All members & friends are welcome to join the efforts of the Social Justice Outreach Team
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville invites you to attend the workshop GIVE LIGHT: SPIRITUAL SUPPORT for CLIMATE ACTIVISM with Rev. Fred Small Saturday, April 9th — 10:00 AM – 12:45 PM — UUFH Sanctuary
In Rev. Small’s words, “As we come to understand the gravity of climate disruption, it’s easy to become disheartened. How to maintain equanimity and compassion for ourselves and others while sustaining effective activism?” In this interactive workshop welcoming all faith traditions and spiritual orientations, Rev. Small will invite us “into guided meditation, reflection, conversation, and song, fortifying our spirits and deepening our resolve in the struggle for climate justice.” His workshop is “not about climate science, adaptation or mitigation measures, or political strategies, … it’s about how to engage the climate crisis while sustaining our spirits.”
Known worldwide as a religious climate activist, Rev. Small has been an environmental lawyer, a UU Minister of Music, and is now a UUA Minister for Climate Justice at Arlington St. Church in Boston and Policy Director at Interfaith Power & Light. He has gone to jail for, written songs about, and preached to many of the need for environmental action. His workshops and services have been called inspirational and transformative. They are intended to fortify our spirits and deepen our resolve. For further information, see his website: revfredsmall.com.
REGISTRATION: Contact Charlotte Corrigan Space is Limited – Reserve Soon 10:00 AM Check In — Break at 11:45 AM – Drinks and Snacks provided
CDC Covid Guidelines to be followed
SOCIAL JUSTICE & ALLIES FOR RACIAL EQUITY TEAM MEETINGS
We meet on the first TUESDAY of the month 1:00 to 2:30pm. via ZOOM
Our next meeting is TUES, April 5, 2022
All are welcome to attend; these meetings are your chance to provide input and contribute to our UUFH justice efforts. Contact Charlotte Corrigan for more information – i.e., agenda, prior minutes, Zoom link – if you would like to participate.
ARE updates and news can be sent to Charlotte Corrigan for inclusion in emails, eBlasts and Justice Worker News.
Want more JUSTICE NEWS? UUFH JUSTICE WORKER NEWS Contact Charlotte Corrigan to join the email list.
MIGRANT PROJECT ACTION – DRIVE-THROUGH COLLECTION.
Saturday, March 26, 12:30 pm – Agudus Israel: lunch and gift bagging
On March 19th, Agudas Israel and UUFH hosted a joint drive-through collection event for drop offs of items to be given to migrant workers coming to our community to labor in fields, warehouses, and orchards putting food on our tables.
Contact Anne Backer to volunteer for Gift bagging (3/26) Saturday, March 26 at 12:30 pm
at Agudas Israel Synagogue (505 Glasgow Ln, Hendersonville).
Volunteers must show proof of vaccination for admission to this event. Each person brings their own brown bag lunch and Agudas will furnish drinks. We will eat first, then pack the Welcome Bags. We will have the bags and the items we collected at our drive-through there and ready to pack – hundreds of toothbrushes and more.
Rabbi Rachel Jackson will join us for a fun day as we get to know each other better.
If you didn’t make it to the drop-off on March 19, use one of these alternate locations in Hendersonville: True Ridge: 110 Edney Street, Ste. A – donation box El Centro: 508 N. Grove Street Butler residence:10 Penny Ct. (828-335-0078) Owens residence: 1961 Brookside Camp Rd — bin at front door (text 828-674-0464)
These items are requested for Gift Bags this year
- Toothbrushes & toothpaste
- Bar soaps
- Neosporin ointment (or generic version)
- Razors
- Ball caps & bandanas (Sherman’s on Main Street in Hendersonville is ordering basic ball caps which are reasonably priced along with nice cotton large bandanas.)
- Laundry soap & softener
PLEASE do not bring other items – they will be rejected as we cannot store them.
Any monetary donations can be mailed to; True Ridge, 110 Edney Street, Suite A Hendersonville, NC 28792 Note: you must designate “For Migrant Workers” on the memo line of the check.
UU Justice NC
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION
from Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Executive Director UU Justice NC
FRIDAY ACTION HOUR
Every Friday at 11:00am UUs from across the state gather to recap the past week and take action on the issues impacting our state and country. In the coming month, we’ll Be Keeping the pressure on our elected officials to better promote the HOPE program. We always have good music to help us feel the justice movement in our bones! Join us via this Zoom link. If you can’t make it on Fridays, you can still take action at any time – just check our Weekly action list.
SIGN-UP MAKES IT EASY: to receive weekly updates automatically. Click Here to Sign Up!
MORE Opportunities for Action
Per UPDATES from Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Executive Director, UU Justice NC:
End Misuse of Title 42 (Organized by UUSC& UUSJ).
The letter calls on the Biden administration to fully restore access to asylum at the border and end the misuse of Title 42. While other federal coronavirus protections are being lifted, the U.S. government continues to invoke COVID-19 as a pretext to expel asylum-seekers from the border without due process — more than 1.1 million times in the last year. If you and/or your congregation hasn’t signed on yet, please consider doing so. Individuals, congregations, and organizations are invited to sign on here.
