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Mountain Dance CUUPS
(Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans)
Was established in April 1997 by Lee and Christine
Berger. While Flagstaff bookstores, newspaper stands, and retail shops carried a
regular variety of pagan oriented wars and periodicals, there was no forum in which
to meet other pagans, nor realized the population of those that were interested in
earth-centered religions. Mountain Dance CUUPS has grown steadily in the past
10
years, beginning with approximately 6 to 10 participants per meeting, the 12 to 15, and
currently holding two dozen participants (not including a vast number of children!) We
have a database of approximately 50 people who receive electronic updates of our
festivities including those who have traveled to our circles from across Arizona: Kingman,
Prescott, Phoenix, Yuma, as well as Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our rituals are open to the
public, however our officers endorse networking among the participants to hold more
intimate meetings in addition to the open circles and often help and/or participate in
these endeavors.
The organization of Mountain Dance CUUPS is as follows.
We are a member of the National CUUPS organization, and have three officers responsible
for the administration of the chapter: Colleen Seggi as President,
Kathy Suhr as Vice
President. We
do not have specified requirement to be a ‘Member’ of Mountain Dance.
Participants are reminded of our allegiance to and are suggested to explore the wider
Unitarian Universalist community in Flagstaff (and beyond). They have an option of joining
the National CUUPS Organization. Each person is asked to take a role in the ritual, bring
items to adorn the altar or share with others, and volunteer for larger projects such as
congregational services and fund-raisers. We have an annual budget of $60, which covers
our certification through the National level and purchases of pagan educational
information for the congregation such as pamphlets. We also began two fund-raisers per
year in 1999, averaging approximately $100 each. These monies have been allotted to ritual
purchases, i.e. craft supplies for corn dollies and sun wheels, batteries for music
sources outside, food and beverage for the ‘Cakes and Ale’ component, candles,
and incense. As of the year 2000, we hope to add one or two more fund-raisers that will be
operated for the UUFF congregation.
Mountain Dance CUUPS celebrates all eight major Sabbats
in the Pagan/Wiccan tradition with a ritual and potluck. We attempt to fill the other four
months with workshops or other appropriate scheduled events. More often than not, these
meeting have become more intimate affairs as in croning rituals, wiccaning rituals, and
full moon rituals in people’s private homes. In 2001, Summer Solstice, Lammas, and
Autumn Equinox have been held outdoors on various forest service lands. All other Sabbats
are celebrated at the fellowship. Since its inception, Mountain Dance CUUPS has hosted the
congregational Sunday service for May Day (with a Maypole Dance) and Halloween. We are
scheduled to present two congregational Sunday service per year beginning with
May Day/Beltaine festivities on April 29th, Halloween/Samhain
on October 28th.
If you are in the Flagstaff area, and would like more
information on our upcoming events please email us at
mdcuups@yahoo.com
Or come back here to find out what
the upcoming events are.
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