Chalice Chalice Logo
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist PaganS

Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for the CUUPS Bulletin!

New!! Renew your personal or chapter membership here.

As you are perhaps aware, there is currently a review being done of the Principles And Purposes of the UUA by the Commission on Appraisal (COA). At the October meeting of the CUUPS Board of Trustees, a response, fueled by commentary and input from CUUPS members, was voted upon and sent to the COA on behalf of the CUUPS Board. You may read the response here.Please keep watching this space for updated on this review, and keep yourself appraised of what the Board of Trustees of CUUPS is doing in this regard and on your behalf.

Winter Growth: Change, Assessment, Progress, and So Forth

Here we are again,starting our new format, focus, and organizational style for CUUPS-Continental...in the Winter! What's up with that, anyway? Many of you have probably just ended your cycle of the seasons, at Samhain, and some of you, just as are some of us, might even be in a dormant period right now, as in, one where you are taking stock internally, cosying up for the winter, snuggling down inside yourself with your own "long thoughts," and waiting for Spring to arise again before you share them with anyone else....Sooooo....Why are we starting off the "new stuff" now? Why not wait until Spring? Well...there's a reason...in fact there are several of them. Some of them are practicalities, and some of them are philosophies. Bear with us here, and let us introduce you to the new crop of Winter Growth, and explain why it is being planted when and as it is.

First and foremost, we have a brand-new CUUPS-Continental Board of Trustees, elected by all of you who chose to participate in this year's election. We say thanks for a great job to our outgoing Trustees, Rev. Bonnie Dlott, Rev. Adam Robersmith, and Steve and Shari Storm, all of whom have given assistance to CUUPS on so many fronts that it would take the rest of this web site to tell you all about it. May all and each of them thrive in their ongoing endeavors, and may they drop in from time to time to tell us all about it. And a hearty CUUPS welcome to Rev. Ann Marie Alderman, Ollis Hughes, and Carol Bodeau, who are taking spots on the Board of Trustees and assisting us to re-format things in a way we hope will serve you better. As an example, we have finally relieved our far-overworked and vastly underpaid (he's a volunteer like the rest of us!) "man-of-too-many-hats", Niko Tarini, of the responsibility for overseeing both Membership and Chapter Coordination, realizing that this is far too large a task for a single person to perform. We have a new Chapter Coordinator, Carol Bodeau, and have also appointed Ollis Hughes the Assistant Membership Coordinator, in order to make it possible for our far-flung net of volunteers to serve the members of CUUPS more efficiently.

As far as, "why now?", well, that is a system which is mandated by the Regulations, (which in other states than Ohio are called the By-Laws), of CUUPS Inc. We are required to hold our General Election subsequent to each year's GA, and therefore our new officers will be taking office after that election. In a way, this does make sense, as each new officer has a period of time when the Pagan Year lies somewhat dormant, a time to use in order to familiarize themselves with the intricacies of their new positions, so that when the light returns they can, as it were, hit the ground running. So a warm winter welcome to all these new faces, and we hope we will all be able to make the operations of CUUPS ever more suited to the needs of its membership.

Another new "winterflower" is our forming collegiate organization, CUUPCAKES. We are going to be meeting at General Assembly to begin the process of creating bylaws for this organization, and there is already a new Yahoo chat group in existence for the purpose of introducing potential CUUPCAKES to one another. If this is of interest to you, please apply to join the Yahoo Group, where we will be beginning discussions about ways and means, ideas and foci. The new group will, we hope, become a source of curriculum for Young Adult and YRUU members whose resource availability may have been changed by the removal of funding for the YRUU program. We hope we'll see a lot of you soon.

Once again we are in the process of doing a "Chapter Check-In" in order to make certain our Chapter Database is up-to-date, as our new Chapter Co-Ordinator takes on the responsibility of making certain we have everything in order to serve our chapters efficiently. If you happen to receive an e-mail from us, please make certain your Chapter Coordinator replies to it, so that we can keep your listing on the web site and in the database. If you have a current chapter, and you don't find a listing for it on our web site, or your listing is incorrect, let us know, and we'll update it for you.

