UUFSMA: UU’s in Mexico: Who We Are, Who We Can Be

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Online Service

“UU’s in Mexico: Who We Are, Who We Can Be”
Speaker: Reverends Tom Rosiello and Matt Alspaugh

Sunday, April 25, 2021 at 10:30 am

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/414604040 

Password: 294513

By Joseph Plummer

UUF Secretary

People often think of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Miguel as a unique spiritual community in Mexico, an isolated, “one-off” institution of gringos. Many do not know that there are other congregations and groups associated with Unitarian Universalism in other parts of Mexico.

This Sunday’s UUFSMA Joint Online Service provides a special look at the appeal of Unitarian Universalism for another community in Mexico. The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is Mexico’s second largest UU congregation after San Miguel. Within its social justice work, LGBTQ inclusiveness, openness to individuals who no longer find a meaningful creed in the religions of their childhood, Unitarian Universalism offers a spiritual community in several parts of Mexico.

During this service, San Miguel’s Reverend Tom Rosiello and Lake Chapala’s Reverend Matt Alspaugh will explore the present and future of Unitarian Universalist communities in Mexico. Who are we? Who can we be? With discussion, music, and images, the service will explore the works of these two communities. With invitations to other UU groups in Mexico, the service also will represent the first-ever online gathering of Mexico’s widespread UU communities.

Rev. Alspaugh came to the Lake Chapala Fellowship in 2017 in cooperation with the First UU Church of Houston. Previously he was minister of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown, Ohio, and resident chaplain at United Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. He holds a Master of Divinity from Starr King School, Berkeley, California. He holds a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from University of Denver.

Retiring as Minister Emeritus of The First Parish of Stow and Acton in Massachusetts, in 2018 Rev. Rosiello moved with his partner Malcolm Halliday to San Miguel where he continues his pastoral career as UUFSMA Minister. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School and Suffolk University Law School, Tom is active in social justice causes, including AIDS, gay rights, economic justice, and prison reform.

To participate in our online Sunday Service, visit the Fellowship’s website at www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button displayed on the home page. If requested, enter password: 294513. Sign-in from anywhere Sunday mornings between 10:15-10:25 am CST.

Through grants and awards, UUFSMA donates at least fifty percent of its income to support nonprofit organizations that provide health, educational, and environmental services for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Please support this work by clicking on the website home page Donate button. Now more than ever, your support is essential.

Due to the coronavirus, UUFSMA has suspended in-person Sunday services and other gatherings. A growing collection of previous online services can be found on the UUFSMA’s YouTube channel. Go to https://www.youtube.com/ and enter UUFSMA in the search box. The UU Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender.