News and Announcements

SSDN, formerly known as South Side Day Nursery, was founded over 120 years ago by 15 Unitarian women committed to ending poverty by working for social and economic justice through a day nursery and employment agency. Today, the organization offers a seamless connection of earlycare and education services.

First Unitarian Church and SSDN have enjoyed an ongoing relationship to this day, with many members serving as volunteers and SSDN board members throughout the years.

SSDN will hold its 2nd Annual Champions for Children awards dinner and auction on Saturday, April 4, 2009. As part of the evening’s festivities, two organizations and one individual will be honored for their exemplary support to children. We are proud to announce that the St. Louis Unitarian Foundation for Children, a long-time supporter of SSDN, will be an award recipient this year.

Tags: Children, Social Responsibility, St. Louis UU Community by admin

UU congregregations across the country are now discussing the Peacemaking Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) adopted at GA 2006. Congregations are to vote by February 1, 2009 on the draft Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking to be posted at the UUA Commission on Social Witness website by November 15, 2008. A final UUA statement on this issue is to be adopted at the GA 2009 in Salt Lake City next June 24-28.

The Study/Action Issue adopted at the 2006 GA started with the question: “… should the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) reject the use of any and all kinds of violence and war … and adopt a principle of seeking just peace through nonviolent means.” Although some interpreted this as a call for debate between just war and pacifist perspectives, the Peacemaking CSAI Core Team believes that the heart of peacemaking is seeking to find solutions that encompass all truths, rather than creating a competitive battle between two positions. To learn more visit the Peacemaking issue page at the UUA website.

Our congregation needs someone to lead discussions on this issue. Ron Glossop is leading discussions at the First Unitarian Church in Alton, Illinois and is ready to work with anyone who takes the lead here.

If you would like to be our congregational leader on this issue, contact Joanne at program.council@firstuustlouis.org.

Tags: Adult Education, Social Responsibility, St. Louis UU Community, Unitarian Universalists by admin

On Wednesday night, July 30, a memorial vigil at Eliot Chapel, led by Rev. Daniel O’Connell and Rev. Bonnie Vegiard of Eliot Chapel, Rev. Khleber Van Zandt of First Unitarian Church of Alton, and Rev. Krista Taves of Emerson Chapel, honored the memory of those killed and wounded in the attack at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Sunday, July 27, 2008.

A number of First Church members attended the vigil, in which music by members and friends of Eliot Chapel graced the chapel and solemn prayer reminded us that while we acknowledge and may even pay tribute to the manner in which someone has died, especially in moments of heroism, we must emphasize and honor the life that each person has lived. As important, the theme of what Unitarians are called to do—to seek truth, to work for justice, to reach for a higher light, and, most difficult of all, to forgive even the worst offense—offered sustenance to those in attendance.

The service closed as a young church member sang “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow,” from the musical Annie, which was being performed by children and youth when the gunman entered the sanctuary and began his assault. As the young girl sang, congregants passed on the chalice’s flame, symbolizing our own internal light, our connection to the wider community of Unitarian Universalists, and our belief that the light of our free faith will never be extinguished.

— Teresa Sweeney

Tags: St. Louis UU Community, Unitarian Universalists by admin

This Wednesday, July 30, at 7 p.m., there will be a prayer vigil at Eliot Unitarian Chapel, 216 E. Argonne, in Kirkwood, for those involved in the tragedy yesterday at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, in Knoxville, Tenn. All UU churches in the St. Louis area are helping organize the service.

Tags: Board, St. Louis UU Community, Unitarian Universalists by admin