Siding with Love, Centered in Love

The state-sponsored violence in Minneapolis and around the US is calling UUs, in body and spirit: to side with love, protect each other, and advocate for change, in the face of hate and injustice. Our communities, congregations, and families need the blessings of faith now, more than ever. This month’s resources center LOVE, and encourage learning and action to build the beloved community, even — and especially — when despair, anger, and grief threaten to overwhelm us.

Introducing 30 Days of Love 2026: Reimagining the World as It Could Be

If hope is a discipline, spiritual practice is how we cultivate it — shaping who we are and what we can build together. Includes written reflection; family activity; journal prompts; meditative body practice; and coloring sheet, connected to the weekly theme.

Side With Love’s Minnesota Resource Kit

A continually updated resource kit from UUA’s Organizing Strategy Team, designed to support people in Minnesota and across the country. Want to take action with your neighbors, or ground your community spiritually? This toolkit offers a clear starting point.

Hate, Violence, and Trauma: Supporting Families, Children, Youth, and Congregations

State sponsored violence is impacting us all. You want to help our children, youth, and families to emotionally and spiritually process what is happening — in and beyond our communities. Tips for grounding and creating a plan, with other resources to look to.

Love and Help: Paper Chain Resistance (whole church activity)

Amy Peterson, religious educator near Minneapolis, invited her whole church to create a paper chain, sharing their acts of resistance and care: helping with bus stop and school drop-off patrols, bringing meals to people, holding space for community joy, and more. She said: “Watching this chain grow is a visual representation of our solidarity and power, and a reminder that we are not in this alone. We are surrounded by helpers, and centered in love.”
The invitation: create a paper chain of your own in your congregation, and share your pictures and stories. Amy will include in her worship service on Sunday, February 15.

Creative Lament Activity — Resources from Side With Love

Community rituals are essential for collective healing and resistance. This zine-making activity helps name our grief and ground in faith, and ngages the whole church RE embodied practices of “community making” and “sacred stories.”

Liberation for Littles: Navigating Rising Fascism Together

Monday | February 9 | 12 — 2:30 PM EST 

This FREE workshop, hosted by Sudanese artist and writer Rania El Mugammar, is for parents, caregivers, and all who want to be in liberatory community with children. We will discuss how to explain our current conditions to little ones, how to equip them (and ourselves) and how to organize alongside them to resist and transform our realities. Registration required.

Suggested Additional Resources

Love at the Center (book)
A testimony to love’s theological power — from UU religious history, to lessons drawn from the natural world, the justice rally, and the quiet moment before worship begins. MayLove at the Center deepen your own understanding and practices of love.

We Care (board book, ages 2-4) Research says challenging topics should be discussed early and often with kids. This book introduces the idea of justice within the responsibilities and benefits of being part of a healthy, loving community.

We’re Not Alone — Sesame Workshop (video, ages 3-6) Being a good community member means remembering that what you say and do matters to others. A music video on the power of community connections, particularly in the face of violence.

Share Your Love (book, ages 3-7) This book teaches children how to wish others happiness, good health, peace, and safety. A great daily ritual of lovingkindness — and if a child is struggling after witnessing harm, repeating the metta can help.

Safe Crossing (book, ages 5-8) Want to develop love-centered civic engagement in young children? An empowering story shows how even the youngest citizens can raise awareness about a cause they love, drive change, and unite people locally and globally.

Love and Help (workbook, ages 7-11) Helps kids actively deepen their lived UU identity. Includes stories, activities, and thoughtful questions to help children better understand themselves, their family, their community, and their faith.
Signs of Our Faith: Being UU Every Day (curriculum, ages 8-11) Signs of Our Faith guides children to live faithfully. Focuses on ideals, values and rituals centering love and justice — including public witness.Note: Use with care. Overall, very good, but is no longer being updated; may need targeted adaptation for this moment.

Black History Month

Black Lives Matter Worship Collection (reflections, prayers, readings, and more)

Black UU Ancestors: Three short videos on the life and work of Rev. Ethelred Brown,Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, and Lewis Hayden.

Rooting for Us: Celebrating the Centennial of Black History Month (reflection) Anti-Blackness is deeply rooted in American culture. Celebrating Black people and affirming their accomplishments is a way to build unity, and doesn’t take away from anyone else’s joy.

Let My People Go! (story for all ages) A powerful pairing of the biblical story and the work of Rosa Parks, whose meaning is amplified in this moment of injustice and violence.

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (book, young readers’ edition) Illustrates the effort to expose and eradicate racism in jobs, housing, schools, and public services, as well as police brutality — and how Rosa Parks was a key player throughout.

Poemhood: Our Black Revival (book, ages 13+) Thirty-seven powerful poetic voices reflecting the diversity of the Black experience. A conversation about race, faith, heritage, and resilience between fresh poets and the literary ancestors that came before them.

This is Not a Small Voice (book, ages 8-12) Collection of poems about hope and struggle, joy and pride, home and food, music and family. Each is paired with vibrant, inviting illustrations.

Professional Development

OWL online training for grades 7/9, 10/12 and K/1 are upcoming, in February and March. All trainings are posted on the UUA OWL calendar — see details, dates and how to register there.

Threshold Conversation Panel: Trauma-Informed Ministry

Join us for the Threshold Conversations’ final topic, with virtual panel discussion followed by a Q&A with panelists, on February 24, 11-1 ET. Learn more and register in the links above.

Dimensions of Faith Development: Sparks Module

Online — Tuesdays in March, 3-5 ET. Develop a method for dismantling white supremacy through Lifespan Faith Development; learn how it is central to congregational work. Registration fee is $200 — limit of 20 participants.Register by March 3.

UU Youth Ministry: Sparks Module

Online — Tuesdays, February 24 — March 3, 6:30-9 ET. Explore aspects of UU youth ministry including history, youth empowerment, and spiritual lives of teens in today’s world. Registration fee is $300 — limit of 15.Register by February 17.

Kind, Clear and Heartful: Effective Boundaries in Faith Development
Boundaries are part of the soil that nurtures our relationships and helps our ministry thrive. Missed the last meetup? The link above includes recording, slides, and the resources shared.