Fun prevailed at Game Night, Wednesday, Oct. 23, at UUNB. We had a great turn-out, plenty of snacks and lots of laughter. What a way to build community.
Blog
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UUNB Choir
The choir at UUNB plays an important role in worship services, singing a diverse repertoire of traditional hymns, secular songs, and original compositions that reflect the congregation’s values and perspectives.
Choir practice is held every Tuesday at 6:30pm in the gathering room. New voices welcome!
The UUNB Choir welcoming new members on October 13, 2024. -
A World in Confusion
I originally wrote this column in February 2017, and since that time we have lived through a pandemic, multiple school shootings and natural disasters. However, the one constant remains, there is always some level of confusion, and we cannot predict the future. With that being said I sincerely hope that you will take some comfort in the words that I offered in 2017, because they still apply….
The world certainly seems to be in more confusion than I have ever witnessed. I repeat seems to be, when in reality, there is always some level of confusion. It’s a small world and we live cross cultural lives, so more of us are aware of the confusion than we once were. But when the world is in chaos, we can still have our own inner peace and maintain a sense of calm in a sea of unrest. If we allow ourselves to be thrown off balance by every piece of disturbing news that comes our way, we may be relying too much on our emotions. On the other hand, our thoughts may also be unreliable at times like these, as they chatter on endlessly about what might happen next. If our feelings and thoughts activate one another in a hectic way, then we become caught up in the confusion that surrounds us. But if we can locate the stillness at the center of our hearts, we can find composure in almost any situation. In addition, we provide a safe place for our friends and family, who are also prone to taking on the confusion of a world in flux. People who maintain their sense of calm when things around them are in a state of flux and confusion are always wonderful to be around. We feel calmer just being near them, as if they have activated our own sense of inner peace. From them we learn that we can be calm, even when everything around us is in turmoil, because we know that no matter what happens, this inner sense of calm will help us to function well. Often, times of confusion are the times that enable us to find that part of ourselves that knows how to cope, and how to bea light to others in the storm. It helps to remember that we can’t predict thefuture. Most of us just want to find our way to being at peace with whatever happens, and we can find this peace inside. Cultivating our inner clarity with meditation, journaling, and reading words that inspire us, will lead us to that place inside us that’s already there, just waiting.
From My Heart to Yours,
Rev. Addae -
A New Year Begins 2024
A new Year begins with a sermon from Rev Addae Kraba on “Love is at the Center“ and President Susan Curtis assists Rev Addae in welcoming them back after a summer break!
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Finding Peace in Broken Pieces
The following is an excerpt from the 4th International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women and People of Progressive Faiths. September 5-8, 2024. Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar
Day 2 at the Friday September 6th opening worship “May we widen the boundaries until there are none…If we are serious about ending war we have to BE peace.
The way of peace calls to abolish the “us vs them” and stop dehumanizing the other. Peace is a vision. The way of peace means no one is the enemy. We live in an age of possibilities. Every nation must learn the people of all nations are children of the holy. We can never make this world safe by fighting. This is the work we are appointed to do. From my heart to yours may it be so!”
Rev’s Denise Tracy & Addae Kraba co-worship -
Thoughts
Our thoughts are powerful forces in creating our experience of life. By choosing how to interpret and define each moment with our thoughts, we truly create our reality. But our only true reality is the present moment, so rather than merely accepting that life is happening to us, we can harness the power of our thoughts to actively create a positive reality. Through our minds we move the unformed energy of the universe into form, which gives us direction for our words and actions. Rather than focusing on the negative, we can choose to appreciate beauty around us and look for admirable qualities in the people we deal with. It is our focus and how we invest our energy, which gives us the power to design our lives to be whatever we choose in each and every moment. We can monitor our thoughts throughout the day, to catch ourselves in the middle of investing energy elsewhere rather than pulling our focus back to the infinite possibilities of the present. Each thought is like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples out into our world to affect all they touch. There is a quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer, “change the way you look at things and the things you look at change”. You may be able to recall a time when frustration that was based on a misunderstanding completely evaporated when your understanding changed. This is because our interpretation defines our experience, and it can change in an instant. For example, rather than focusing on the negative, like traffic or seeing negative qualities in the people we interact with, we can choose to appreciate beauty around us. If we mentally dwell on the past or the future, we may miss the experience of living in the present moment. Setting and visualizing goals is wonderful, but we can bring our thoughts into our current experience by taking steps to create them now. Regular meditation allows us to gain mastery over our minds so that we can still our thoughts to focus on the pureness of being. Also taking a deep breath will help us center our thoughts on being in our bodies right now. Because our minds really are powerful tools that we can harness to create our reality.
Heart to Heart,
Rev. Addae -
September Congregational Meeting
Dear Members and Friends of UUNB,
Please save the date for our next Congregational Meeting to be held on Sunday, September 8, at 12:15 PM, after Sunday Service in person.
As per our Bylaws, for any amendments, notifications and documentation must go out 30 days prior to the meeting. Links below to a Bylaw Video Explanation” that is 9 minutes long and three documents you will need.
3) 2023-09-22 UUNB Bylaws – NEW WORKING DOCUMENT for Sept 8 2024
4) 2023-09-22 Standing Rules UUNB Board of Trustees
The Ad Hoc Bylaw Review Committee made every attempt to be transparent and to include the intent of the proposed Amendment changes in this working document. At the meeting presenters will field questions and accept recommendations. Please note any changes outside the scope of the presented working document they will need to wait until the next Congregational Meeting (January 2025) since changes require at least 30 days’ notice prior to a Congregational Meeting.
Below are links to the Agenda and May’s Meeting Minutes.
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Celebrating 20 Years: Rev. Addae’s Ordination
On June 13, 2004, Rev. Addae A. Kraba was ordained into the Unitarian Universalist Denomination at the Community Church of New York. As we commemorate her 20th anniversary of service, we celebrate Rev. Addae’s impactful journey of faith, advocacy, and community leadership. Her dedication to inclusivity, justice, and spiritual growth continues to inspire and guide us all. Here’s to Rev. Addae’s ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in our world.
Front Row L-R: Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Rev. Addae A. Kraba, Rev. Jan Johnson
Back Row L-R: Rev. Marjorie Bowens Wheatley, Rev. Dr. Sophia Betancourt, Rev. Dr. Michele Bentley, Rev. Dr. Hope Johnson -
Values and Beliefs
In 2020 the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board of Trustees appointed an Article II Study Commission which received input from thousands of Unitarian Universalists around the country before presenting, in early 2022, a proposal for changes to Article II.UUA Bylaws mandate that Article II be reviewed every fifteen years. The last wholesale review was in 1987. Delegates at General Assembly 2024 voted decisively to approve a new statement of values and beliefs for Unitarian Universalism.
I know that many Unitarians Universalists feel a nostalgist pull, feeling like they are discarding the Seven Principles and six sources that they have grown up with, however, when reviewing our core values, we are reaffirming that Unitarian Universalism is a living tradition. We change and grow with the times. Executive Vice President of the UUA, Carey McDonald has this to say, “Individuals and congregations are welcome to continue to hold and value the principles and sources as a meaningful part of the faith, just as some have adopted the Eighth Principle. The Eighth Principle specifically calls out antiracism and anti-oppression as central to congregational life and Unitarian Universalist values.” I have served UUNB since 2017, and each time that I have asked founders of this congregation what they view as the core value, I’ve been told that it is “LOVE” so if that is indeed our core value, UUNB has been ahead of the UUA’s review, and the core being love.
Heart to Heart,
Rev. Addae
