East Shore has a long tradition of earth-centered and pagan ministry, including the medicine wheel outdoor worship area, and Winter Solstice Celebrations going back more than twenty years. For more than ten years our family has helped keep these traditions alive at ESUC.
In 2019 we attended GA in Spokane, and participated in the Summer Solstice ritual led by the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS). CUUPS was chartered by the UUA in 1987 to provide networking among Pagan Identified UUs, provide outreach of Unitarian Universalism to the broader Pagan community, encourage greater use of music, dance, visual arts, poetry, story, and creative ritual in our services, and foster healing relationships with our mother the Earth and all her children. Over one hundred UU congregations have CUUPS chapters.
This year, Rev. Steve Furrer asked us to lead a session of his UU Sources class on “spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.” After the session, attendees asked about next steps. We discussed starting a CUUPS chapter (we are both members) at ESUC. Rev. Furrer expressed support for the idea. Karen LaFé, a CUUPS member who attended the class, is also on board.
If you are already a member of CUUPS, please let us know. You won’t need to be a CUUPS member to join our chapter though. We’ll be open to everyone.
We expect to start meetings in the fall. Our first project will be preparing for the Winter Solstice Celebration. We are committed to celebrating in person in the sanctuary on December 21. We are also discussing ideas for an in-depth class on earth-based spirituality, or a pagan study group.
Contact LeAnne Struble at [email protected] and Chris Struble at [email protected] and with any questions, or to get on our list for upcoming meetings and events.
LeAnne and Chris Struble