FROM ANGST TO AGENCY, EUU Fall Retreat in Cologne, Germany, Sep 12-14 2025
Registration has Closed – please chack back next week
to register for Spring ’26 in Saarbrücken
Humans are wired to be on alert for danger, so it’s natural for us to get anxious, especially in anxious times! Our retreat this fall will explore how we can take our angst and turn it into agency.
In her theme talk, Rev. Diane Rollert will introduce some basic building blocks for reducing anxiety and finding strength in our own histories and our Unitarian Universalist faith. Participants will then be able to choose from a series of activities designed to provide tools for survival in anxious times.
THEME SPEAKER: REV. DIANE ROLLERT
Rev. Diane Rollert served the Unitarian Church of Montreal, Quebec, for 18 years as its first settled female minister during its nearly 190-year history. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, she has spent years studying family systems theory. Learning how to become a non-anxious leader, she says, was the key to her own survival and success within a complex congregational and cultural setting. Recently retired from full time parish ministry, she currently serves as UUA ambassador to the UU fellowships in Europe, and as co-founder and president of Coalition Inclusion Québec, an organization waging a legal battle against Bill 21, an anti-minority and discriminatory law in Quebec.
WHAT TO EXPECT
EUU retreats are a fun mix of silent contemplation, meaningful exchanges and frivolity.
We gather on Friday afternoon, 
share a meal, and connect with both new and familiar faces. Members and guests are invited to participate in our in-gathering ceremony and group icebreaker before the evening winds down.
Some may choose to retire early, while others stay up late to make music, mingle at the bar with your choice of beverage, or simply relax with friends. If you play an instrument, bring it along—our informal jam sessions or sing-alongs welcome musicians of all levels!
On Saturday morning, our guest speaker, Rev. Diane Rollert, will lead an engaging, participatory session centered on the retreat’s theme: “From Angst to Agency.”
The afternoon is dedicated to workshops—engaging topics prepared and presented by retreat participants. In the evening, we kick off with a presentation from our youth groups, offering a glimpse into the RE program. That is followed by an Open Stage performance, where attendees of all ages can showcase their talents. Whether you plan your act in advance or decide to perform spontaneously, you will never find a friendlier crowd!
On Sunday morning, we come together for a worship service and closing ceremony, followed by lunch before saying our goodbyes.
THE VENUE: COLOGNE HOSTEL
We are happy to return to a favorite EUU retreat venue, the Köln-Riehl City Youth Hostel. Over the decades, we’ve hosted numerous events here due to its affordability, modern accommodations, excellent meeting spaces, and convenient location.
Easily accessible for most of our members across Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and beyond, it offers an ideal setting for our retreat.
The fourth-largest German city, Cologne was founded in 50 C.E. by the Romans under Emperor Claudius and called the ‘Claudia Colony near the Altar of Agrippinians’. Only the reference to the colony remains in the name, but it has been an important city ever since.
SHARING YOUR TALENTS AT THE RETREAT
Music, workshops, performances—what will you share?
How does EUU offer such an enriching retreat at an affordable cost? Dedicated volunteers make it happen! We invite you to contribute your skills to help create a special weekend.
Would you like to lead a workshop, assist with the children’s RE program, perform at the Open Stage, sing in the choir, or join the evening jam sessions? Let us know how you’d like to be involved when you register.
YOUTH PROGRAM
FAMILIES ARE WELCOME! Young attendees will have their own Religious Exploration (RE) program, designed to be especially affordable for children and young adults—take advantage of this opportunity!
The RE program will generally align with the larger retreat theme, helping young people connect their minds, bodies, and hearts. As always, RE begins on Saturday morning and continues through Sunday’s worship service. Parents are responsible for their children during coffee hour, meal times, and after the RE presentation.
To maintain our EUU policy of always having two adults present in RE at all times, parents will have the chance to volunteer for short shifts, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for all.
CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS
Do you have an idea for a workshop? Share it with us!
Contact workshops@europeanuu.org.
🗓 Deadline for workshop proposals: August 15th, 2025.
RETREAT COSTS
Prices include the full retreat experience — meals included — from Friday dinner through to Sunday lunch.
If retreat costs are a concern, we maintain a grant fund to help those who might otherwise be unable to attend. If you’d like to apply, act quickly—click here to learn how.
QUESTIONS?
We’re looking forward to seeing you in Cologne. If you have questions, write to RetreatCommittee@europeanuu.org