2012 Spring Conference
Pilgrim Park Retreat Center, Princeton, Illinois
We discovered the power of our own voice and our own creativity with musician Pam Blevins Hinkle.
"Expressing our essential and singular beauty is a sacred task. We must find and unleash our unique voice, personality, and calling in the world. The biggest barrier? Our own fear!" --PBH
Pam is a classically-trained flutist, choral director of college and community choirs, and arts administrator. She plays (flute, percussion, kazoo, coffee cans and colanders!) and sings in a band called THIN AIR, whose performances are entirely improvised. Experience the power of group singing and the fun of musical games that create sounds from sublime to hilarious!
Also featuring: Bonnie Ettinger, ALUUC's talented pianist, who joins Pam each summer at MUUSA to provide an extraordinary musical experience to Summer Assembly attendees.
Pilgrim Park Retreat Center near Princeton, Illinois is the beautiful and natural setting for this relaxed Spring Conference. Join friends, old and new, as we celebrate music, our own voices and time together.
Lake Geneva Fall Conference Notes
Judy Piazza, an inspiring, musical performer and sister, shared her talents with retreat participants in many ways over this fine weekend on the shores of Lake Geneva: opening and closing blessings, interesting keynote using a variety of instruments including dulcimer, didgeridoo, flute, tambourine, many drums and percussion instruments and her voice to demonstrate her point: Sound heals!
Highlight of the weekend for many was her amazing performances at the Saturday night Coffee House--Be Your Bold Self! and drumming and dancing with participants after the coffee house.
Congratulations to the ALUUC planning committee members for an outstanding weekend for Central Midwest District women.
Fall 2022 Retreat with Selena Fox
Our 2022 Fall Retreat was at the DeKoven Center on the shores of Lake Michigan in Racine, Wisconsin October 14 – 16.
Our keynote for the 2022 Fall Retreat was Rev. Selena Fox.
Powers of the Crone
Connecting and working with the Goddess as Crone throughout one's life. Attuning to Her powers of Wisdom, Empowerment, Inner Sight, Release, Healing, Repatterining, Death and Rebirth, and Mystery.
For those attending the Fall Retreat the schedule will including in-gathering ritual Friday night, Saturday’s keynote, workshops in the afternoon, a croning ritual Saturday evening, and a closing ritual Sunday morning – and of course – drumming. Those attending our retreat will be required to be fully vaccinated. Wearing a facial mask when indoors around other people is optional.
Rev. Selena Fox is the Senior Minister of Circle Sanctuary, which is a rural church and sanctuary near Barneveld, Wisconsin serving Nature Spirituality practitioners worldwide since 1974. Selena teaches about Nature communion, Pagan spirituality, Ecopsychology, and Wellness through writings, ceremonies, podcasts, social media, and online events. Over the years, Selena has spoken at UUA conferences, including General Assembly, and has served as guest minister at a variety of Unitarian Universalist churches across the USA. She has also been an invited speaker at many CUUPs (Covenant of UU Pagans) events and workshops. Selena is among the contributors to Pagan and Earth-centered Voices in Unitarian Universalism. Selena has a MS in counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and works with clients of diverse backgrounds. Selena is an activist for gender and racial equality, religious freedom, interfaith collaboration, and environmental preservation. She serves on the Board of Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, and on the leadership team on the national Council on Ministry in Specialized Settings (COMISS).
She is considered one of the "mothers" of the Pagan movement in the USA, along with Z Budapest and Starhawk. She advocates for Pagan US armed service members and she has been working to fight discrimination against Pagans in many forms. She has worked with UU congregations all over the country.