In the past several months, we have run into several situations where members of CUUPS, or CUUPS Chapters, have begun to have difficulty with congregations or congregational boards who do not understand the status of CUUPS within the UUA, now that CUUPS is no longer an Independent Affiliate organization. We have not pursued actively amongst the members of our mailing lists, CUUPsters and cuups-cafe, the ongoing discussion of whether or not the will of the body is that we should actively pursue re-affiliation. I believe this conversation dropped off the radar when we realized that we could not actually name the reasons why we were originally disaffiliated in any way that made sense to our members. There is, however, still much to discuss, since the original disaffiliation, in our opinion, probably took place on a basis of our being interpreted by the UUA Board as a "group which pursues a single theological perspective", and where Pagans are concerned that is manifestly not the case. However, ever since we began thinking about the issue, it has come to our attention that there might be some genuine benefits to our attempting, amongst other things, to move towards a definition of "Unitarian Universalist Pagan" that doesn't merely include Pagans of diverse traditions who come together at the UU Church. The opinions of our members are being solicited on both of these topics, our possible re-application for Independent Affiliate status and our movement towards a definition of "What is a UU Pagan?" Please join one of the mailing lists named above if you would like to join in either of these conversations.

And, finally, we need, even in the dark of Winter, to talk about Summer Solstice and GA. Here in Salt Lake City, we are very excited to be able to host the Summer Solstice Ritual and the Annual Meeting. We are also hoping to be able to put things together to host a Convocation in conjunction with General Assembly 2009. We are very interested in finding out about possible speakers and topics for the General Assembly programming slot, as well as how we might best use our space in the Exhibit Hall. What would you like to see? What would you like to do? Whom would you like to hear from? If you have ideas on this topic, please let us know ASAP. The deadlines for all these things, for our applications and ideas, are coming up much faster than you would think. So let us know how we can best serve you. And Happy New Year, whenever you celebrate it. Let's move forward from the Winter Silence to the Spring Renewal, and let's do it together. And...let's start now, in the Silent Time, when we can think and plan. Thanks for your interest, and tell us what you would like us to be doing for you.

Blessings of the season to you,
CUUPS Board of Trustees



Sharing Our Pagan Beliefs

A Personal Reflection by Aisling the Bard
President, CUUPS-Continental

In the last several months, I have received several requests from individuals and chapters for resources of a particular kind. These people are looking for Pagan resources to share with Pagan-curious, and perhaps not particularly Pagan-friendly (yet!) congregations, in a way to demonstrate Pagan beliefs in a non-threatening context. I have discovered, over many years of interacting with my own congregation, that perhaps one of the best ways to share Paganism with the congregation is in a non-Pagan context. Just as, for example, the words of Jesus or the Buddha might be used in a reading in a service whose focus is neither specific Christian beliefs nor those of Buddhism, so may the ideals and ideas of Pagan-identified pathways be shared in the context of the normal UU Sunday Service, not necessarily on a Sabbat or for a particular Moon, but simply as another source of spiritual illumination, more "words and ideals of the world's religions". Here is a brief selection of such ideas and readings. Don't you think you might be able to use these at your church?

A Unitarian Universalist Pagan Sunday Service

Introductory Words and Entrance Hymn
For The Beauty Of The Earth (Singing The Living Tradition, #417)

For the beauty of the earth,
this spinning blue green ball, yes!
Gaia, mother of everything,
we walk gently across your back
to come together again
in this place
to remember how we can live
to remember who we are
to create how we will be
Gaia, our home,
the lap in which we live--
welcome us.

Barbara J. Pescan

***

Entrance Hymn
For The Beauty Of The Earth (Singing The Living Tradition, #21)

For the beauty of the Earth, for the splendor of the skies,
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies,
Source of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind's delight,
For the mystic harmony, linking sense to sound and sight,
Source of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour, of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light,
Source of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human care, sister, brother, parent, child,
For the kinship we all share, for all gentle thoughts and mild,
Source of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

***

Call To Worship, Chalice Lighting, And Reading
Call To Worship: To Worship (Singing The Living Tradition, #441)

To worship is to stand in awe under a heaven of stars,
Before a flower, a leaf in sunlight, or a grain of sand

To worship is to be silent, receptive, before a tree astir with the wind,
Or the passing shadow of a cloud.

To worship is to work with dedication and skill;
it is to pause from work and listen to a strain of music.

To worship is to sing with the singing beauty of the earth;
It is to listen through a storm to the still small voice within.

Worship is loneliness seeking communion;
it is a thirsty land crying out for rain.

Worship is the kindred fire within our hearts;
It moves through deeds of kindness and through acts of love.

Worship is the mystery within us reaching out to the mystery beyond.
It is an inarticulate silence yearning to speak;
It is the window of the moment, open to the sky of the eternal.

Jacob Trapp

***

Chalice Lighting

We light this chalice
For the Warmth of Love
For the Light of Truth
For the Energy of Action

***

Reading: To The Four Directions (Singing The Living Tradition, #446)

Spirit of the East, spirit of air,
Of morning and springtime:
Be with us as the sun rises,
In time of beginning,
Times of planting,
Inspire us with the fresh breath of courage
As we go forth into new adventures.

