Universal Day is a newly-created official religious holiday of the ULC. On November 3, we encourage you to take part by celebrating this exciting occasion in Oregon! There are many different ways to observe Universal Day, and we'll list some of our favorite ideas below, but know this: there is no “right” way to mark this holiday. You are welcome to follow the suggestions laid out here on this page, or forge your own unique activities. Acting in the spirit of this new-founded tradition is what is most important! Here are some ideas for how to participate:
1. Become Ordained in Oregon
The first step, if you haven't already done so, is to become a minister with the Universal Life Church Ministries! Getting ordained is completely free and the application takes only a couple minutes to fill out. Just click the link below to get started:
2. Vote in Oregon
Participation in the democratic process is the best way to make your voice heard, which makes it perfect for Universal Day.
Voting in Oregon is conducted entirely by mail, which means simply registering to vote will allow you to receive a mail-in ballot and make your voice heard. If you are a registered voter in Oregon, you should receive a mail-in ballot at your address. Please note that election officials recommend mailing your ballot as early as possible to account for any potential delays. Below, you'll also find some key dates that will be important to remember:
Voter Registration Details
- In-person Registration Deadline: 10/13/2020
- Mail Registration Deadline: Received 10/13/2020
- Online Registration Deadline: 10/13/2020
- Election-Day Registration: Not Allowed
Register to Vote
In case you're not yet registered to vote in Oregon, you can do so at the link below!
Taking Time Off Work
If you are employed, your employer should provide reasonable accommodations to allow you to vote either during an early voting period, or on election day. If for any reason your employer is not willing to make such accommodations, you can request the day off to observe Universal Day as a religious holiday. Under federal law, employers are forbidden from discriminating based on religion and are generally willing to work with employees to allow them time off to observe religious holidays. For those voting in-person, be careful to follow all necessary safety precautions recommended by the CDC and your local public health authority. Whether you've got your ballot in hand or you are standing in a polling box, remember to always follow your convictions.
3. Write to Elected Officials
Here's another effective way to participate in Universal Day: write a letter to the elected officials that represent you. Let them where they could be doing a better job, and why it matters to you. They may be public figures, but ultimately they work for you. If they're not following through on their commitments, you should feel empowered to let them know about it! You can get in touch with your representatives using the contact information below.
4. Meditate or Pray
Connecting with your spiritual side is another recommended activity on Universal Day. No matter which higher power(s) you choose to speak to (even if it’s none at all – that’s fine too!), taking some time alone to reflect on how you're feeling and meditate or pray can help you center your energy. There is much work to be done, but change is best pursued when feeling fully charged – spiritually and mentally.
5. Help Build Community
A single voice can be powerful, but the noise produced by a collective group is much harder to ignore. As part of Universal Day, consider taking on a larger role in your community by linking arms (figuratively, until it's safe to do otherwise) with other like minded folks to help those in need and demand change. While you're at it, be sure to connect with your fellow ULC members via social media!
Stay Connected
Direct action can come in various flavors. In the digital world, you can put pressure on legislators to enact better policies through online petitions and other organizing efforts. You might want to get your legs moving though, in which case you could join a protest (while taking care to follow public health guidelines), or reach out to community organizations to see if you could volunteer. No matter how you choose to celebrate, we urge you to stay true to the underlying ideals of Universal Day and never hesitate to stand up for what you believe in.