This month we have two Earth Day-related digital events!
"Getting Ready for Earth Sunday: Resources for Congregations"
Wednesday, April 13th, 1 pm ET
and
"The Faith of Prophets: Lessons for the Climate Crisis"
Saturday, April 23rd, 10:30 am ET
Join the UCC at Ecumenical Advocacy Days 2022!
The United Church of Christ is one of the over 40 sponsors of the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice. This year, Ecumenical Advocacy Days will be held virtually April 25-27! The conference theme “Fierce Urgency: Advancing Civil and Human Rights” will inspire us to work to protect and expand voting rights in the U.S. and human rights around the world.
Read MoreJustice Leadership Program – next program starting this fall
The Justice Leadership Program is wrapping up its first online 6-month Jubilee program (with five participants, four from UCC) and now is the time to apply for the autumn program. Jubilee is an online program for adults of any age who want to integrate faith and justice work in their lives in a meaningful and transformational way. Program associates meet monthly to deepen their faith within a community of their peers while learning skills for systemic change-making.
Join the fall program to be informed, equipped, and empowered to act for justice!
Read MoreJPANet: April Newsletter
Read the April newsletter of the Justice and Peace Action Network, UCC’s grassroots advocacy network composed of individual members and local UCC congregations across the country.
Read MoreJPANet: Join us to Fight LGBTQ Discrimination
The Equality Act would provide federal nondiscrimination protection across key areas of daily life, including employment, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally-funded programs, and jury service. It is a much-needed fix for the current uneven patchwork of state nondiscrimination protections.
Right now the Equality Act has passed in the House of Representatives but is still pending in the Senate. Please take action and urge your senators to support the Equality Act.
Read More500 showers in first year of Church of the Palms' shower trailer ministry
"...the shower trailer has been successful because of the vision and generosity of our patrons, a faithful and hard working cadre of volunteers and support from our partner churches and cities."
Read about how the shower ministry has grown since the first shower in February 2021 at the Salvation Army Church in Surprise.
Read More
Common Tables: Interfaith Prayer Luncheon
Tuesday, March 29, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Arizona time
Rose Garden, Arizona State Capitol, 1700 W Washington St, Phoenix
The Southwest Conference is a co-sponsor for this event.
Join us to gather together to build relationships, connect, pray, and call for collective action to heal our world.
Rincon Congregational Ukraine relief benefit raises over $27K
Rincon Congregational UCC's Ukraine Emergency Relief Benefit Concert last Saturday was a HUGE success, raising over $27,000 for Ukraine relief!
Their church accompanist, Dr. Alex Tentser, who was born and raised in Kyiv, pulled together this concert with members of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. The audience numbered in excess of 350 people, PLUS those watching (and donating) online.
Read MoreUkrainian Refugees in the US - How you can help
The Biden administration intends to admit 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Rev. Irene W. Hassan, Minister for Refugee and Migration Ministries Global H.O.P.E., breaks down what that means for our ministries in the church and how we can gather to support and affirm this decision.
Read MoreA Cataclysmic Invasion on the Heels of a Global Pandemic
If vertical and centralized powers can threaten to destroy, people’s power can protect, resist, rebuild, and nurture life. Let us hope that this would also be a moment for our generation to reject the fascination with power and violence, kleptocracy, and ideologies of superiority based on skewed anthropological theories and the glorification of narcissistic leaders.
Read More
JPANet: Take Action to Support Maternal Health
Please join us in urging Congress to take immediate action to pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. Our country is failing to protect mothers and pregnant people because of a failure to adequately address racial and health disparities across the board. It is an abject moral atrocity and can be turned around with the right investments and political will. Your voice is needed as a person of faith to help reverse the course on maternal mortality.
Read More
UCC Earth Week Event: The Faith of Prophets—Lessons for the Climate Crisis
To answer the urgent call for action today, this special online Earth Week event will focus on what the Hebrew Prophets can teach us as well as what prophetic actions are currently being taken. The event will consist of three parts: an opening keynote, a panel discussion, and a suggested action for congregations to take in their own community.
Read More
Allan Mestel
Title 42 Vigil in Washington, D.C. today
Today Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons, Conference Minister for the United Church of Christ in Arizona, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas issued the following statement calling for the immediate end of Title 42.
Read More
JPANet: Stop the Pollution in Hawaii: Tell Congress to Close Red Hill
The Red Hill Watershed and Aquifer Initiative Act (WAI) introduced in both the House and Senate would permanently close the facility, and requires the Navy to cover all cleanup costs associated with spills in the facility’s lifespan. The bill would also reimburse state and local entities for expenditures made in response to the public health threat it imposed, and replace the facility with water treatment and quality-testing facilities. Passage of this legislation would not only benefit the people of Oahu, but would also set precedent for action in other communities impacted by hazardous underground storage tanks at other military installations in our nation and abroad.
Read More
Restore Asylum Now Rally
From the ACLU:
In solidarity with Los Revolucionarios (migrant-led organizers) in Nogales, Sonora, we are marking the infamous 2-year anniversary of Title 42 with a rally calling for its end! Join us at Phoenix's ICE Field Office on Monday, March 21 to demand the Biden Administration restore asylum NOW!
Read MoreJPANet: Take Action to Support Our Ukrainian Siblings
As people of faith, we must do what we can to support Ukraine directly by supporting this Ukraine Relief Fund, as well as advocate for a robust international humanitarian response.
Read More
UCC Webinar—Getting Ready for Earth Sunday: Resources for Congregations
In this webinar, Avery Davis Lamb, Co-Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries, will introduce the resource, “Weathering the Storm: Faithful Climate Resilience” and talk about specific ways churches can deliver a powerful message and experience on Earth Sunday.
Read More
Arrival of Ukrainian refugees at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing Medyka. Here the refugees are provided with warm food and clothing. From here, they are transferred by bus to major cities and collective shelters. Photo copyright Christoph Püschner/Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
Support the UCC's Ukrainian Emergency Response
The United Church of Christ has issued an appeal for the people of Ukraine and will be working with global partners to assist the hundreds of thousands fleeing that country. Help will extend to vulnerable communities within Ukraine. Learn how you can help.
Read MoreJPANet: March Newsletter
Those Naïve, Idealistic Peace Activists…
Read More
Aid for Ukrainians
We continue praying for Ukraine, for Ukrainians, for peace, and for the many displaced people now on the move. We give thanks for the host countries in Europe providing refuge and for the humanitarian aid being made available.
The UCC is collaborating with close partners in the Reformed Church of Hungary (RCH) to channel aid to Ukrainians. See how you can help.