Everywhere we look in our society we find plastic. It surrounds our food, it makes up our technology, and it is a standard element in our household items. Unfortunately, it is also overflowing from our landfills, floating in our waters, and polluting our soil. More and more, we can even find it in our own bodies and those of other living creatures.
In preparation for Earth Sunday, a new resource has been produced to help congregations think more deeply about the ways that plastics impact our lives and God's creation. The title of this new resource is "Plastic Jesus: Real Faith in a Synthetic World."
Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, April 10th at 1 pm ET (10 am AZ; 11 am NM & TX) as we hear from Derrick Weston, the lead author of the resource.
Register now!
Read MoreTransgender Day of Visibility is on Sunday, March 31 (yes, coinciding with Easter!).
Here are some resources from the Open and Affirming Coalition of the UCC:
Welcoming Trans Children to Church
Trans Justice is Racial Justice Toolkit
Anti-Trans Legislation Brief
Read MoreHello AZIPL friends-
I want to invite you to join us for a Tucson-based Arizona Interfaith Power & Light meeting next Tuesday evening. I hope that you will join us if you are available. (See the attached flyer) Ris Ruiz and I will be attending, along with your Earth-caring counterparts in other congregations! It will be good to exchange ideas and share updates.
Melanie Beikman
Director, Arizona Interfaith Power & Light
(480) 540-9519
melanie.beikman@azipl.org
Read MoreBlessed Tomorrow will be hosting a faith climate forum on April 16th, and they are looking for host sites that will live stream the event. Each site that has at least 15 people registered will receive $450 to support refreshments and childcare or travel support. Learn more and register!
Read MoreApril is Earth Month, and for congregations, it can be a great time to further discern how to best answer our first calling as Christians: the caretaking of God's creation. Congregations can make a plan to make the most of the month. For Earth Sunday, the UCC has partnered with the UCC partnered with Creation Justice Ministries to produce an Earth Sunday resource on plastics entitled “Plastic Jesus: Real Faith in a Synthetic World.”
Read MoreTo help encourage election engagement, and to ensure voting happens smoothly in 2024 elections, the United Church of Christ Our Faith Our Vote Campaign is thrilled to continue our partnership with Power the Polls! Poll workers enable the nonpartisan process of our democracy, keep polling locations open and technology working, and help make every voter’s experience a positive and empowering one.
Will you consider signing up to be a poll worker today?
For more helpful resources on election engagement, please visit the Our Faith Our Vote website.
Read MoreThe Interfaith Immigration Coalition recently released a faith organization and faith leader sign-on statement in solidarity with Annunciation House, a Catholic humanitarian organization in El Paso that has provided hospitality and other life-saving services to migrants for decades which the Texas AG Ken Paxton is trying to shut down. The need for funding to support welcome infrastructure for immigrants and refugees continues to grow. Please let your congresspersons know, as they work to negotiate the full passage of all 12 budget bills, that people of faith support investing in local communities' capacity for welcome.
Read more.
Read MoreIn person Ecumenical Advocacy Days has returned! This May, EAD will host a “summit” May 17-19 in Washington, D.C. The guiding theme is: “Faith in Action: Advancing Human Rights and Peace for All.”
The EAD 2024 Spring Summit will include advocacy training for new and growing participant categories (seminary students, young adults) and will offer a chance for those who work with domestic and international priorities to connect and share. Ultimately, we want the universal voice of God, one of compassion, justice, and peace, to be lifted during these challenging times.
Read MoreIn April, the 10th anniversary of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan will be marked. Yet, justice, in many forms and by many measures, has remained elusive. In Jackson, Mississippi and near the U.S. Navy’s toxic Red Hill facility in Hawai’i, justice has also been difficult to achieve in the wake of water crises. Learn how leaders from these communities envision the path to justice in this webinar on March 13th at 1 pm ET. Register now!
Read MoreTo give our children and youth a voice this election season, while also reminding adults of their responsibility for the next generation, the UCC will be conducting a Vote for Climate Hope Art Contest in 2024.
From March 1st to April 16th, art submissions will be accepted.
Participating churches should register now to receive important information and updates.
Read MoreThe UCC Council for Climate Justice will be hosting a Climate Action Assembly on March 6th at 1 pm ET (11 am MT). We will hear updates on the three endeavors launched for this year: the Freedom from Plastics Campaign, the Electrification Checklist Initiative, and the Vote for Climate Hope Campaign. Register to join!
Read MoreSunday, February 18, 4:00 - 5:00 pm via Zoom
People of all ages are welcome to join the Interfaith Youth and Young Adult Conversations, held on the third Sunday of each month. The IYC program seeks to help educate and connect young leaders from diverse faiths throughout the state. These young leaders engage in interfaith dialogue and interfaith education experiences with trained religious leaders from faiths represented throughout the state. Leadership training and development is offered in important areas including civil dialogue, social justice, advocacy work and public speaking.
