CUUPs Newsletter 2022

Late Summer/First Harvest

2022 CUUPS Annual Meeting

Poetry • Book Group • Chapter and Member Support • Upcoming Rituals

Musings…Blessings in Hard Times

As I walked past my herb garden this afternoon, I was enamored with the number of pollinators enjoying themselves on the flowering stems. I was so happy to see creatures enjoying an area of life I had to let go of tending this summer due to having a total knee replacement. The healing process has been far from easy, and with each obstacle comes more challenges, rewards, or setbacks.

The oregano the bees are thriving on has not been weeded, cut back, or even watered by anything or person other than Mother Nature herself. It reminds me of so many places where it is okay to let go of tending to everything that pops up and tends to my healing and well-being. I giggle a little at that thought. It reminds me of an old commercial that said, “Trust Mother Nature!”

Letting go of traveling, marching in protests, getting swept up in the news of the hour, managing too much work and volunteer tasks, and leading an over-busy life had to be let go for this year. It has felt like a drought in some ways, but the nourishment of the heart and soul has come from simply listening to Mother Nature tend to my body. I stay on course, focusing and listening to needs differently and blessings and lessons occur like little miraculous reminders.

As I look at the politics of the day, I get enraged, and I have to stop and see if this feeling contributing to healing something? It has me wonder how that translates on a larger scale. Are we collectively able to heal humanity with our rage? How can we express anger and upset and still stand in love – not just for ourselves but for others?

There is some good work within the UU Association right now where we all can learn, participate and contribute to what healing from love can be. We can support them whether homebound or active in the streets and whether we can do a lot, write letters, or give financially. I look at each organization within the association as separate gardens, feeding and healing others. Like the bees in my garden, we are the pollinators spreading it to create change in the world.

Keep looking for the miracles in the chaos and craziness or difficult times. Stop in the middle of it all and note the gifts showing themselves to you. Mother Nature is listening to deliver.

Blessings of the First Harvest to you,

Jerrie Hildebrand

The image for this article is copyrighted 2022 by Kishgraphics/J. Hildebrand

Notice of 2022 Annual Meeting

The annual members’ meeting for Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022 over Zoom.

You can register at https://tinyurl.com/CUUPsAnnualMeeting2022

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Email info@cuups.org for more information.

Check Membership Status

Have you checked your CUUPs member status for the annual meeting? Here’s how!

Posting to CUUPS Social Media

The image in this article was purchased from 123rf and illustrated by nlshop1.

CUUPS is creating new guidelines for posting on our social media due to an accidental copyright infringement made in a post on Facebook in 2013. Companies are now scanning public internet sites for almost any infringement they can collect payment on. The post in question did not acknowledge the artist and merely pointed people to their sales site. The infringement came by not mentioning the image was theirs. It has resulted in a substantial payment to the company representing the artist.

We are asking everyone to be mindful when sharing anything with a photograph, meme, artwork, etc. The best guidelines have been coordinated with the UUA’s Social Media Content Creation team. Their wisdom is as follows:

“Social media doesn’t have a grey area regarding image copyright. When it comes to an image that isn’t yours, you must obtain permission to use it through the creator or a license. It can be as simple as requesting permission and waiting until its granted. The creators still own the copyright when someone shares an image on a public account.

Before reposting a photo—send a quick, direct message or comment on the post to ensure the creator is on board with your sharing the image. If sharing is allowed on the platform, it’s typically okay to share images within the platform. Most social platforms automatically credit the creator when you reshare. If the platform does not do this automatically, please, ask the creator or do not post it.

Questions to consider before resharing/using an image:

If the answers are all yes, the image is safe to use.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us. For further information about copyrights, go to https://www.wipo.int/copyright/en/faq_copyright.html.

Planning for the Next Program Year!

September will be here faster than we expect it! Join us 2nd Saturday on August 13, 2022 at 7 PM Eastern time zone over Zoom to brainstorm about what you want to see at CUUPs National over the next program year.

Do you have ideas for Adult RE? Want a new book group for the members? Another one for the chapter leaders? How about forming a worship committee to organize a CUUPs National Winter Solstice service? Do you want to be on the team for GA 2023 Summer Solstice? How about online fellowship or even forming a more formal online chapter for people who don’t have a CUUPs chapter at their local church?

Get your thinking caps on and come share what gets you excited and lights you up!

Register at www.tinyurl.com/CUUPs2ndSatAug2022

Email info@cuups.org with questions or for more info.