2023 JPANet Sign Off

January 06, 2024 in Faith In Action

“…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.”

UCC Webinar— Primary Season: Prioritizing Climate Solutions

January 06, 2024 in Faith In Action

Recent 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!

Christmas JOY at Sun Lakes UCC

January 06, 2024 in Faith In Action

The 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.”

The Good Shepherd UCC's Rev. Randy Mayer's OpEd in The Arizona Republic

January 06, 2024 in Faith In Action

Opinion: What we saw on a recent trip to the border is no different than what we've seen over 30 years: A mess that security measures alone can't fix.

Read Rev. Randy Mayer's full OpEd published in The Arizona Republic.

Pastor Susan (Valiquette) from First Church UCC, Phoenix, accompanied Randy on this Friday afternoon trip. First Church also made a financial donation to the humanitarian work at the border to pay for supplies and the upkeep of their vehicles and gas. The Samaritans are able to reach migrants in remote areas that the Border Patrol cannot.

If your church would like to support this ministry, you may send your check to 'The Good Shepherd UCC' and designate it to the 'Samaritans, Sahuarita' 17750 South La Cañada Drive, Sahuarita, AZ 85629.

Common Ground on the Border 2024

December 30, 2023 in Faith In Action

January 11 – 13, 2024 at The Good Shepherd UCC

The United States-Mexico borderlands has always been a beautiful mix of culture, language, cuisine, economies, and people. It has also been a place of struggle, high and low temperatures, a fragile environment, and the push and pull of immigration.

The Borderlands is the perfect place to explore the arts, touch the culture, and have deeper conversations about the complicated issues that collide here.

On Friday afternoon, we will enjoy the wisdom and gifts of our artist-in-residence, Sister Lika Macias, and on Saturday afternoon, you will be able to choose from a variety of local cultural and tourist sites or you may have a time of rest and renewal.

On Saturday morning, we will have two border information lectures with stimulating national and international scholars and activists sharing their perspectives on our current border and immigration crisis.

In addition, there will be field trips to the border, into the desert, and other nearby locations on Thursday. And, of course, there will be a dynamic concert on Friday night with our musician-in-residence, Namoli Brennet and a movie premiere on Saturday night. We will enjoy two community meals together on Friday and Saturday nights.

Learn more and register now!

JPANet December 2023 Newsletter

December 09, 2023 in Faith In Action

Read it here.

This month, the Rev. Noel Andersen, national field director for Church World Service and minister for immigration justice for the United Church of Christ, helps us understand the current debate in Congress around including changes to asylum laws in any deal reached on foreign aid.

U.S. Asylum Laws Rooted in Sacred Tradition Must Not be Traded Away for Military Aid

Other items this month:

Education Resources for Advocacy on the Farm Bill
Abolition Advent Calendar from Join the Movement
The Work of Justice Needs Leaders
Ensure All Are Fed
A UCC appeal: Help give humanitarian aid to people amid war in Gaza, Palestine and Israel
Primary Season: Prioritizing Climate Solutions
Sign up for 2024 Our Faith Our Vote Communications
Climate Action Commissioning Service
Praying Through Advent
Justice Resources

UCC Event—Climate Action Commissioning Service

December 09, 2023 in Faith In Action

The UCC Council for Climate Justice is convening a Climate Action Commissioning Service as our members across the country launch into advancing climate justice in 2024. The preacher for this event will be Nellis Kennedy-Howard who once worked alongside Winona LaDuke as the Co-Executive Director of Honor the Earth in addition to later working as the Sierra Club’s Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Justice.

Sign up to join us for this online event on Wednesday, January 3rd at 1 pm ET (11 am MT)

Copyright Justice and Musical Misappropriation

November 25, 2023 in Faith In Action

This live webinar is a special online event from the Then Let Us Sing! Working Group in partnership with the 40 Days of Engagement on Anti-Racism program.

Together with members of the Then Let Us Sing! Working Group, you will explore how we continue to sing justly. The ways in which we learn, teach, share, and reproduce (copyright) songs help us express our commitment to justice. This gathering time will discuss Then Let Us Sing’s principles when it comes to justice in song, including its copyright policy and anti-racist/anti-oppression framework. We will ask questions about respecting and honouring other traditions and practise ways to learn and teach these songs. This webinar will have English‒French interpretation.

And, of course, we will sing together!

Register on CHURCHx for this gathering time. 

UCC Webinar—You Can’t Stop Justice: A Dialogue between Rep. Justin Pearson and the Rev. Benjamin Chavis, Jr.

