Sandra Lewis

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua, at 222 Temple St. in Fredonia, holds a Sunday Worship Service at 11 a.m., both at their physical location and on Zoom.

For those wishing to join us virtually, please visit https://tinyurl.com/caluucnc. Click on “Worship Service” on the date you are attending and scroll down for the Zoom link. For those attending the in-person service, please follow the driveway and park in the lower lot behind the building. Handicapped parking is located between the two buildings and directly behind the second building.

The theme for January is Liberating Love. The Sunday service will be on “Kwanza” with guest speaker Sandra Lewis.

Lewis will present the Seven Principals (“Nguzo Saba”) of Kwanzaa, an African American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. It spans seven days from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Kwanzaa, first celebrated in 1966, was created by activist Dr. Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southwest Africa.” The seven principles are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).

Lewis is a resident of Fredonia and worked at SUNY Fredonia for 33 years in many capacities. She has been volunteering in the community for several agencies including Meals on Wheels, Dunkirk-Fredonia NAACP, Hospice, and the Juneteenth Celebration Committee. In addition, Lewis is an active member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. She recently was appointed Commissioner for state Park and Recreation, was elected to Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Executive Board, is the Community Engagement Liaison for I.D.E.A. Project, is chair of United University Professional (UUP) statewide Solidarity Committee, and is recording secretary for the Dunkirk Area Labor Council.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua strives to be a vibrant, welcoming, multigenerational, diverse community enlivened by the power of radical love. For more information, visit the website at www.uucnc.org or call at 716-679-7944.