Submitted Photo. Leaders of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua (UUCNC) prepare to hang a rainbow peace flag and an earth flag at their new meetinghouse, 222 Temple St., Fredonia. From left are immediate past president David Salley, who with Jim Stenger (second from left) co-chairs the buildings and grounds committee; social action coordinator Janey Wagner; president Amy O’Connell; consulting minister Reverend George Buchanan; and Joan Houck, who coordinates the congregation’s “share the plate” efforts, donating the offering one Sunday each month to a local nonprofit organization. The most recent offering was to benefit Fredonia Grange No. 1, where the congregation rented worship space for 35 years until their recent move to the former Newman Center property. The Oct. 13 recipient will be the Faithkeepers Language Nest, which provides education following traditional, language, customs, and ceremonies of the Iroquois Longhouse and culture of the Seneca people.

Leaders of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua (UUCNC) prepared to hang new flags at their new meetinghouse, following recent vandalism of rainbow peace flags at a number of locations in Fredonia.

The flags represent several principles affirmed by Unitarian Univeralists worldwide:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Additional principles include:

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth;

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; and

The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.

The congregation recently purchased the former Newman Center property, 222 Temple St., Fredonia, and holds worship services there at 11 a.m. each Sunday, with child care provided. They also host weekly meetings of Hope for Today, a Nar-Anon Family Group, at 7 p.m. each Wednesday at the same location. This support group is for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation concerning the addiction problem of someone close.

Parking is available behind the building, with some handicapped parking near the entrance. The congregation plans to add barrier-free access to the building in the near future.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua is a liberal religious community that provides companionship on life’s sacred journey. For more information, please call 679-7944 (voice mail); view the online calendar at tinyurl.com/caluucnc; visit the new website under construction at www.uucnc.org; or find UUCNC on Facebook.