Join this webinar on Thursday April 18 at 11 am AZ time / 12 pm NM & EP time.
The reparatory justice movement is gaining momentum in communities across the country. During this election year, it is vital that impassioned activists inject the need to create a culture repair into the ongoing political debates defining elections at the local, state, and federal levels. To help us with practical ways we can do this, we will be joined by Rev. Robert Turner, author of the new book Creating a Culture of Repair: Taking Action on the Road to Reparations. In his book, Rev. Turner provides an accessible guide for individuals and groups wanting to influence significant institutional action while also acting on their own to repair the effects of racial injustice in our communities, churches, and spheres of influence.
Following our conversation with Rev. Turner, we will provide essential points to emphasize at candidate town halls, rallies, community forums, and other campaign events in your community. Register here.
Faith In Action
Invitation to "In Uncharted Times" on Faith, Climate, Creation: Tuesday, April 10 (NM Interfaith Power/Light)
From Rev. Talitha Arnold, Senior Pastor of The United Church of Santa Fe:
I’m writing to share an invitation from Sr. Joan Brown of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light to a special program (and breakfast) on "Faith, Climate, and Creation Care" next Tuesday, April 10, 8-10 am at First Presbyterian, ABQ. (If coming in person isn't an option, you can tune for the presentation piece at the link below).
Bishop Michael Hunn from the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande and I will share our reflections and invite conversation on questions around religion, climate, and religious leadership in our challenging times.
Read MoreA Cry for Peace
In recent months, we have seen international news coverage focus on what is happening in Gaza and Ukraine. While these crises are important to highlight and do need to be kept at the forefront of the news coverage, other conflicts in other parts of the world get less news coverage and are less well known. Our global partners are responding to various conflicts by meeting the needs of their communities in many ways including refugee response, emergency food and sanitation supplies, and cash assistance. Our partners are speaking, and we must listen. Read more here.
Read MoreAdvocacy 101: Communal Care of Trans Siblings
On April 17th at 3:30pm ET, join Gender & Sexuality Justice Ministries for the beginning of their new series featuring Advocacy 101 topics throughout the remainder of the year! For the month of April, they will move through the Love is Louder Tool Kit featuring Communal Care for Trans & Non-Binary Siblings. In this webinar, you'll be introduced to gender & sexuality terms, the issues in front of us today, and ways to cultivate communal care in your context. Register here.
Read MorePlastic Jesus: Real Faith in a Synthetic World
Everywhere we look in our culture you will find plastic. One place where you will not find plastic, however, is in the Bible.
This resource is designed to help congregations think more deeply about the ways that plastics impact our lives and God's creation. It is also intended to equip people of faith to take actions to address this epidemic in faithful and practical ways.
Download this resource to find stories of individuals and communities making a positive impact, sermon starters to spark meaningful discussions in your church, worship resources to unite in prayer and reflection, and actionable steps to address the plastic crisis in your life, community and, our world.
Earth Sunday Resource: Addressing the Plastics Crisis
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 as we hear from Derrick Weston, the lead author of the resource. Register now!
Read MoreNurture the Soul: Building Congregational Community Safety with Rev. ellie hutchison and Rev. Anne Dunlap
Join us on April 11th to learn more about how congregations can build an ecology of community safety that is rooted in care, investing in each other, believing in each other, and trusting each other and the rhythms and cycles around/within us. With our guest thought leaders and faith practitioners, we explore a “Ecology of Community Safety” guide to offer practical skills, psycho-social care practices, planning tools, and analysis of current conditions, all towards practicing new ways of creating safety within our own congregational contexts. Register here to watch the program live.
Read MoreSave Oak Flat! Support the effort by sending letters!
From AZ Poor People’s Campaign newsletter:
Earlier this month, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) released a Public Notice that it intends to issue an Individual Industrial Recycled Water Permit to Resolution Copper Mining. The permit would allow Resolution Copper to deliver water obtained from the dewatering of their mine facilities at Oak Flat and near Superior to the New Magma Irrigation and Drainage District (NMIDD) where it would be mixed with water coming from the Colorado River via the CAP canal and used for irrigation.
A 30-day public comment period is open, ending on April 7, 2024. No public hearing is currently scheduled.
Please write a letter to ADEQ to extend the comment period and to ask for a public hearing.
Read MoreBill McKibben to Keynote UCC Earth Summit
The UCC's second annual Earth Summit on April 20th will feature celebrated author and activist Bill McKibben. He will deliver the Jim Antal Keynote Lecture with the title, "Energy from Heaven or Energy from Hell?"
The 2-1/2 hour summit will additionally feature a panel of grassroots leaders and a video showcasing the environmental ministries of our host congregation, The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College.
Read MoreUCC Webinar—Earth Sunday Resource: Addressing the Plastics Crisis
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.
Read MoreTransgender Day of Visibility Resources
Transgender 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
Read MoreTucson strategy meeting: Arizona Interfaith Power and Light
Hello 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 MoreRegister Your Congregation to Be a Host Site for the Faith Climate Forum
Blessed 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 MorePlanning for Earth Month
April 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 MorePower the Polls!
To 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 More430+ Faith Groups and Leaders Express Solidarity with Annunciation House
The 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 MoreRegister for Ecumenical Advocacy Days
In 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 MoreUCC Webinar—How Long Till Justice?: Flint, Jackson, and Red Hill
In 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 MoreVote for Climate Hope Art Contest
To 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 MoreUCC Climate Action Assembly
The 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!
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