Read September’s Getting to the Root, the monthly newsletter from the UCC Justice Peace and Action Network.
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Invitation for faith leaders to sign climate methane letter
New Mexico folks: Barb received this letter last week from Sr. Joan Brown, Executive Director of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light and offers it for your consideration. Pass it on to anyone in your congregations that might be interested. View the letter here. To add your name, please send your name, faith affiliation or position and city to joan@nm-ipl.org.
Read MoreGlobal H.O.P.E. E-News
The United Church of Christ Global H.O.P.E. team is pleased to share their inaugural e-news with information and resources from across the team.
Read their first newsletter here.
Read MoreAppeal: Severe Storms 2021
This isn’t the first severe storm this year and we can be reasonably sure it won’t be the last.
What’s the best way to help now? Send money. UCC Disaster Response and Recovery Minister Lesli Remaly said of Hurricane Ida, “For a storm this size, money makes good sense as we know long-term recovery and rebuilding will be necessary.”
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Disaster Response and Refugee Aid Resources
As a response to the emergency needs of both Hurricane Ida victims and Afghanistan refugees, Arizona Faith Network has published a page of Disaster Response and Refugee Aid Resources on the AFN website. Most of the links are to programs of faith partners, both local and national, and if you have others they should include, please email them to contactus@azfaithnetwork.org.
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Welcoming and advocating for Afghan SIVs and refugees: a toolkit
As a denomination committed to welcoming the stranger and loving our neighbors, the United Church of Christ and its congregations are once again under a special call, in this case to welcome Afghan SIVs and to advocate for them and other Afghan refugees.
This toolkit is offered to help congregations discern their particular call at this critical time.
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UCC Webinar— They Knew: 50 Years of the US Government Causing the Climate Crisis
The UCC’s next Creation Justice Webinar will feature one of the leading voices in environmentalism over recent decades: James Gustave Speth.
Even if you can’t make the scheduled time of 1 pm ET on Wednesday, September 8th, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording.
Read MoreAfghanistan action steps from Valarie Kaur
“What if this was the moment we made America a safe home for all refugees? What if we turned America into a place where refugees were not banned or detained or caged at the border, but welcomed with support and solidarity? What if we began to reckon with the impact of our nation's actions globally -- and chose consistent repair? Imagine America as a place that sees no stranger. It would be nothing less than revolutionary. “
How to take action:
Read MoreUrgent action for Arizonans
From First Church UCC Phoenix and Shadow Rock UCC:
Stop six bills from becoming law...your signature is needed
Perhaps you’ve heard that there are efforts underway to delay and potentially stop six controversial bills from becoming law, all passed by the Arizona State Legislature this past session.
Six petitions are circulating, but time is short. In order to successfully refer each of six referendums to the 2022 ballot, giving voters the right to decide if Arizona enacts a 2.5 percent flat tax, implements the already voter-approved Prop 208, and blocks further voter restrictions in our state, circulators need to turn in 150,000 valid signatures for each petition by Sept. 28.
Here’s where you come in!
Read MoreSexuality and The Black Church: Shedding New Light on Old Truths
This seven-week course aims to shed new light on old truths. It begins September 6, hosted by Ministers for Racial, Social, and Economic Justice and United Black Christians.
Read MoreCaste Book Study
Mondays (bi-weekly) September 13 - December 6, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. via Zoom
Join people of faith as we study Isabel Wilkerson's masterful portrait of an unseen racial justice phenomenon in America. "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" is an eye-opening story of people and history, and a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and of American life today.
She tells us stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system—a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.
Take Action: Urge the Administration to Protect Afghans Seeking Safety and Protection
As the United States withdraws from Afghanistan, tens of thousands of at-risk Afghans are in imminent danger, as attacks from the Taliban on Afghan nationals have increased and violence against Afghan women and children is at an all-time high. Action must be taken now to ensure the United States evacuates vulnerable Afghans for as long as it takes, create safe pathways out of Afghanistan toward protection, and evacuate all all at-risk Afghans to U.S. territory.
Here are the top ways to take action TODAY.
Read MoreResponses to Afghanistan Crisis
Important links, information, and suggestions as to ways churches might respond to the crisis in Afghanistan, from our partners at UCC National Ministries and Church World Service.
Read MoreJPANet: We Must Not Turn Our Back on Afghanistan
We call on our policy makers to own our failure to draw this conflict to an end sooner, and we urge them to invest in peace-building, humanitarian support, diplomatic engagement, and expansion of access to the U.S. resettlement program to provide refuge for Afghans fleeing violence and persecution.
We invite you to join us in these action steps.
Read MoreUCC issues $100,000 appeal for Haiti after 7.2 earthquake, tropical storm
The United Church of Christ is issuing a call to action to help the people of Haiti. “We are issuing an appeal through the Global H.O.P.E. team to raise funds to assist in Haiti in any ways that we can, short-term, and also to assist with long-term recovery needs.
“We hold our partners and Haitian siblings in our thoughts and prayers through this time of suffering.”
Read MoreWhat is Critical Race Theory?
In their latest church newsletter, Shepherd of the Hills UCC included a link to this piece.
“Find out what Christians should know about Critical Race Theory by exploring a roundtable discussion, infographics, articles, action steps and more from our United Methodist friends. Share the resources with your friends and family to expand and support racial justice work.”
Read MoreHundreds arrested in DC as Poor People’s Campaign presses for voting rights, $15 minimum wage
Hundreds arrested in D.C. as Poor People's Campaign presses for voting rights, $15 minimum wage, including UCC Washington office’s Sandy Sorenson.
Read MoreThank you, thank you for support of mats for cooling centers
Giving much gratitude to the Desert Palm family for your immediate response to the request for financial support in the amount of $629.00 to help provide mats for cooling centers. The mats allow people to lie down and relax and/or sleep.
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Mental Health and Your Faith Community
You are invited to come and listen as Michael Curry, Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness in the Southwest Conference, shares his story about the challenges he faced as child and adolescent growing up in the church. We will explore why it is difficult for many people to be authentic and true to who they are. Michael will share an overview of how your faith community can become a Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaging for Mental Health. Register here.
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Reparations Now: Pass H.R. 40
Our history as a country of enslavement and white supremacy must be addressed and H.R. 40 outlines a path for the study of reparations. As people of faith, we believe in restoration, and that healing and repair are needed for true justice. We are asking that Congress bring this bill to the House floor for a vote before the summer recess. Please contact your member of Congress and use your voice to help bring us into a right relationship with one another.
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