Read MoreKeep up on the latest from the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network:
Imagine Reparation Germination
Asylum is Not a Bargaining Chip
Join the UCC to Power the Polls
Join the Movement “Woke” Lent Series
Celebrating Black Stories
Fill the J.A.R. of God’s Economic Justice: A message from the new UCC economic justice minister, Rev. Seth Wispelwey
Racial Justice Sunday: Blessing Banned Books
The Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award
The UCC’s Vote for Climate Hope Art Contest
Read MoreOak Flat will continue to be a sacred place of congregation if we continue to uphold the obligation of the U.S. Government to protect places of worship, Indigenous rights, and the water. Right now, there are two ways you can join the Apache Stronghold in this movement.
Read MoreJoin the AFN community for a 3-part hour-long webinar series on American Christian Nationalism with Rev. Caleb Campbell from Disarming Leviathan. This series follows the successful in-person and film discussion events in 2023. In 2024, we’ll be engaging in a number of varied programs with National and Local Faith Leaders, Historians, Museums, and Movement workers to explore the impacts of American Christian Nationalism and its impacts on this great democracy.
This particular series is broken down into 3-one hour webinar trainings on how to engage with those who believe differently than we do. Following this series, those who attended all three parts will be invited to an invite only in-person event both in Tucson and Phoenix in April 2024.
Part I: Discover the political, spiritual and cultural elements of American Christian Nationalism.
Part II: Explore the ways that American Christian Nationalism functions as a tribal identity and power structure that promises to meet the core needs of those that adhere to it.
Part III: Learn methods and postures for engaging Christian Nationalists with curiosity, hospitality and humble subversion.
Read MoreThe January JPAN newsletter is full of don’t-miss articles. Read it here.
Pathways toward Love of Church for Children and Youth
Join the Movement “Woke” Lent Series
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Climate Hope Summer Fellowship Grants
New Release: Psalms from Prison (3rd Edition)
2024 UCC Programs, Resources, and Events
Observe Health and Human Service Sunday
Changing the Conversation: The Theology of Reproductive Justice
Emergency Summit for Gaza: Ceasefire, Saving Lives, Building Peace
The Dollie Burwell Prophetic Action Award
and more
Read More“…it’s important to reflect back on all we have accomplished this year as a community committed to creating our UCC vision of a Just World for All. Together we have mobilized and advocated on issues ranging from peace in the Middle East and Ukraine to protecting and expanding LGBTQ+ rights, from demanding common sense gun legislation to passing a just Farm Bill and federal budget, from defending voting rights to calling for reproductive justice for all, and much more! During the past year, UCC advocates have sent over 26,000 messages to legislators.
“As we look ahead to what will likely be a contentious election year, amidst continued tension and strife in the U.S. and around the world, our collective voice will be needed more than ever. We look forward to advocating alongside you in 2024, but for now, we wish you rest.”
Read MoreRecent headlines have highlighted a "waning enthusiasm" among voters who have helped propel environmental justice champions into office in previous elections. A decline in enthusiasm has been noted among Black, Hispanic, and young voters. Among voters concerned about the climate crisis, dissatisfaction and anger have arisen as fossil fuel projects in Alaska and Appalachia move forward.
In this webinar, we will focus on what can be done to create the momentum needed for champions of climate justice to be elected into office. We will look at how climate solutions can be prioritized in the primaries, so that policies in accord with environmental justice values can be advanced. Our featured webinar guests include speakers from the League of Conservation Voters, the Black Voters Matter Fund, and the Green New Deal Network.
Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on January 10th at 1 pm ET, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!
Read MoreThe members of Sun Lakes United Church of Christ celebrated Advent JOY with a Christmas toy drive for underprivileged children in the Chandler area. The members of the church received JOY by shopping for the children. They gave JOY to the volunteers at Matthews Crossing Food Bank, who stated that they had never received such a large contribution of toys at one time. The members also gave JOY to many children in the area who received the toys for Christmas. The members of the church donated over 120 toys with a weight of 138 pounds.
“I am proud to be a member of this church,” said Stewart Thompson, the Coordinator of the Mission and Outreach Ministry of the church. “Their generosity is overwhelming, and we are glad that we can help make a few more children have a brighter Christmas this year.”
Read MoreThursday, January 25, 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza
1700 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Join the Sierra Club, AFN, and more than 20 other organizations as we combine to take action on those priorities at the Environmental Day at the Arizona State Capitol. Hear great speakers, meet other awesome advocates, and meet with your legislators to advocate for protecting our environment and our democracy.
RSVP to get in the loop with trainings, workshops, and connect with your legislative district team. No experience is needed!
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