Join Tribal and Faith Leaders across Arizona to call for permanent protection of the Grand Canyon by asking President Biden to create Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument by signing this letter today!
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Faith In Action
Feed All Who Hunger: Repeal Drug Felony Ban on SNAP
Denying access to a vital program like SNAP because of past or current involvement with the drug trade does not promote public safety or deter crime. Rather, it adds another cruel and needless barrier to successful re-entry and rebuilding of lives. As people of faith seeking to love mercy and do justice, we must lift our collective voices and tell our leaders that hunger should not be a reality for anyone. Urge your elected leaders to support the RESTORE Act.
Read MoreSupport Palestinian Refugees
The total number of Palestinian refugees is over 7 million. Many of these refugees still live in overcrowded semi-permanent refugee “camps” in the Middle East with no clear future, despite UN resolutions affirming their rights to return to their homes and compensation for their losses.
To help meet the needs of Palestinian refugees, Congress should support UNRWA robustly – at least at pre-2016 levels ($390 million) – and to ensure the continuation of that funding for 2023 and beyond.
Read MoreUCC Global H.O.P.E. E-News
In this month's issue:
Connecting UCC churches who participated in the phenomenal mass sponsorship of Afghan evacuees in 2021-2022
Partners in Service 2023
Global H.O.P.E. Position Opening: Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery
Disaster Ministries Invites all Conferences and Congregations to join the Willing to Respond Network
Inclusivity in Disaster
Congratulations to Disaster Ministries for receiving the WISE Certification!
Appeals to Support Neighbors
JPANet: May Newsletter
In this month's issue:
The Nakba, Then and Now
Justice in Action in D.C.
Swords into Plowshares
Apartheid-Free Communities - Take the Pledge!
The UCC’s Climate Hope Cards Campaign Kicks Off!
UCC Webinar: Stop Cop City—A Moral Call
Protecting Pregnant & Postpartum Workers: Parent Town Hall
No Faith in Fossil Fuels: A Climate Finance Summit
Webinar: How to Get Energy Efficiency Grants for Congregations
On Mother’s Day: Faith Leaders Call to End Gun Violence
...and more.
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UCC Webinar on Police Violence and Environmental Justice
In Atlanta, faith leaders have been involved in a struggle to confront violence in multiple forms as they seek to prevent the destruction of the Weelaunee Forest for the building of a police training facility in a predominantly Black community. Through their actions for a just world, these faith leaders have additionally sought to honor Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán who was killed by the Georgia State Police while protecting the forest.
This webinar will feature faith leaders from Atlanta as they share with us about this cause of justice.
Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!
Read MoreSun Lakes UCC's Lenten Giving Project supports Justa Center
The second part of the Lenten Giving Project by the members of Sun Lakes United Church of Christ, helped to support Justa Center. The church collected the following types of items from March 18th through April 1st for Justa Center: personal care items, paper goods and bottled water and other items to help in the hot Arizona weather. This picture shows the van load of items that were taken to Justa Center on April 18th by Frank and Pat Naive, members of The Mission Team. Along with the items collected, a check for $400.00 was also sent to Justa Center.
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Be a leader for environmental justice
We stand on the shoulders of those who have struggled for justice before us and gotten us this far. It is now on us as people of faith to continue the work toward caring for creation and fulfilling a just world for all. Contact your elected leaders to see that the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act (H.R. 1705/S. 919), named in honor of the “climate warrior” and bill champion, becomes law.
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Period Packs (Menstrual Hygiene Kits) Service Project at General Synod
In the United States, some people cannot afford menstrual hygiene products such as pads, tampons, and other items that promote healthy practices. This inability to purchase hygiene products is known as period poverty, affecting over 22 million individuals. Church World Service (CWS), a UCC global partner, introduced a Period Pack (Menstrual Hygiene Kit) to help individuals living in period poverty. The kit provides several products that promote cleanliness and health during a menstrual cycle.
Delegates and guests to General Synod are invited to participate in assembling 1,000 CWS Period Packs (Menstrual Hygiene Kits) as a service project.
If you are not attending General Synod, you may participate by assembling kits at your church using these easy instructions.
