This marks the first time during the pandemic and the first time at all in almost two years that we will convene. We gather under the theme “Love Right Through”, which reminds us of what a powerful source love can be for guidance, strength, and transformation in difficult times.

The afternoon will begin with inspiring music from Reggie Harris, Co-President of the Living Legacy Project, which does tours and programs honoring the changemakers of the Civil Rights Era. Then we will have a series of short breakout opportunities where we’ll get to connect with new friends and perhaps reconnect with folks we already know.

The President of our UUA, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, will offer words of greeting, as will the Presidents of the PWR’s District Boards.

Member congregations and covenanting communities have stories to share with one another – stories of disappointment, of resilience, of loss, of courage, of trials, and of triumphs. One of the features of this Regional Assembly is its focus on voices from our congregations and covenanting communities. Prepare to be inspired by your fellow lay leaders who are tapping into their own resourcefulness and finding ways to do well in spite of the pandemic.

We will also highlight congregations taking on the recommendations of the UUA’s Commission on Institutional Change as found in Widening the Circle of Concern. For those who are looking for ways to engage their congregations in the work of racial justice and countering white supremacy, this is a time for you to connect with others dedicate to this work.

We know there are many questions about what is happening with Sunday worship on February 14…and we have a response! If we were doing an in-person gathering we would have organized a special worship service unique to the Region. However, we acknowledged that the Side with Love campaign already had Sunday, February 14 as the end of its 30 Days of Love programming.

Because they already had a service planned and we choose to cooperate rather than compete, we determined that we would love right through by letting their service also be ours and that we would hold a Community Hour in the afternoon, which is open to PWR Regional Assembly attendees and anyone else who wishes to gather. The link to that will be in your registration email in the coming days.

The Side with Love service coordinated by Rev. Erika Hewitt will be available for download and/or viewing the week of February 7 and can be used in local services at their regularly scheduled time. We PWR staff hope that local congregations that could use a break from Sunday service prep will take this as an opportunity to give their ministers and Worship Committees a little downtime from the rigors of creating worship from scratch. Click here for more details.

We look forward to seeing you at Regional Assembly… Let us know if you have any questions!

In faith,
Carlton