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News

News from Czech Republic - May, June 2007
In Prague we had several major events recently. First, the children from our RE program organized the entire Sunday worship for adults, which was simply amazing, considering their age range 7-10 years. The sermon which they put together was moving and hit the hearts of all was focusing on "What the Adults Cannot Do". We learned about what we, as adults, are missing when we are working too much, do not pay attention to the pretty things and "do not have time" to play.

The other event was ordination of a new minister, Iva Fiserova into the Czech Unitarian ministry. And the third was our annual Flower Communion, which this year was focusing on how to protect our souls from the harmful influences of the world.

Here is a Photo of a group of U Us in CUBA taken at their meeting in Havana July 15th 2007. Included in the ceremony was the first Unitarian baptism.
—Sent by Ricardo Manso.

Pr. Knut Heidelberg writes,
I am very happy to tell you all that there now is a Unitarian Bishop in Scandinavia. Not long ago Rev. Ragnar Emilsen of the Unitarian Church in Sweden was appointed Unitarian bishop in order to preserve and to continue the Transylvanian church tradition and teaching going back to Francis David in 1568. This would also mean that for the first time in history it is now in Scandinavia opened up for Unitarian Christian ordinations of Transylvanian Unitarian Christian succession.
—Ragnar Emilsen was ordained in 1987 to the Unitarian ministery by bishop Lajos Kovács (1909-1994) of the Unitarian Church in Romania. The Unitarian Church in Sweden's home page is updated at sverige.unitarforbundet.org.

Jaume deMarcos has a new book. It can be purchased through the website of the Michael Servetus Institute. The book is a fully bilingual Spanish-English edition. More on Jaume.

The UU Church of the Philippines has a beautiful new Web Site. Please visit it for information and inspiration.

Knut of Norway introduces the first edition of An Outline of the History of the Unitarian Movement in Norway 1893-1937. More...

Good News for Generous Folks in the USA
A provision in Pension Reform legislation signed by President Bush this August, 2006, makes giving to 501^®(3) organizations-say, like the ICUU-easier and much more satisfying.

The Unitarians: A Short History
Leonard Smith
pp.184, Paperback, Coloured Cover, 50 illustrations, ISBN 978-0-9551992-0-2, Lensden Publishing. amazon.com

The Unitarian Church in Sweden now has a home site: sverige.unitarforbundet.org
The text (Swedish) is by Mr Bertil Persson and the home site was built to give information connected to Rev. Ragnar Emilsen of Sweden now is contact/friendship pastor also for The Norwegian Unitarian Church.

"A new French Unitarian Fellowship, "Fraternelle Unitarienne", was founded last November 27 in Paris. Its leaders are Bernard BIRO and Alain LAUZET, with Pierre-Yves RUFF as the pastor of the newly formed congregation. Its first public act will be next January 7 with the theme "The Agony of Christianity: Is a refoundation still possible?", followed by a Flower Communion on January 20. For more information on this new group, principles, and activities, please go to http://www.theolib.com/frat/.

Knut of Norway introduces the first edition of An Outline of the History of the Unitarian Movement in Norway 1893-1937. More...

Khasi Choir has new CD available
More...

Dear Friends,
Happy to inform you that on May 31 2006 The Bét Dávid Unitarian Association (The Norwegian Unitarian Church) received full legal rights to perform marriages according to Norwegian Law. For first time since 1937 Unitarian marriages are again possible in Norway. I am very grateful for all of you that have supported and helped us to achieve this important license. It has been a two year struggle that is now crowned with success.
—Knut Heidelberg, Norway

Indonesian Earthquake
Some of you will be interested to know (and, no doubt distressed about) the fact that the recent earthquake in Indonesia has impacted the Unitarian community there.

Disturbing news from Indonesia
We just want to inform that since 21st March, minority religion in Indonesia will find more difficulty in worshiping. More...

Barcelona UUs to participate in the Catalan Parliament of Religion

Report to the British General assembly one of its ICUU Representatives

UU Relief Camp in Earthquake devasted Pakistan Nominated for Presidential Award

At the recent Board meeting of the Unitarian Union of Northeast India Carleywell Lyndoh became President, Derrick Vice President. We have a new Treasurer, and our new General Secretary is Mr. Brington Mylliemngap.

New UU Group in Misawa Japan
misawauu.150m.com

New Officers from Sri Lanka

Notice of new appointment—Rev John Clifford as Executive Secretary
The International Council of Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists (ICUU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev John Clifford as its new Executive Secretary. The appointment is a half-time position and became effective 1 September 2005. He will work primarily from an office in his home in Caerphilly, Wales.

"George Vila from Cincinatti Ohio writes:

As parts of a Cuba Ayuuda trip in April of last year, we brought two chalices that were lit at services in Santa Fe, Havana, Cuba on April 23, 2004 and also in another nighborhood, Vibora, on April 25, 2004. Unfortunately, I don't have a foto of the Santa Fe Service but inclose a photo of the Vibora Service, please note the lit chalice.

Traveling under the UUA license, my wife, Carmen, and I had the honor to help organize the first large UU Service in Cuba at Tres Picos, Havana on Sept 11, 2005. I attach a copy of the group foto after that reunion and one during the service. View Photos.