Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans

Many members and friends of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover celebrate earth-based traditions by gathering in circles to mark the changes of the seasons. Anyone is welcome to attend these celebrations, even those not affiliated with UUCiA.

The “Earth Religions” share many truths with the Jewish and Christian traditions, as well as other world religions. But they are unique in their degree of emphasis on experience over doctrine, immanence over transcendence, and the idea that there can and indeed should be multiple pathways to the divine.

The term pagan itself derives from the Latin paganus, which literally means country dweller. In the early Christian times, when Christianity was predominantly a religion of the cities, the not-yet-Christian country folk were called pagans. These country folk retained their old ways of worship, emphasizing the cycles of nature.

Dates for which we will hold special celebrations:

• Autumn Equinox (Mabon) in September
• Samhain, honoring our ancestors and those who have passed over, in early November
• Winter Solstice (Yule) in December
• Imbolc (Candlemas), celebrating growing daylight and new beginnings, in early February
• Spring Equinox (Ostara) in March
• Beltane (May Day) in early May
• Summer Solstice (Litha) in June
• Lammas (Lughnasadh), celebrating the first harvest, in early August

Affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover is the Earth Circle CUUPS chapter. Earth Circle’s mission is to gather together to promote the practice and understanding of earth-based spirituality for members, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover, and the larger community by providing opportunities for the study of a variety of earth-based traditions and ritual celebrations of the turning of the wheel of the year on sabbats. You can find out more about Earth Circle at http://www.earthcirclecuups.org.