Join GLAAD on Spirit Day, Oct. 21. Go purple to support LGBTQ youth and sign up to stand against bullying.
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Faith In Action
Resourcing Anti-Racism Work
The UCC, continuing and expanding ways to be anti-racist, is taking applications for Sacred Conversations facilitators.
Read MoreBeatitudes' faith in action
Over the past several years, Church of Beatitudes has brought lunch and music to the Justa Center in downtown Phoenix on Labor Day weekend. This year we could not do it due to Covid, so we did the next best thing! The church raised $1450.00 and presented those funds to Executive Director Wendy Johnson on September 26th.
Read MoreFirst Church Scholarship Fund continues to help Dreamers!
On Monday, First Church Immigration Task Force members delivered tuition checks to three Maricopa Community Colleges on behalf of Dreamers attending five different Phoenix Union high schools. These checks cover the costs of dual credit classes for a unique group of PUHSD students who came to Arizona as young children with their undocumented parents. Because of Prop 300, passed in 2006 by Arizona voters, they are required to pay out-of-state tuition at community colleges and state universities in Arizona. The costs are prohibitive. While their American citizen classmates pay about $300 for a 3-credit community college class, Dreamers pay three times as much, or $1000.
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Truth, Healing and Accountability for Indigenous Boarding Schools
Let us go beyond acknowledgement and call on Congress to create a Truth and Healing Commission to not only confess past sins but move our nation toward a restored future.
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Racial Justice Symposium: Dr. Drew Hart & Rev. John Dorhauer, Keynote speakers
The Racial Justice Initiative Team of the PSEC would like to invite you and your congregations to join us for the Zachariah Walker Racial Justice Symposium White Supremacy, Racism, & the Christian Church: The Call to a Discipleship of Liberation and Justice , October 23rd & 24th.
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Crucial Hacks to Decolonize your Church!
How can congregations deepen their understanding of modern-day colonialism while actively combating social injustice?
Read MoreShadow Rock UCC's Refugee Resettlement Ministry
Recently Pastor Ken has been speaking and emailing the family and embassy officials several times per week. We expect that we'll hear right away when they are given the green light and know when they intend to depart for Arizona.
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JPANet: October Newsletter
Tax credits, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, racial justice, Jubilee Weekend, Congo Week, and more in this month's JPANet newsletter.
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Access Sunday
UCC Disabilities Ministries offers worship resources that churches can use to celebrate the denomination’s annual Access Sunday on October 10.
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Sign the Grand Canyon Protection Act Letter
Late last month the U.S. House took a key step forward in ensuring the Grand Canyon region will be permanently protected from new harmful uranium mining. An amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act will protect approximately 1 million acres of lands and waters for future generations. We urge the Senate to follow suit and vote to #KeepItGrand! SIGN THE LETTER
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JPANet: Take Action for Democracy
Please contact your Senators asking for their full support and swift passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act so we can make sure that each person’s voice and vote are protected.
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Urgent Take Action: Urge Congress to Hold Biden Administration Accountable to Welcome Refugees and Rebuild Refugee Resettlement Program
By Thursday, September 30th, the administration is required by law to consult with Congress before setting next year’s refugee admissions goal. On September 20th, President Biden proposed to set the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY2022) refugee admissions goal at 125,000. As we confront the worst global displacement crisis in history with more than 31 million refugees worldwide, and as countless vulnerable Afghans remain in imminent danger, this is a welcome step - but it is vital that Congress hold the Biden administration accountable to rebuild the refugee resettlement program, hold meaningful consultations on the FY22 refugee admissions goal before the end of the Fiscal Year - this Thursday, and invest in strengthening our nation’s capacity to welcome. Join us by taking action today!
Read MoreCandlelight Vigil - October 3, 7:30pm at First Church UCC Phoenix
First UCC Phoenix and Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice are co-hosting a candlelight vigil on Sunday, October 3 at 7.30pm in honor and memoriam of women who have died or their lives diminished because of the attacks on abortion.
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JPANet: We Won't Stand For the Abuse of Our Haitian Neighbor
Answering the call to love our neighbor looks like a lot of different things, but it is unambiguous in intent – we must do more and do better for care for our Haitian neighbors. Join with us as people of faith to urge Congress and the administration to take these critical steps.
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Say it Loud and Clear: Refugees are Welcome Here!
Voice for Refuge is asking for:
higher admissions goal and commit to rebuilding a robust refugee resettlement program
asking that congress take the necessary steps to rebuild our resettlement infrastructure by allocating the necessary funding to all resettlement programs.
the end of Title 42 which is expeling Haitians exercising their right to seek asylum
guaranteed protection to the millions of forcibly displaced refugees and asylum seekers
Org and Faith Leader Sign onto Strengthen Refugee Resettlement
Sign a Faith Letter to the Biden Administration: Urge the administration to set the FY 2022 Refugee Admissions Goal at 200,000 by signing this letter. Faith leaders and individual people of faith, sign here. Faith organizations, sign here.
The United States refugee resettlement infrastructure was decimated over the past four years and is in urgent need of investment and restoration.
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JPANet: Protect Human Rights in the Philippines
Tell Congress: Support the Philippine Human Rights Act
As people of faith in the US, we urge members of the US Congress to end all assistance to the Philippine military and the Philippine National Police, to pass the Philippine Human Rights Act, and to hold hearings in the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees to assess what impact continued support for the Duterte Administration has on the people of the Philippines.
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AFN Annual Meeting
from Arizona Faith Network:
The Arizona Faith Network is excited to invite you to join us for our 2021 Annual Meeting. We will gather virtually to pray, connect, and redefine justice together through the lenses of hope, healing, and humanity. Reserve your spot or sign up to be a sponsor today!
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Neighbors in Need Offering Date: October 3, 2021
Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. This year, special consideration will be given to projects focusing on serving our immigrant neighbors and communities.
Most UCC congregations will receive the NIN offering on October 3, 2021 as part of their World Communion Sunday observance.
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