The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans is beginning an intensive process of revisioning and we need your help.

Our goal is to produce a mission and vision statement that will set the high-level direction for CUUPS and for building a shared sense of identity and purpose. We want to include all our stakeholders: CUUPS members, UU-friendly Pagans, and Pagan-friendly UUs – if you have an opinion on what CUUPS is and what it should be, we want to hear from you.

The first survey is open now and we encourage you to complete it:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CUUPS_Revisioning_1

This first survey focuses on demographics and identity. It is designed to find out who we are, how we see ourselves, how we relate to CUUPS, other Paganisms, and UUism, and what we think/believe about various concepts that frequently come up in Pagan conversations.

The question of what we do will be the focus of the second survey.

We want to identify our common principles and values. Who are we? What do we do? What is UU Paganism as it’s actually practiced? Is there something unique that can be called UU Paganism? Our foundation will be built on who and what we are, here and now, warts and all.

Then we’ll talk about who and what we want to become. What do we keep? What do we change? And perhaps most importantly, what do we want CUUPS to be and do strongly enough to commit to doing the work necessary to create it?

More details about the revisioning process can be found on the CUUPS webpage:

http://www.cuups.org/about/revisioningfaq.html

Please share the survey with anyone who would have an opinion on Paganism within Unitarian Universalism.

Gleichentag: The Autumn Equinox

Saturday September 13, 2014
Gathering begins at 7:00 PM
Ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM

Please join Denton CUUPS for our Autumn Equinox celebration of the Norse festival of Gleichentag. The day when light and dark are equal and the celebration of the second harvest of the grain was a time to take stock of the year, to gather together and share food and drink with each other, the landvettir, ancestor spirits, and the gods of the harvest time. We will be holding a feast as part of the ritual, or as the Norse would have commonly called their High Day rites, a symbul or blot, where we will share food and drink amongst those here, and with all those who come in peace to join us for feasting and song.

The first part of the celebration will be outside (weather permitting, which it usually is this time of year) and the ritual feast will be inside in the RE wing. Please bring a dish to share if you wish, and a favorite poem, reading or song if you want to honor you ancestors, spirits, or deities aloud.

Children 10 and older who can participate respectfully are welcome to attend with a parent/guardian. Childcare will be provided for younger children if requested by September 9.

For questions or information, please contact Cyn Talbot at Amalleigh@msn.com, or John Beckett at 972-948-9211 or JohnFranc@aol.com

Herakleia
Saturday, August 2
gathering begins at 7:00 PM
ritual begins promptly at 7:30 PM

Please join us for our celebration of the Herakleia, a ritual honoring the life and death of Herakles, otherwise known as Hercules. We will hear his story and honor him. We will also honor Hera and Athena, two goddesses who played vital roles in his ascension to godhood.

Please bring an item of food or drink to share after the ceremony. Donations of 2-3 dollars to help offset expenses will be appreciated but are not required.

Children 10 and older who can participate maturely and be respectful of the sacred nature of this circle are welcome. We will offer childcare for younger children if requested by Tuesday, July 29.

For more information, please contact Conor Warren at conorwarren@my.unt.edu or 940-300-2875

The weather is unfavorable for outdoor activities today.  We might be able to get the cleanup done, or we might not, or – the big concern – we might get started and then have severe weather pop up suddenly.

We’ll reschedule for 12:45 PM on Sunday, May 4.  This is the Sunday after our Beltane circle – seeing as how it’s after noon, being out late the night before shouldn’t be a problem.

Denton CUUPS Beltane: The Four Hallows of the Tuatha De Danann
Saturday, May 3
Gather at 7:00 PM, start promptly at 7:30

Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
1111 Cordell Street, Denton, TX 76201

The Denton Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans invites you to join us for our Beltane circle.  We will begin with our traditional Maypole dance, then explore The Four Hallows of the Tuatha De Danann.

When the Tuatha De Danann – the children of the Goddess Danu – invaded Ireland, they brought with them the Four Hallows, four items of Otherworldly origin.  They are The Sword of Nuada – no one ever escaped from it once it was drawn, and no one could resist it; The Spear of Lugh – no battle was ever sustained against it, or against the warrior who carried it; The Cauldron of the Dagda – no company ever went away from it unsatisfied; and The Lia Fail – the stone that would cry out in the presences of the true King.

Though the Hallows are represented by objects, they are more than things.  Our ritual will explore their essence and how we can work with them to learn and grow, and to do the work of the Gods in our world.

Our circle will be outdoors unless it is raining – please dress for the weather.

Please bring an item of food or drink to share after the ceremony. As always, a donation of a dollar or three to help defray costs are appreciated, but not required.

Children 10 and older who can participate maturely and respectfully are welcome to join in.  Childcare for younger children will be available if requested by Tuesday, April 29.