The Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation
1650 Abrazo Road, NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Welcome to the UU Westside Congregation! Unitarian Universalists strive for a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We assert no religious creed; rather we are united by our values, and our shared search for spiritual growth.
For this week’s news and announcements, see This Week at Westside by clicking here
No Human is Illegal: April 19th NO Meeting Due to Church Outdoor Spring Clean-up. We will be working on our 2 labyrinths.
Labyrinth: April 19th we will be grooming the labyrinth 9-11 for our church Spring Outdoor Clean-up. Hope to see you there.
Anti-racist Bookclub: April 18 9-11 at Whispering Bean. Jennifer will be facilitating our discussion of “What it takes to heal” by Prentis Hemphill. If you have ideas for upcoming books, bring them and share.
We are Unitarian Universalists Video.
Copyright Unitarian Universalist Association.
UUWC Committees and Teams Information Fair: March 30, 2025
After Social Hour the Congregation held an information fair to allow a number of the congregation’s committees and team explain to members and friends activities and events they participate in and invite anyone to join with them. Here’s some photos of the event:
LIz James, founder of Unitarian Universalist Hysterical Society, Visit
The Congregation on March 8 and March 9 played host to Liz James the founder of the Facebook group, the Unitarian Universalist Hysterical Society, and of Mirth and Dignity. She presented a workshop on “Steering in a Tornado,” on Saturday and presented the Sunday Program on March 9. Both were great successes. Here is how you can support her activities:
Looking to join the UU Hysterical Society? The URL for the Facebook group is www.facebook.com/groups/uuhyst
Looking for more Hysterical content? Check out our website, at UUHystericalSociety.com. There, you can subscribe to our mailing list, find out about our comedy podcast, find great worship resources, and fun downloadables.
Interested in supporting what we’re doing? You can support outside-the-box UUism in many shapes and forms by becoming a Saint, at www.uuhystericalsociety.com/sh
Want to learn more about the charity we raise funds for with our merchandise? And/or forget to make a donation after grabbing something from our merch table? The URL you need is Flaminginternational.org. If you want to learn more about the story of their relationship with UUHS (It’s a really amazing story), you can read more at www.uuhystericalsociety.com/fc
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We are an open and affirming congregation.
UUWC continues our Values development to clarify what timeless values we will embody in all we do. This is not intended to replace the UU Principles but rather to emphasize how we, at this time in our congregation, intend to focus our actions in our daily and congregational life.
In our Phase Two Values Exercise process, members of the Council, the Committee on Shared Ministry, and representatives of the general Congregation met for more than two hours on 8/10 to work with the groups of values ideas that were produced in the Congregational Values Exercise.
We studied examples from several other congregations and spiritual organizations. Lively discussion ensued about word meaning and how to articulate the best expression of what we heard our congregational members telling us. You will notice that we used verbs to express our intention to be in action.
Please read through the Proposed UUWC Values Statements below. We invite you to “try them on” and discuss with others. If you’d like to express your feedback on the Values Statements in writing, please email to NikaQuirk@mac.com.
We will also include time for feedback in our September Townhall.
Thanks for continuing to participate in our ongoing congregational exploration of who we choose to be and how we wish to be known in our larger NM community.
Nika Quirk, your Council Moderator
| Congregational Values Grouping (from Phase 1 – June 2, 2024) | Proposed UUWC Values Statements (from Phase 2 – August 10, 2024) |
| Authenticity-Honest Sharing; Humbleness (Generosity of spirit, Judgment free, Attempting to Understand others); Listen to Others | Communicate Compassionately:with humility, communicate in ways that include authenticity, listening, and seeking to understand without judgment |
| Building community with Love; Commonality: Community (Safety, Respect, Openness, Support of Others) | Build a Safe, Loving & Diverse Community: commit to our own, one another’s, and the congregation’s well-being |
| Hope with Action; Generosity of Service; Advocacy; Work for Justice | Work for Justice:serve in ways that build hope and alleviate suffering |
| Mutual Respect; Respect for All; Openness; Golden Rule | Respect and Honor the Interdependent Web: nurture sustainable relationships of care, respect, and mutuality |
| Spirituality/Logic & Reason; Spiritual Journey; Interdependent Web; Science (Listening/Vision) | Explore the Wonder of Life:through sacred, secular and scientific ways of understanding, engage in exploring and sharing the wonder and awe of the unity of life |
8/22/2
Sunday Services
Sunday Programs begin at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary
We hope that you will come to join us in person this Sunday.
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JOIN OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS
We have 3 Community Outreach groups
- Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation Antiracist Group
- Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation Labyrinth Group
- Unitarian Universalist Westside Congregation Asylum Seekers
March Events:
Border: No Human is Illegal: March 22nd (4th Saturday when 1st is a Saturday) We will be packing Dignity Bags at
Placitas Presbyterian 8-11.
Labyrinth: Always Welcome to walk Labyrinth, but no community walk on March 22nd due to Dignity packing event.
If interested in being part of a Labyrinth committee, let Dee Curry know.
Anti-racist Book club: March 21 9-11 at Whispering Bean. We will be pausing our Book: Bad Mexicans and reading “What it takes to heal” by Prentis Hemphill for March and April. We will also be discussing a possible new format for our book club.
Help Feed the Kids in Rio Rancho!
Please click the above link for more information about this community outreach program and make sure no Rio Rancho school child goes hungry
We thank everyone for the donation of their time, talent, and money to help alleviate hunger among Rio Rancho public school children.
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The Sandoval Signpost published an article about Feed Rio Rancho Kids receiving attention and a financial contribution at a recent United New Mexico soccer match. The story is available here.
- Our congregation strives to nurture each other’s spirits and put faith into action through Social Justice work in our community and the world. Find out more about Unitarian Universalism, or watch We Are Unitarian Universalist.
- Please assist our Immigrants at the New Mexico Border Project. Information here.
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Outreach Projects
Join Us in the Maintenance of the Peace River
Bring a painted rock and give it a home in the Peace River outside the Social Hall. Quotes, animals, geometric figures, in memory of, and solid colors are but a few ideas of how you can leave your mark on the Peace River. If you need rocks, paints, or someone to pick up your painted rocks, contact coordinatoruuwestside@gmail.com
Westside Reads: Little Free Libraries
UUWC has an on-site Little Free Library. It also has placed a number of Little Free Libraries in Westside neighborhoods. Please take a book, and leave a book.
Pastoral Care at UU Westside Congregation
The Community Care Committee and our Consulting Minister Rev. Dr. Nancy Hitt are available for pastoral care. If you need someone to talk to about life stresses and events; if you want to debate theology and the meaning of life, or if you want to discuss sensitive decisions that you are struggling to make or live with, she is available to work with you. You may ask for a phone meeting, for email conversation, or for a Zoom meeting. You may also ask for an in-person meeting either in your home or at the church. You may reach her via email at ministeruuwc@gmail.com.
UU Westside Congregation, 1650 Abrazo Road, NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Mail to: PO Box 15146
Rio Rancho, NM 87174
505-896-8192 ~ coordinatoruuwestside@gmail.com
Info Fair Photos