Spirit of the south, spirit of fire,
Of noontime and summer:
Be with us through the heat of the day
And help us to be ever growing,
Warm us with strength
And energy for the work that awaits us
.
Spirit of the West, spirit of water,
Of evening and autumn,
Be with us as the sun sets
And help us to enjoy a rich harvest.
Flow through us with a cooling,
Healing quietness and bring us peace.

Spirit of the North, spirit of earth,
Of nighttime and winter:
Be with us in the darkness,
In the time of gestation.
Ground us in the wisdom
of the changing seasons
As we celebrate the spiraling
Journey of our lives.

Joan Goodwin

***

Sermon, Hymn, and Offertory Reading
Sermon: This is a sermon from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Waynesboro, preached by the Rev. Ed Pyper on March 11, 2007, and recorded in .pdf format on that church's online sermon registry.

***

Hymn: For the Earth, Forever Turning (Singing The Living Tradition, #163)

For the earth, forever turning;
For the skies, for all the seas;
For our lives, for all we cherish,
Sing we our joyful song of peace.

For the mountains, hills, and pastures;
In their silent majesty;
For the stars, for all the heavens,
Sing we our joyful song of peace.

For the sun, for rain and thunder,
For the seasons harmony;
For our lives, for all creation,
Sing we our joyful praise to Thee.

For the world we raise our voices,
For the home that gives us birth;
In our joy, we sing, returning,
Home to our blue-green hills of earth.

***

Reading: Out Of The Stars (Singing The Living Tradition, #530)

Out of the Stars

Out of the stars in their flight, out of the dust of eternity,
here have we come,
Stardust and sunlight,
mingling through time and through space.

Out of the stars have we come,
up from time.
Out of the stars have we come.

Time out of time before time
in the vastness of space,
earth spun to orbit the sun,
Earth with the thunder of mountains newborn,
the boiling of seas.

Earth warmed by sun, lit by sunlight;
This is our home;
Out of the stars have we come.

Mystery hidden in mystery,
back through all time;
Mystery rising from rocks
in the storm and the sea.

Out of the stars, rising from rocks
and the sea,
kindled by sunlight on earth,
arose life.

Ponder this thing in your heart,
life up from sea:
Eyes to behold, throats to sing,
mates to love.

Life from the sea, warmed by sun,
washed by rain,
life from within, giving birth,
rose to love.

This is the wonder of time;
this is the marvel of space;
out of the stars swung the earth;
life upon earth rose to love.

This is the marvel of life,
rising to see and to know;
Out of your heart, cry wonder:
sing that we live..

(Here take an Offering for the intentions of your community,
during which the pianist or organist may play an instrumental offering)


***

Closing Words, Closing Hymn, Dismissal
Closing Words: May The Light (Singing The Living Tradition, #706)

May the light around us guide our footsteps
and hold us fast to the best and most righteous that we seek.
May the darkness around us nurture our dreams,
and give us rest so that we can give ourselves to the work of our world.
Let us seek to remember the wholeness of our lives,
the weaving of light and shadow in this great and astonishing dance in which we move.
Blessings upon each of us, this night and evermore.

***

Closing Hymn: We Are Not Our Own(Singing The Living Tradition, #317)

We are not our own. Earth forms us,
human leaves on nature's growing vine,
fruit of many generations,
seeds of life divine.

We are not alone. Earth names us:
past and present, peoples near and far,
family and friends and strangers
show us who we are.

Through a human life God finds us;
dying, living, love is fully known,
and in bread and wine reminds us:
we are not our own.

Therefore let us make thanksgiving,
and with justice, willing and aware,
give to earth, and all things living,
liturgies of care.

And if love's encounters lead us
on a way uncertain and unknown,
all the saints with prayer surround us:
We are not alone.

Let us be a house of welcome,
living stone upholding living stone,
gladly showing all our neighbours
we are not our own!

***

Words Of Dismissal
Friends, let us embrace life and make it possible for all to live freely, joyfully, and well.

May this ending be our beginning.
Let us begin - again and again -
to wonder and to cherish and to act,
so that at day's end we will be content
knowing that we have given our all to life.
Marianne Hechten-Cotter

Gentle people, go in peace. Blessed Be.

***



Welcome to CUUPS!!

Explore the beauty of Pagan, Goddess, and Earth-centered spiritualities woven together with Unitarian Universalism.

