What is love calling you to do?
The UUFA will support the 30 Days of Love by incorporating the weekly themes into our service.
Side With Love is the Organizing Strategy Team of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We harness the power of love to confront and transform systems of oppression and build a world where all people can thrive. Through organizing, education, and mobilization, we equip Unitarian Universalists and aligned communities to take spiritually grounded, justice-oriented action.
February 2026 sunday services at a glance: 30 Days of Love
February 1 – Reimagine Thriving – Reimagining Thriving February 1, marks the first of five Sunday services that fall under the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) “30 Days of Love.” The series is designed to move us to enact the principle that Love is at the Center of our faith community. At a time when our community, both local and global, is facing many challenges, we are “Reimagining the World as it Could Be.” In this first Sunday of the series Pete Mather will lead us in exploring how to champion the audacious goal of all people thriving in today’s world.
February 8 – Grounding in Context – In these difficult times, we all are looking for ways to jump in and help in whatever way we can. To be truly effective we need a solid foundation on which to build, this week we are exploring and building roots into solid ground from which we can act and reach.Nellie James
February 15 – Mobilizing Action – Love is not passive – it moves. This week during our 30 days of love we are invited to take faithful action, bringing our shared dreams to life through creativity , strategy and collaboration. Be ready to work with others to engage in shared meaningful activities to make visible our shared dream. Service leaders, Anna and Pete Mather.
Potluck Sunday oub a warner season
February 15 is Potluck Sunday – Immediately following service. Please bring a dish to share and label if you would, with ingredients so that folks with special dietary situations can enjoy and be informed ! Thank you for your consideration.
February 22 – Nuturing Community is our theme for todays service. Building community that nourishes relationships is core to our UU faith and must be central to our justice work. When we share food, play together, and prioritize time to get to know each other in our committees, congregations, and communities, we live into our interdependence and make our organizing stronger. We counter the myth of the charismatic solo leader by cultivating teams, not heroes. For today’s service we will focus on the internal UUFA community. We will explore some core aspects such as: Our relationship with one another through our Covenant (2015). We will take a look at of our community membership role and process to become a member. We will hear from seasoned members about why they are a part of our community. Please join us to dig deeply into tthe heart of what it means to be a member of UUFA. Most notably we are thrilled to welcome new members on this day. Sara Berens and Nate Wallace and LaVerna Vickers. Barb Harrison, service leader
March 1 – Exploring Possibilities – How do we lean into the unknown while remaining rooted in our values? This is the tension at the heart of our faith, calling us both to question boldly and to remain grounded in our commitment to justice, equity, and the inherent worth of every person. Roberta Roberson, service leader
Membership at UUFA – The Membership Team is encouraging all to review the documents below.
The still hilarious Gouch Marx quote to get us started thinking about what our role and committments are as members of UUFA.
UUFA By-Laws – What it means to be a member and the process involved:
Follow this link for the full document: UUFA By-Laws
ARTICLE V—MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1—MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to any individual age 16 or older who has expressed accord with the
UUFA’s Purpose as stated above. Additionally, the individual shall agree to abide by those
Bylaws and the Congregational Covenant in force while the individual is a member. No espousal
of any testament or specific religious creed shall be required to become a member. The success
of UUFA, in both its spiritual and community work, requires the time, talent and treasure of all
its membership: it is in this spirit that each member commits—to the best of their ability—to
make ongoing pledge and membership contributions.
To become a recognized member the individual must:
● Sign the Membership Book and Membership Covenant in the presence of any duly
authorized congregational officer as defined in Article VI, Section 2.
● Make at minimum an annual identifiable financial contribution to the Fellowship with
consideration to all membership dues such as UUA and CERG which UUFA is required
to pay, and to the ongoing support and service of the congregation.
● At the time of signing the Membership Book and Membership Covenant, an intended
financial contribution can be indicated via Pledge Form.
A member receives voting privileges after meeting all membership requirements.
You may be asking yourself, “We Have a Member Covenant”? Yes ! What would you add? Delete? from this document?
UUFA Members Covenant
Follow this link for the full document: UUFA Membership Covenent
A part of becoming a member of the UUFA is to read and agree to uphold our membership covenant. This document can be found in Elvanto under the member area and under documents. Please take a moment to read and think about changes or edits you would make. We will have a chance to take a look at this as a congregation on 2/22 and will discuss updates to make this document a living part of our work together.
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF
ATHENS, OH
CONGREGATIONAL
COVENANT OF RIGHT RELATIONS
September 2015
Right relations are the foundation on which a safe congregation is based. As we work together to articulate our understanding of and affirm our commitment to the practice of right relations, we will enrich our ability to love, respect, and nurture each other in our lifelong spiritual quests. When people speak passionately about subjects important to them, misunderstandings and hurt feelings that can occur. A covenant of right relations mitigates such conflict to create a welcoming, respectful, safe and vibrant spiritual community.
Conflict is normal in healthy relationships. Disagreement, ideally, communicates caring and involvement. When practicing right relations, people may disagree vigorously but still treat each other respectfully, stay connected, and learn together. A sense of wellbeing pervades the congregation as people minister to one another. This allows each of us to choose with intention and act with integrity on what we believe and value, in a framework of respectful relationship with members of the Congregation, community and wider world.
The following guidelines are in place in order to create a vibrant community where each person can search for truth and meaning in an environment that builds connections, renews spirit, and inspires action. While realizing that we do not always live up to our ideals, we know we can choose to grow in a manner that promotes a religious community grounded in love and justice. In pledging to follow these guidelines, we will serve, one another, our religious home, our local community, our larger faith, our world and our own spiritual development.
As members of the UUFA, we aspire to do the following as we participate in the life of the Congregation:
• Welcome and engage members and visitors alike, encouraging them to join in Congregation activities
• Value and express our own emotions and differences in a way that respects the worth and dignity of each person.
• Express gratitude for the efforts of others
• Listen attentively to appreciate fully another’s point of view, valuing the perspective of others
• Support and encourage the personal and spiritual growth of others, acknowledging that each person has a unique path and
truth
• Value confidentiality
• Ask for help, support and collaboration when needed and provide them in turn
• Build courage and commitment to voice our values in the world, and work toward positive relationships with other faith
communities
• Provide opportunities to share diverse ideas in a safe place
• Approach disagreements and conflicts constructively, communicating with others in a direct, caring and responsible manner
• Acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes. Seek and offer forgiveness.
This covenant is a living document. It can be reviewed by the congregation at any time in the future and adapted to fit changing needs and circumstances. It represents a commitment to thoughtful, active participation in the life of this religious community; caring and respectful relationships with one another and with visitors; and individual and collective contributions to the wider community.
In the rare instances in which conflict or behavior cannot be processed in ordinary community relations or becomes harmful, the Executive Board and Committee on Ministry shall have in place a Policy on Conflict Resolution and Response to Disruptive Behavior to be activated.
Follow this link for the full document: UUFA Conflict and Dispute Resolution
News From our Denomination
Capitol Police arrest UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, UUs, and other people of faith during a protest on Thursday, January 29, 2026, in Washington, D.C. © Brandan Robertson/UUA
UUA President, Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt arrested in Washington D.C.