwide, and thousands of service clubs and volunteer organizations. The choices can be overwhelming. In navigating this diverse landscape, the questions we ask ourselves become guideposts, helping us align with communities that resonate with our principles. As Unitarians, our journey involves a thoughtful exploration of our personal beliefs and the values that bind us together. In the following text, we delve into key considerations that guide one's choice of affiliations, exploring the principles of equality, individual freedom, scientific progress, community service, and environmental stewardship.

Calvin Yost from the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Philippines forwarded the following: Before I choose my affiliations (groups I wish to join), my personal way of looking at things is by asking the following questions:

1. Are woman treated equally as men? Can they go to college and attain any job they wish? Are they treated the same as men at their religion? Can they achieve the top positions?

2. Are people allowed to read any book they wish and make up their own minds?

3. Do they respect scientific progress (even if not perfect as it is an ongoing process), and respect the medical professionals who try to help the public?

4. Can they perceive that most issues don't have black and white answers?

5. Do they believe that all people are created equal?

6. Does the religion or organization include helping the community, and protecting the health and education of our children?

7. Does the group embrace culture and the arts in general,  even if different than their personal beliefs?

8. Is there both concern and respect for our planet? Are all creatures, all living things, understood as a sacred part of the miracle of life?

In the exploration of affiliations within the diverse tapestry of human belief systems, these pertinent questions can serve as a compass for individuals seeking alignment with their values. The questions emphasize equality, personal freedom, a nuanced understanding of complex issues, a commitment to community service and the well-being of children.

These issues resonate with Unitarian principles and invite reflection on the importance of embracing diversity, culture, and the arts, while underscoring the significance of environmental stewardship and recognizing all living things as sacred within the intricate miracle of life. As Unitarians, we find common ground in these principles that shape our collective identity and guide our journey towards a more inclusive and compassionate world.

Our NZ and AUS UU Communities

A listing, with links, of the churches and fellowships that make up ANZUUA can be found here: https://www.anzuua.org/findingus. We will share news of a selection of UU communities each month. You are encouraged to send any news from your community that you’d like to share to Lynn at lynnjkelly@gmail.com.

Brisbane UU Fellowship

BUUF recommenced services in February with an in-person (+ online Zoom) service on the 2nd Sunday and an online only service on the 4th Sunday. 

The first service started with a UU water service, led by Renee Hills, where everyone poured water into a communal bowl, joining with water from previous years' ingathering services, to signify coming together again from many paths into community together. The second half was led by Lynn Kelly with a presentation on Beginning Again, exploring the question of how we start and re-start constructing our futures with intention.

In our second service of the month, we were grateful to Sally Mabelle from the Taupo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for leading our zoom service from Taupo. The theme of the service was "Breathing the Spirit of Life - what does it mean and why does it matter?''

 For many people today, the anthropomorphic concept of GOD doesn’t speak to us, and something tangible like ‘BREATH’ is more relatable.  In her interfaith ministry training, Sally was encouraged to view and relate to ‘God as Breath’ - her training involved daily breathing and awareness exercises to build the capacity and practical embodiment of what we Unitarian Universalists call 'the Spirit of Life.' With the discord, unrest, and conflict in the world today, how might we transform our breath into an agent of peace.

Melbourne UU Fellowship

 The Melbourne UU Fellowship is continuing its monthly services.  Our February service was led by Carl Turney, who talked about his experience of emmigrating and the moral issues surrounding it.  We are using course materials from Faith Forward to continue our discussions about Spiritual Practices.  And we're beginning our planning for our annual retreat in May. 

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