Speak up for Trans Lives Spokesperson Training
Thursday, March 31 from 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM ET
Hosted by Side With Love in partnership with The Trevor Project – One of the most impactful ways for allies to combat the wave of anti-trans legislation sweeping the country is to show up in public to articulate our values, unequivocally affirming that trans and nonbinary people are beautiful, sacred, and loved.
*Please note that, while people of all genders are welcome, this is intended primarily as a training for cisgender folks aspiring to act as allies.
UKRAINE
Our hearts are heavy as we continue to witness the Russian invasion of Ukraine. UU Justice NC wanted to share two statements from our UU leadership about this unfolding situation:
“We Demand An End to the Bloodshed” UU Service Committee Responds to Vladimir Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine – Putin’s aggression will certainly lead to human rights violations. Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, UUSC President and CEO.
(At the bottom of the statement are links to various ways to help the people of Ukraine.)
POSTCARDS PROGRESS REPORT:
A new postcard campaign to encourage and empower voter registration in Union County, NC (southeast of Charlotte) is underway. All 40 kits (1000 postcards) have been claimed by members and are in process or have been mailed to recipients. Great work by 27 Justice Worker volunteers! Please complete your postcards no later than March 28.
FEED THE KIDS COALITION — Resumption of “normal” meal service
The target date for FTK Teams to resuming served meals is May 6 (team schedule TBD).
Members of the three congregations in Team #3 -Trinity Presbyterian, UU Fellowship of Hendersonville, and Agudas Israel – are invited to serve with either the cooking team or the serving team – whichever they prefer. Delivery help is also needed (some lifting required).
A serving team of about 12 people is needed on Fridays at 3:30 PM for ~1 1/4 hour (to plate and serve the meals to the kids). This is a scheduled event occurring about 8 times per year in rotation with 5 other FTK teams.
Past volunteers have been contacted by e-mail, but NEW VOLUNTEERS for cooking, delivery, and/or serving are needed and welcome.
Contact Charlotte Corrigan if you’d like to join FTK Team #3.
We all look forward to seeing those delightful kids at the Boys & Girls Club and seeing their smiling faces too!
CLIMATE JUSTICE CONGREGATIONAL PROJECT
In the remaining months for this Project, we’ll add a new emphasis on the 8th principle and climate justice through webinars and workshops, recognizing that Racial Justice and Climate Justice are inseparably linked.
The proposed 8th Principle states:
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
Events specific to the 8th Principle are coming soon — SAVE these dates
MARCH 28 (M) 1:00 PM-2:30 PM – JUUSTICE FORUM ON THE 8TH PRINCIPLE
From the Social Justice Team and Allies for Racial Equity group, Helen Bishop will lead a discussion of the UUA’s proposed 8th Principle. Contact Judy Bonner for Zoom link.
Helen suggests the Youtube videos and reading as background to prepare for our discussion.
WATCH: Paula Cole Jones speaks about the 8th Principle and Bruce Pollack-Johnson: the 8th Principle
READ: BIPOC and the 8th Principle: https://www.uua.org/braverwiser/putting-armor
APRIL 3 — A STATEWIDE ZOOM PRESENTATION FROM UU JUSTICE NC
“UU Justice NC is teaming up with DRUUMM to offer a virtual event for North Carolina UUs interested in learning more about the 8th Principle. We’ll have the incredible opportunity to hear directly from the co-author of the 8th Principle, Paula Cole Jones. We’ll also learn more about the process of adopting the 8th Principle from two lay-leader panelists who have led this work in their own congregations.”
Register Here! Today.
MAY 1 — A SPECIAL SUNDAY SERVICE ON THE 8TH PRINCIPLE
Helen Bishop will speak on the 8th Principle at this important service. In addition, a DISCUSSION SESSION, your opportunity to speak or ask questions, follows the service.
RESOURCES for the 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism
Visit this UUA site: 8thprinciplorg
The section is organized by responses to these key questions: What is the origin? — Why now? — Why single out racism? — What is beloved community? — What does it mean to be accountable?
The Fall 2021 UU World contains several articles of interest, including Our Faith Calls Us to Antiracist Work – by Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, our UUA President https://www.uuworld.org/articles/antiracist-faith
2021 Statement of Conscience “Undoing white Supremacy: A Call to Prophetic Action” – adopted at the 2021 General Assembly:
REV. FRED SMALL WORKSHOP
Don’t miss our workshop from Rev. Fred Small, “GIVE LIGHT: SPIRITUAL SUPPORT for CLIMATE ACTIVISM”, on April 9, 10:00 am-12:45 pm
“As we come to understand the gravity of climate disruption, it’s easy to become disheartened. How to maintain equanimity and compassion for ourselves and others while sustaining effective activism? In this interactive workshop, welcoming all faith traditions and spiritual orientations, Rev. Fred Small will invite us into guided meditation, reflection, conversation, and song, fortifying our spirits and deepening our resolve in the struggle for climate justice.”
Contact Charlotte Corrigan to register for the workshop. Spaces are limited so you’ll want to sign up right away. We are allocating some spaces to attendees from the community and to other UU congregations in NC.
Rev. Small will also lead our service on April 10.
For more information about Rev. Small, see his website: revfredsmall.com
The more that we work together, the greater impact we have.