According to the Trevor Project, "Bi people make up the largest portion of the LGBTQ community, but are often erased and face higher risk than their peers for sexual assault and suicide." We celebrate #BiWeek to increase visibility and celebrate all sexualities as holy and good.

Shanah Tovah to our Jewish beloveds as they began the celebration of Rosh Hashanah tonight. May sweetness and goodness be yours in this new year.

Locate the kind of belonging that doesn’t demand your erasure. Cole Authur Riley

Without community there is no liberation, only the most vulnerable and temporary armistice between an individual and her oppression. Audre Lorde

Lots to do this Sunday! *Worship at 9 & 11, sermon by Rev. Beth: "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" *Family Ministry BBQ with good food, friends, & live music at 12:00 pm. *Berry Street Essay Discussion led by Rev. Stacey at 12:30 pm - "If Our Secrets Define Us" by the Rev. Gail Seavey.

Here's a Unitarian Universalist history lesson! Today marks the 189th anniversary of the first meeting of the Transcendentalist Club on Sept. 19, 1836. This article tells about how our Unitarian forebears changed the world of thought, literature, and religion.

How do you #buildbelonging with yourself? #unitarianuniversalism

Do you know Lilith? Check out the worship service from this past Sunday with a sermon from Rev. Beth Eliot and acapella music from Cantabalis. vimeo.com/1119214371?f...

We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don’t function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick. Brené Brown #unitarianuniversalist #buildingbelonging

"One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone." Shannon L. Alder #ingathering #unitarianuniversalist #buildingbelonging

We share a message of welcome and courage at the start of a new congregational year for Unitarian Universalists. These leaders invite us to consider how we might place love at the center of our commitments rather than fear, even and especially in these challenging days.

This Sunday is Connections Sunday, aka the best opportunity all year to find your community within our larger church community. Church groups will have tables in the courtyard that you can visit to find out more and sign up to participate. It's also your chance to sign up for Covenant Groups!

This Sunday at 2:00 pm is the start of The Woodlands, the UUA's virtual support space for trans/nonbinary beloveds of all ages. Go here to learn more and to register :

Join us Sunday, September 7 at 9 and 11 am for Water Communion, (also known as Water Ceremony) which began in the 1980s as a UU worship ritual. Most UU congregations now hold a Water Communion to mark the beginning of the new church year (September). With music provided by Lydia Clark. uuabq.org

Interim periods can be a dynamic and reflective time. With Rev. Stacey Mitchell being here for the next two years, formally known as “Interim Ministry,” what can be expected in this time period? Our service from Sunday, August 24 is now available online to watch in full.

Happy 100th birthday to church member, Ted Rush! Here's a wonderful article about Ted, his music and teaching careers, and time in WW2. What a life of service and love! www.abqjournal.com/sports/artic...?

Join Us Easter Sunday! 7:00 am: Sunrise/Ostara with Ron Ahnen, Intern Minister with Coyote Willow Covenant of UU Pagans. In-person only. 9:00 am (in person and Zoom) and 11:00 am in the Sanctuary with The Rev. Angela Herrera Koren and music from our Chalice Choir. NEW Meeting ID: 968 6341 8810

Our Food Pantry and its volunteers are a cornerstone of our social justice work, and they are needed now more than ever! Thank you to KOB Channel 4 for profiling Judi and the work our wonderful volunteers do to feed our neighbors.

Ron Ahnen, our intern minister, gave a blistering sermon yesterday titled "Trust and Social Justice." What three things will you do to take care of yourself emotionally and spiritually today? What three things will you do to resist? Find the sermon at minute 31:00.

Feeling sad or mad or helpless in the face of the ongoing dismantling of our constitutional government? You're not alone. Join Rev. Bob on Zoom this Saturday (2/15) at 3pm to share our hopes and fears, support each other, and build our resilience during this dark time. Link in the comments.

#UU #UnitarianUniversalist #sanctuary A message from Carey McDonald, the UUA's Vice President, about recommendations from the UUA to churches from the Immigrant Law Center. Make sure your congregational leadership sees this. cdn.mc-weblink.sg-mktg.com/weblink/MTcz...

In honor of Martin Luther King Day on Monday and Black History Month in February, First U's Arts & Aesthetics Committee is hosting an African American art show in the Social Hall, opening this Sunday at 10 am. Worship music will be performed by local jazz artists Lydia Clark & Rodney Bowe.

There is also a FREE self-defense class for the queer community tomorrow night (Friday). More community building to come!

