We are only a month into 2025, and yet I know for many of us, it has felt like a long and challenging month. My message this month will be brief, focused on what we are doing in EUU to support all our members in sustaining the strength of our community, and the determination to keep love at the center of all we do.

Many of our members and friends are hard at work, continuing to build our EUU organization so that it nurtures our relationships with each other and reflects our values into the world. Here’s a sample of what’s happening:

• The spring retreat committee has got Saarbrücken up and running, and registration is now open. Register right away, places are going fast – registration closes on March 8, and as ever, it’s first come, first served for the room type of your choice. Also remember, we have grants and are committed to making retreats affordable to all of our members.

• Thanks to Gevene and our communications team, our Unifier is again here for another month to keep us connected. We appreciate that deeply! Be sure to let the team know about all your upcoming events and UU-related activities so we can support each other and share resources. The Unifier highlights both our activities and our member voices, so if you feel inspired to write – let them know at unifier@europeanuu.org.

• Online events continue apace – Tuesday evening cheer (with UUFP), and morning coffee drop-in on Mon-Wed-Fri, for example. Check below for more info how to join in, and join us sometime – it’s great to connect, even virtually.

• Your officers are working together to organize some Town Hall meetings to help those of us who want to connect more deeply about current affairs and our concerns than is possible at a CC business meeting to do so. (The CC – Coordinating Council – is EUU’s leadership body, with representatives from each fellowship and from EUU members at large. CC meetings are open to all EUU members.)

These Town Halls are still taking shape, and we hope to find ministerial and other support to guide them. We are considering Tuesday evenings, and Saturday or late Sunday afternoons for these events (late enough that they won’t conflict with local fellowship worship services). We hope to be able to announce more details next month. Please email us at officers@europeanuu.org if you would welcome such events, and give us feedback on when is best for you to attend.

• Another hard-at-work core team is now in place and would welcome support to bring a Fall 2025 retreat to fruition – Save the Date – Sep 12–14 in Cologne, with a guest speaker lined up and to be announced next month.

• And our stalwart long-time member, Peter Jarrett, has offered to take on vetting and creating an up-to-date list of possible retreat sites for 2026 and 2027, using the wonderful information gathering tool that Shulamit Levine-Helleman and Blanca Maria Lagunez developed last year. We hope having sites reserved will give us a running start so that the retreats we love so much can keep happening.

• Last but by no means least, such a list must include all our dedicated CC representatives and committee members, who meet four times a year and keep everything rolling, and who keep you and your fellowships informed.

This is just a sampling of the many, many individuals who give of their energy, often “behind the scenes,” to keep EUU strong. We appreciate every one of you!

Let us remember, these times highlight what is a struggle FOR what we believe in, not a fight against what we see happening all around us that is not in keeping with our values. We are part of an even bigger global community of persons who share our vision – and we are playing our part in the tag-team relay marathon that speaking up for justice has always been. Rest when you need to rest. Know what work is yours to do – stay focused on your priorities – no one of us can do it all.

We are as strong as each individual link in our EUU community chain. May we find ways together to strengthen the bonds of our community support, and may we find many sources of joy, inspiration, and fun!

Namaste,

Bonnie, in service to EUU as your president