NJ Board of Education acknowledges Wiccan/Pagan Sabbats, by Michelle Mueller

I led a post-Parliament workshop at Sacred Space Conference in Maryland this March. We discussed a lot of things, some of which were positive experiences and some of which, I admit, communicated pain for people, like the feeling of sometimes being kept out from Interfaith as Pagans. The group had a lot to say about Paganism and public schools and Paganism and college campuses. In particular, we talked about NJ schools and universities because half the group lived there. There was a hopefulness shared by all the participants, but also awareness of intolerance in the world.

THE VERY NEXT DAY, the NJ Board of Education expanded their list of religious holidays to include the
Wiccan and Pagan Sabbats. This article has the details: http://www.examiner.com/x-26373-Domestic-Witchery-Examiner~y2010m3d17-New-Jersey-State-Board-of-Education-approves-PaganWiccan-holidays-for-the-20102011-school-year

The synchronicity seemed perfect, as if our conversation had created ripples that reached the brain waves of the NJ Board of Education. It was a very good day.

UU historical sites - Michelle Mueller

I went to Murray Grove this weekend on a retreat with Unitarian Universalist high school students (for my job as Director of Religious Education). It is a retreat center in the shore area of NJ, where Universalist Rev. John Murray gave his first sermon. Murray Grove is the home of many UU gatherings, a monthly drumming circle, and other spiritual meetings.

I spent the last weekend in March in Boston on a different trip. We toured the Unitarian Universalist Association headquarters and met with a young adult program director. There is an interfaith training in August coming up I am promoting to youth at the church.

I'll be visiting a Hindu temple this Saturday with UU middle school students.