The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Inc. (CUUPS) is an Interest Group of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA). The Statement of Purpose in our bylaws states that CUUPS exists to enable:

  • Networking among Pagan-identified UUs; providing outreach of Unitarian Universalism to the broader Pagan community continentally.
  • Providing educational materials on Paganism for Unitarian Universalist congregations and the general public.
  • Promoting Pagan - Jewish & Christian dialogue; encouraging the development of theo/alogical and liturgical materials based on earth and nature centered religious and spiritual perspectives.
  • Encouraging greater use of music, dance, visual arts, poetry, story, and creative ritual in Unitarian Universalist worship and celebration.
  • Providing support for Pagan-identified UU religious professionals and ministerial students; and fostering healing relationships with our mother the Earth and all her children.

2007 is the 20th Anniversary of the founding of CUUPS, and there were special observances recognizing that event at General Assembly 2007 in Portland. For our second 20 years, CUUPS-Continental is reinventing itself. We have a new relationship with the UUA and new ideas on how to develop UUA Paganism. Watch this space for developments.

What Is CUUPS?

We are a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization committed to furthering Pagan and Earth-centered thea/ology within the UUA. If you are wondering how a Pagan organization can be affiliated with a Church, you might want to take a look at our History. There is also a CUUPS FAQ to assist you in exploring some of the more commonly-asked queries about our unique organization. More in-depth analysis of the reasons, activities and philosophies behind the creation and ongoing mission of our organization can be found at About CUUPS.

This site is intended to introduce you to CUUPS, and explain some of the ways that UU Pagans interact with their host congregations, their local communities, and one another. There is also information here about the UUA and several other informational resources.

Where Is CUUPS?

There are members of CUUPS in almost every state in the union and in several foreign countries. Some CUUPS members are members of UUA Congregations, and some are members of the Church of the Larger Fellowship. Individuals may become solitaire members of CUUPS, or they may seek to find and join a Chapter, or they may choose to start a Chapter. One need not be in a Chapter, nor need one be a member of CUUPS, in most cases, to attend CUUPS activities. And in some areas, CUUPS offers public rituals and events, so that one need neither be associated with the UUA nor be a member of CUUPS in order to benefit from the resources afforded by CUUPS chapters to their local communities.

Why Join CUUPS?

However, if you are a Pagan-identified member of the UUA, there are definite advantages to association with CUUPS. Ongoing work is being done to create opportunities for Pagan voices to be heard and recognized in the official statements, resolutions, activities and governance of the UUA. Interfaith work is ongoing to afford just and equal religious rights to Pagans both within and without the UUA. And it is incontrovertable that the unique position of being a Pagan organization recognized and supported by a church body creates opportunities for impact and influence that are unavailable to many other Pagans. If you take a look at our site and think you might be interested in becoming a member of CUUPS, go here. If you choose to become a member of CUUPS, this site also affords many further resources in our "Members-Only" area. These resources include, to name just a few,

  • outlines that can be used to facilitate creating worship services and rituals
  • essays, articles, songs and poetry written by CUUPS members to use in your own workings and workshops
  • resolutions and items of business to be voted upon
  • a directory of CUUPS members worldwide
  • information and registration for UUA General Assembly and CUUPS Convocation
  • information and source materials for interfaith work
  • clergy resources

and many other opportunities to enjoy your fellowship with the other members of CUUPS and with our National Organization.

Sign Me Up!

We admit to a slight degree of partiality here, but we hope you will want to join us. An individual CUUPS membership connects you to all the many resources, not only of this site, but of our organization. Unitarian Universalist Pagans come in every possible permutation of path, practice and belief. There are some commonalities, but one of the unique features of the UUA approach to spirituality is recognition of the ability of people of diverse beliefs and faith paths to work together in harmony. Within CUUPS, this mindset is exceptionally rewarding as we attempt to bring together the widest possible variety of Pagan thought and create a community of earth-centered and other Pagan practitioners, all leading to the support and enhancement of each one's individual take on the "free and responsible search for truth and meaning." If you take a look at our site and think you might be interested in becoming a member of CUUPS, go here

If you are just visiting today, we hope you enjoy your stay with us. To see what features the site affords to your tour, see the Site Map.

CURRENT MOON

moon phases

This website is sponsored by a Unitarian Universalist Interest Group.
Leave here for the Unitarian Universalist Assn Website

CUUPS, Inc.
PO Box 3128
Durham, NC 27715-3128
info@cuups.org

(801)265-0887
Mon-Fri noon-6pm MST

http://www.cuups.org

Back to CUUPS Home