In-Person NRUUF meetings are currently being held the second and forth Sundays of the month in the new HQ (Head Quarters) Building located at 316 Thorn St., Princeton, WV
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Join us this Sunday – 1/8/23 for a brief Service including the reading of our legal notice of sale for the former Fellowship Building located at 911 S Kanawha St.
The reading will be followed by an Open Forum format. This is a great time to share your memories of the building we have shared for the last 30 years.
This will be an meeting on Zoom. Link information is below.
NRUUF Beckley is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: ONLINE – NRUUF Sunday Service
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
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The Supreme Court’s decision to ignore the precedents of the 50 years since the Roe v. Wade decision has cancelled federal protections of access to abortion as part of women’s health care. We Unitarian Universalists (UUs) in Central Appalachia are relieved that Judge Salango has ruled that their decision could not take effect in West Virginia. While not surprised, we deeply regret that WV’s Attorney General Morrisey is appealing Solango’s ruling.
The overwhelming majority of UUs in the nation think that abortion should be legal in most or all cases. The Supreme Court’s decision will most hurt poor, working class, rural and minority women and their families, a large portion of Appalachia’s population.
Roman Catholic and evangelical Christian views of abortion tend to be most restrictive. Other Christian denominations, Jews and Muslims are much less so. The Supreme Court’s decision seems to come from a very conservative religious perspective, thus favoring some religions over others. It would seem that the Supreme Court’s decision violates the U. S. Constitution, which requires a separation of church and state.
Unitarian-Universalists are accepting of all religious views that do not violate the principles that guide our actions. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade violates our principle of justice, equity and compassion in human relations and our principle that all people have a right to follow their conscience. It returns us to a time in this nation when all people in a religiously diverse nation were required to follow the dictates of the few or be punished. We UU’s join the majority of Americans in calling for a nation that protects and defends all people’s right to follow their conscience in personal decisions.
Walking meditation labyrinths have been around for centuries. One of the most famous is the ancient labyrinth in Chartres France (pictured above) which was constructed in the 15th century.
Fortunately for us, we don’t have to travel far to find a great labyrinth! Friend and member, Andrew Caldwell, has been constructing copies of the Chartres walking labyrinth since 2005 and he’s looking for your help!
The Chartres labyrinth is a “12-tiered” labyrinth. It has a 100 foot diameter and takes 15-20 minutes to walk with a slow, meditative pace and a total walking distance of 1 mile. Be aware that this is not a “maze”, there are no junctions of the path. There is an entrance which then leads you on a winding walk to the center and back out again.
Our labyrinth will be constructed at New River Park in Beckley, WV using soccer field paint, which is biodegradable and lasts for several weeks, so even if you’re not helping with the construction effort, don’t forget to take advantage of it while it’s there!
The construction usually takes about 4 hours of work, which includes a lot of bending over, and 4-5 volunteers.
We will be constructing the labyrinth this year in late Summer, early Fall.
If you would be willing to help construct this lovely, transient gift for health and mental wellness, please contact Andrew Caldwell by Saurday, June 25th and let him know!
Some images below for inspiration and a great article on walking labyrinths!
304-237-2860
EXCITING NEWS!!
Prepare to GATHER IN PERSON once again!! That being said, we have also decided to take a Summer break in our programming.
This is a complicated decision, but we feel that with the level of fully vaccinated folks in our State, we are able to cautiously start meeting in person again! We plan to meet ONCE A MONTH in both July and August at an outdoor venue (watch for Events!). Congregation members are welcome to bring family and close friends, but the exact location will be shared by our private mailing list, or direct inquiry only.
**We are asking that folk who attend be fully vaccinated for everyone’s safety**
There will be a short opening service, followed by a pot-luck picnic! We look forward to seeing everyone in person again!
We are asking that folks who want to attend regular streaming services during July and August please consider attending the Charleston Unitarian Universalist Church – http://www.uucharlestonwv.org/calendar-of-events/
We are hoping to start meeting INDOORS again as early as September, depending on the pandemic situation and our ability to continue providing streaming services for those folks who cannot attend in person, either due to health or distance. Please understand that when we do start meeting again indoors, PROOF OF FULL VACCINATION for ALL attendees may be required! More information on that will be available later.
Much love to everyone and thanks so much for sticking with us during these difficult times!
Part 3 - "Stewardship and Sustainability for the Long Haul" - A Year of Learning and Connection for Smaller Congregations. Brought to you by your Regional UUA Congregational Life Staff. https://www.uua.org/central-east/blog/small-numbers-infinite-possibilities Join us for the third in a series of 4 Webinars designed to help Small Congregations reach their full potential! Join us as we watch a recording of the live webinar and have discussion and community. These will be offered in lieu of the regular Sunday Service on the following dates: 1/19, 1/26, 2/16, 2/23 These webinars run approximately 1.5hrs There will be a "Pie Day" regional gathering in March for participating congregations to get together and discuss what they learned over the course of the series. I am hoping that OUR Fellowship will have the opportunity to host this event. Here is the list of webinars: Part 1 - Smalls Making a Big Difference (1/19 - luncheon) Part 2 - Right Sizing Your Congregations' Operations (1/26 - pizza) Part 3 - Stewardship and Sustainability for the Long Haul (2/16 - luncheon) Part 4 - Being Beloved Community (2/23 - pizza) Pi Day In-Person Event Near(ish) You! March 14, 2020 Why Pi Day? Small number, infinite possibility! Facilitated by our regional staff with a video welcome from UUA president Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray Meet other smaller congregation leaders Meaningful conversations Share support, ideas, and resources Explore opportunities for collaboration and ongoing shared learning Of course, there will be PIE! Want to be on our email list? Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gDT52z Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1044190312590548/"
We are excited to have the Reverend Kayla Parker joining our Fellowship as Affiliate Minister!
Rev. Kayla was approved by congregational vote on January 5th, 2020. She has agreed to do six services for us through November 2020. She will be leading a service approximately every two months.
Rev. Kayla brings a fresh, new energy into our Fellowship and we are happy to have the opportunity to work with her!
In addition to being our Affiliate Minister, Rev. Kayla Parker currently serves as a Chaplain Resident at St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington, WV. There, she particularly enjoys working on the Behavioral Health Unit, as well at recovery centers in the greater community. Previously, she served as the Minister of Congregational Life at All Souls Unitarian in Indianapolis, IN and the Contract Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charleston, WV.
Welcome to the NRUUF Family, Rev. Kayla!