UUABQ's Food Pantry will be open on Tuesday this week and next (closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day) from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm. If you could use some extra food (or know someone who could) come by and pick up a bag. No income requirements, no ID requirement. We have pet food, too! uuabq.org

Cecilia Violetta López, a world-renowned soprano residing in New Mexico, will be performing in the First Unitarian Sanctuary, singing some holiday favorites among other classics. She will also share her personal story. Tickets are $20 online/at the door and will benefit our social justice programs.

Join First Unitarian Albuquerque tomorrow night at 7 pm on Zoom for our annual Blue December Service. Not everyone loves the holiday season. For many of us, this time of year is a reminder of the things that we lack or lost. If that resonates, this service is for you.

Albuquerque community, the minister at the Church of the Good Shepherd is being targeted with threats after speaking out in support of our LGBTQ community at Wednesday nights school board meeting. They are seeking peace keepers to come to their church tomorrow at 10:30 am.

Honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance. You are loved and you are a blessing. youtu.be/szPLQxdPTFM?...

A joyous morning of multigenerational music in worship at First U Albuquerque today, led by Susan Peck.

This Friday in Albuquerque. Come be in community.

"What Now?" The Rev. Angela Herrera Koren was back in the pulpit today to help us answer that question after a very difficult week.

An election message from our denomination's president, Rev.Dr. Sofia Betancourt.

It's election day! Are you breathing? Did you vote? If you missed Rev. Bob's sermon on Sunday, "What If?" it might be a good time to watch it and think about the days after today; and enjoy some calming and inspiring music from Lydia Clark.

As we enter into a time of gratitude, we wanted to share our former intern minister, Kristin Famula's thank you message regarding our intent to ordain her in the spring.

We know that these times are full of anxiety on so many levels. In the video below, UU leaders and UUA staff offer guidance on what Unitarian Universalists can do right now to face the challenges that may lie ahead in the coming weeks with clarity and courage.

Forward Together: Anchoring in Community Post-Election: Join Side With Love, UUA Congregational Life, and UUA senior leadership for this special three-series event following the 2024 Election. Each event is at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT. Register here: https://buff.ly/3YreHj2

Our 2025 pledge drive launches today! First Unitarian at 75 is Rooted in Courage, Growing in Love, and Blooming in Community. To read more, go to our campaign webpage at https://buff.ly/4002iEV . Or make your pledge now at https://buff.ly/4h26QRb .

Be suspicious! The scammers are active again, emailing church members and impersonating Angela Herrera Koren. A few reminders: Angela will never ask you to buy something or meet with her secretly. And, she doesn't use her personal email address for church business if she can help it.

Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently, until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize and greet it - "Clearing" Martha Postlewaite

Meet our new Intern Minister, Ron Ahnen! We're so glad he is here with us this year!

Did you sign up for the All Church BBQ this Sunday yet? It's gonna be fun!

Reminder! We have our Backpack Blessing this Sunday for children and adults alike. Who couldn’t use a blessing on their work? Everyone, regardless of age, is invited to bring something that symbolizes their work to worship. It could be a wrench, briefcase, backpack, paintbrush... or a stapler!

Find those who tell you, “Do not be afraid,” yet stay close enough to tremble with you. This is a love. - Cole Arthur Riley

This Sunday, our pulpit guest series continues with Reverend Randy Granger—a professional musician, storyteller, workshop facilitator, and educator. We will also have our Backpack Blessing for children and adults alike. Bring your backpack or other symbol of your learning or work to the service.

https://buff.ly/3T6t4Hn Storytime on Friday: A Sufi wisdom tale, told by Terrence Stamp, about transformation.

Mythology tells us that where you stumble, there your treasure is... where it seems most challenging lies the greatest invitation to find deeper and greater power in ourselves. -Joseph Campbell

We're 17 days away from our All Church BBQ on Sunday, September 29 at 12:30 pm. Have you signed up to help out or bring food yet? Visit our Sign Up Genius and get it done! It's going to be a great celebration.

Join us for worship this Sunday, Sept 15 at 9 & 11 for "Reflecting On Our Reflection” with the Rev. Jane Davis You are not your thoughts. You are so much more than the fleeting thoughts you experience, and the world is more than what we see; reflection can help put self & the world into perspective.

FaithRoots is hosting a screening of the powerful documentary BAD FAITH at The Guild Cinema (3405 Central Ave NE) on Sunday, Sept 15 at 1pm. Our own Rev. Bob LaVallee, will be part of a panel discussion after. Tickets:https://buff.ly/4guZyFA Join us in safeguarding democracy & abortion access!

Natashia Deón on Seeing Color https://buff.ly/4dBRdhx There is a short space between “I don’t see color” and “I don’t see you.”...