Great Speakers, Great Company!  Our Annual Legislative Conferences bring together advocates who are working to preserve vital state programs and services, expand the arc of justice, and carry our Unitarian Universalist values of equity and compassion to all people in Washington, especially in these difficult economic times.
Join Us – be part of WA UU Voices’ decision-making process as we select the priority issues for the 2013 Washington State legislative session. Now, more than ever, we need your voice to help us speak out for economic justice, social equity, and a sustainable world.

For directions, see the OUUC Website

For directions, see the UU Spokane website
For out of town visitors, the hospitable folks at UUCS are making home stays available.  Contact Marion Hammer, mariondhammer@gmail.com, for information and reservations.

Register Today at UUVoicesWA.org
$15 for WA UU Voices members; $20 for non-members.  Includes lunch and conference packets.

Marriage Equality for Washington!

 Kirkland

from Harmon McKendrie Arroyo, Vashon Island Unitarian Fellowship

The rain had just let up. The black highway glistened. The crescent moon broke through the dark retreating clouds.
Sunday evening, October 21, the first of almost 300 attendees at the Shelter the Flame event supporting marriage equality stepped from Vashon Theater. Meeting them were members of Vashon Island’s Unitarian Fellowship handing out and lighting tapers and guiding them across the highway and toward the Methodist Church.
Inside the theater, VIUF’s minister, Rev. Carmen McDowell, helped shepherd the audience toward the candlelight vigil awaiting them, while Shelter speakers and musicians began leaving and theater owner Eileen warmed up her movie projector.
Down in the aisles were Rev Carla Pryne of the Episcopal Church, Rev Bruce Chittick of Burton Community Church, Emma Amiad of Havurat Ee Shalom, Rev Kathy Morse of the Methodist Church, Rev Bjoern Meinhardt of Vashon Lutheran Church, and Friend Tim Baer of Vashon’s Quaker community. During the previous hour and fifteen minutes, these faith leaders, introduced by VIUF Social Justice Chair Charles Torrey, cast a rainbow of compassion and understanding above the enthralled Shelter audience.
So had Guest Speaker Senator Sharon Nelson who shared her personal insight into the courage required of the best of our Olympia representatives in passing Washington’s historic marriage equality law.
The night’s music celebrated love, relationships, commitment, and wonderment and showcased the talents of Islanders Mark Wells, Paul Colwell, Jasper Forrester, Jean Richstad, Steve Amsden, Harmon Arroyo, and Matt Eggleston.
At the vigil afterward, the Methodist church bells tolled ten times and a hundred flickering candles, sheltered by love, lit up the dark.
The bells tolled again, the vigil dispersed, and the heartfelt celebration of the covenant of marriage as a sacred trust between two individuals came to a beautiful conclusion.
We hope and pray that on November 6 the Marriage Rights Law and Justice prevail.