News: Unitarian Universalism in the News

One Sunday, Five Hundred Congregations, 100,000 Memories

On Sunday, October 3, 2010, more than five hundred Unitarian Universalist congregations, with a collective membership of more than 100,000 Unitarian Universalists, held Association Sunday worship services celebrating fifty years of our Association and the future of our faith. Association Sunday is an opportunity for congregations to reflect on the common bonds within our faith community and take a special collection to support important projects and initiatives provided by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

Proceeds from the special collections at Association Sunday services will be used to ensure that Unitarian Universalism thrives for generations to come through initiatives like Leap of Faith, a pilot project establishing mentoring relationships between selected congregations.

"I am grateful to the many Unitarian Universalist individuals and congregations who enthusiastically supported this year's Association Sunday," said Unitarian Universalist Association President Rev. Peter Morales. "Their generous contributions honor fifty years of Unitarian Universalism and advance the future of this religious movement."

Congregations that signed up to participate in Association Sunday were entered into a raffle for which the prize was a visit from Morales. The winning congregation was the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana, which will hold its Association Sunday service in the spring of 2011.

This year’s Association Sunday sermons highlighted the importance of stewardship, of shared Unitarian Universalist identity, and of building the Unitarian Universalist movement. “Stewardship is not just about caring for the present, but investing in the future,” declared John Nino in his sermon to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Hot Spring, Arizona. “We hold what we value—including our Unitarian Universalist congregations and institutions—in trust. As stewards, we work to ensure that what we cherish will be there in the future for the benefit of others.”

Nino’s sermon is among those available in the Association Sunday 2010 Sermons collection.

Secure, tax-deductible gifts to Association Sunday can be made online.

Additional Information for Congregations

Photos, sermons, stories and videos from this year’s Association Sunday, may be e-mailed to associationsunday@uua.org for publication by the UUA.

Congregations that participated in Association Sunday and are looking to mail gifts should fill out the gift information form and follow these instructions.

Association Sunday
Peter Morales in a suit and a colorful woven minister's stole, smiling.

UUA President Rev. Peter Morales

First Universalist Church in Yarmouth, ME
Association Sunday
Peter Morales in a suit and a colorful woven minister's stole, smiling.

UUA President Rev. Peter Morales

First Universalist Church in Yarmouth, ME
Association Sunday
Peter Morales in a suit and a colorful woven minister's stole, smiling.

UUA President Rev. Peter Morales

First Universalist Church in Yarmouth, ME