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JPANet: We must do more to end gun violence
Our faith gives us rituals and voice to grieve with those who are mourning. But it also instructs us to let our prayers become actions. To not just lament but work to build a world restored. Our faith compels is to declare that a culture of violence and death is not inevitable. We are not powerless in making these changes; we can take steps to end gun violence. Tell your elected leaders to summon the moral courage and take immediate action.
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Getting Ready for Earth Sunday - updates
Many churches celebrate God's creation on the Sunday closest to Earth Day (April 22nd). To support making the most of this occasion, Creation Justice Ministries has created a resource that brings the lens of justice to food, the most immediate and tangible way that we connect with the natural world around us.
Looking ahead:
On April 22nd, join the UCC's first Earth Day Summit featuring the Rev. Jim Antal and an array of uplifting panelists and presentations focused on the theme "What's Possible?: Earth Day Stories of Hope." Sign-up today for this free event!
On April 29th, the UCC will be launching an effort to collect as many petition postcards as possible to seek government action for cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Sign-up to get updates on the Climate Hope Cards campaign and this launch event.
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Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2023
Join UCC staff and advocates at Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2023, a virtual conference to worship, educate, and advocate for the innovative and courageous policies needed to realize the prophet Micah’s vision: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
The conference this year will again be virtual, and will start with worship at 10am ET on Tuesday, April 25. All worship, plenaries, and workshops will be recorded for later viewing.
Registration is $50 and scholarships are available. Register today!
Read MoreJPANet: April Newsletter
Each month we ask UCC advocates to help us unpack the complex justice issues that we’re working on. This month, the United Church of Christ will join with faith partners for the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days virtual conference. Learn about this year’s theme and what participants can look forward to in this Getting to the Root by Acting Director, Rev. Michael Neuroth.
Read JPANet’s April newsletter here.
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JPANet: Protect All the Living Things
In 2021, the UCC General Synod called on the church to “promote the Rights of Nature,” including the right to healthy habitats and the right of species to flourish. It recognized that as people of faith, we are stewards of the land and its inhabitants in our care. That is why we must act as faithful caretakers and call upon our leaders in Congress to reintroduce and pass the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.
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Disaster Ministry updates from Global H.O.P.E.
In this month's Global H.O.P.E. news: Inclusivity in Disaster Ministries, a map of current recovery efforts, Lesli Remaly's retirement, the position opening for her replacement, and young adult leadership immersion opportunities. Plus appeals to support our neighbors in Syria/Turkey and Ukraine.
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JPANet: Take Action for Cuba
The Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church, Disciples of Christ has maintained a relationship of solidarity and accompaniment with Cuban partners for more than 60 years. Now is the time to raise our voices, and speak out for the Cuban people! Contact the Administration and Congress today and urge them to take Cuba off the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
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Join the First Ever UCC Earth Day Summit!
This online event will take place on Saturday, April 22nd at 11 am ET (8 am AZ, 9 am NM/El Paso). The theme is “What’s Possible?: Earth Day Stories of Hope.”
This two and a half hour summit will feature a keynote from the Rev. Jim Antal, a panel of inspiring speakers, the presentation of the Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award, and a video showcasing the uplifting story of Mayflower UCC in Minneapolis.
Even if you cannot make the event at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!
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Volunteer with ellie!
Join MID (Member In Discernment) ellie hutchison to support the San Francisco Night Ministry's Care Line. During the beginning of the pandemic, ellie was embarking on her CPE program and completed over 300 hours sitting alongside folx on the SFNM Care Line. Since then, she continues to volunteer a few times a month in order to remain connected to returning callers as well as being witness with and alongside many new callers.
SFNM is a fantastic organization to volunteer with AND, the best thing is that you can do it directly from your home! For more information, send KA an email and tell her ellie sent you their way.
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Open and Affirming News: Protect Trans Youth Action Steps, Upcoming Events, Resources, and More!
JPANet: Defend Transgender Youth
Please join us and contact your Member of Congress asking them to fully oppose this legislation, and any like it, that would cause harm to our transgender siblings. Ask them to listen to their constituents who speak to the immense damage these bills have on transgender youth. As people of faith, it’s critical we add our voices to the chorus of others saying transgender people are loved wholly and without reservation.
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