November 24, 2023 in Faith In Action

In this Giving Tuesday event, two prophetic leaders will join in an online conversation about the never-ending river of justice that extends from one generation to the next. The Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr. coined the phrase "environmental racism" and helped lead the struggle for environmental justice, while Rep. Justin Pearson went from leading a grassroots environmental justice organization to serving as a state representative who made headlines around the world for his courageous stand in calling for commonsense gun legislation.

Read more here.

Join us on November 28th at 12 pm ET (that’s 10 am AZ/NM/EP) to hear from these two leaders. Register today!

Sow Justice in the Next Farm Bill

November 11, 2023 in Faith In Action

As people of faith, let us lift our voices to Congress urging them to:

Protect and strengthen nutrition programs like SNAP by rejecting spending cuts and additional work requirements.
Strengthen policies and programs that address climate change and protect our natural resources from environmental degradation.
Provide a fair and effective farm safety net that allows farmers, farmworkers, and producers in the U.S. and around the world to earn economically sustainable livelihoods.
Ensure equitable program implementation to remedy patterns of discrimination for historically underserved communities.

We are called by God to be advocates of justice for the hungry, for the hands that cultivate the land, and for the land itself. Let us answer that call by contacting our members of Congress today.

Take the Cool Congregations Challenge

November 04, 2023 in Faith In Action

The Cool Congregations Challenge, is an annual national contest to recognize “Cool Congregations” that are becoming energy efficient and sustainable role models within their communities. The contest is brought to you by Interfaith Power & Light, a nonprofit organization inspiring and mobilizing people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate. There are no fees to enter. Application period opens November 1 each year. Deadline for entries, December 15. Get ready to enter the Challenge!

JPANet November 2023 newsletter

November 04, 2023 in Faith In Action

Keep up on all the good works and resources from the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network in their November newsletter.

Read it here.

Next Webinar: Greenwashing at UN Climate Conference

November 04, 2023 in Faith In Action

The President of the upcoming UN Climate Conference is the CEO of the one of the world's largest oil producers and is working to aggressively expand his company’s production. The next Creation Justice Webinar will look at the greenwashing and corporate capture of the conference while also casting a vision for a path forward.

JPANet: Advocate for Voting Rights →

October 28, 2023 in Faith In Action

We have work to do to ensure that our democracy is protected and strengthened so that all have equal access to the ballot box and so that each voice may be heard. Please urge your Members of Congress to fulfill their obligations to protect the freedom to vote by supporting and passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

UCC Webinar—From Greenwashing to Environmental Justice at UN Climate Conference

October 21, 2023 in Faith In Action

The president of the upcoming UN Climate Conference is the CEO of the one of the world's largest oil producers and is currently working to aggressively expand his company’s production.

In this webinar, panelists will not only provide a critical assessment of the greenwashing and corporate capture of this conference, but they will also cast an alternative vision and pathway forward. The world deserves and desperately needs a UN process dedicated to the advancement of all peoples, a core principle of the UN Charter.

Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on November 8th at 1 pm ET (that’s 11 am SWC time), still sign up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it.

An urgent appeal: Help UCC give humanitarian aid to people amid war in Gaza, Palestine and Israel

October 21, 2023 in Faith In Action

As you advocate for a cease fire, access for humanitarian assistance, and for the core issues to be addressed, we invite your financial support to undergird the work of our partners with whom we have had a long-standing relationship. Your gifts will make an impact and a difference on those who are suffering so greatly during these days of lamentation and suffering. The two actions go hand-in-hand. Thank you for your generosity.

Letter to Congress on crisis in Israel/Palestine

October 13, 2023 in Faith In Action

Read the statement from 27 Christian churches and agencies to members of Congress.

Read the statements from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)

Follow Global Ministries news for continued coverage and up-to-the minute updates on the situation in Israel and Gaza and our ongoing efforts.

In the latest JPANet newsletter:

October 07, 2023 in Faith In Action

All of this:

UCC Webinar— A Plea from the Pope

October 03, 2023 in Faith In Action

As the feast day of Francis of Assisi is celebrated on October 4th, Pope Francis will release the "second part" of his encyclical on the climate crisis and inequality. The new edition of the encyclical will provide an update to confronting "the senseless war on our common home."

A panel of climate faith leaders will reflect upon Pope Francis's plea for climate action.

Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time on October 11th at 1 pm ET (10 am AZ / 11 am NM/EP), still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it. Register now!

Global H.O.P.E. updates

September 30, 2023 in Faith In Action

In the latest Global H.O.P.E. newsletter (click here to read it):

Global H.O.P.E. Team Welcomes New Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery
Volunteering is Good for Your Health
Congregation Kicks Off New Church Year With a 'Saturday of Service'
Global H.O.P.E.’s Team Leader Named UCC Chief of Staff
Congregation's Refugee Ministry Budget Grows