From First Church UCC Phoenix and Shadow Rock UCC:
Stop six bills from becoming law...your signature is needed
Perhaps you’ve heard that there are efforts underway to delay and potentially stop six controversial bills from becoming law, all passed by the Arizona State Legislature this past session.
Six petitions are circulating, but time is short. In order to successfully refer each of six referendums to the 2022 ballot, giving voters the right to decide if Arizona enacts a 2.5 percent flat tax, implements the already voter-approved Prop 208, and blocks further voter restrictions in our state, circulators need to turn in 150,000 valid signatures for each petition by Sept. 28.
Here’s where you come in!
Read MoreThis seven-week course aims to shed new light on old truths. It begins September 6, hosted by Ministers for Racial, Social, and Economic Justice and United Black Christians.
Read MoreMondays (bi-weekly) September 13 - December 6, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. via Zoom
Join people of faith as we study Isabel Wilkerson's masterful portrait of an unseen racial justice phenomenon in America. "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" is an eye-opening story of people and history, and a reexamination of what lies under the surface of ordinary lives and of American life today.
She tells us stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system—a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.
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Read MoreAs the United States withdraws from Afghanistan, tens of thousands of at-risk Afghans are in imminent danger, as attacks from the Taliban on Afghan nationals have increased and violence against Afghan women and children is at an all-time high. Action must be taken now to ensure the United States evacuates vulnerable Afghans for as long as it takes, create safe pathways out of Afghanistan toward protection, and evacuate all all at-risk Afghans to U.S. territory.
Here are the top ways to take action TODAY.
Read MoreImportant links, information, and suggestions as to ways churches might respond to the crisis in Afghanistan, from our partners at UCC National Ministries and Church World Service.
Read MoreWe call on our policy makers to own our failure to draw this conflict to an end sooner, and we urge them to invest in peace-building, humanitarian support, diplomatic engagement, and expansion of access to the U.S. resettlement program to provide refuge for Afghans fleeing violence and persecution.
We invite you to join us in these action steps.
Read MoreThe United Church of Christ is issuing a call to action to help the people of Haiti. “We are issuing an appeal through the Global H.O.P.E. team to raise funds to assist in Haiti in any ways that we can, short-term, and also to assist with long-term recovery needs.
“We hold our partners and Haitian siblings in our thoughts and prayers through this time of suffering.”
Read MoreIn their latest church newsletter, Shepherd of the Hills UCC included a link to this piece.
“Find out what Christians should know about Critical Race Theory by exploring a roundtable discussion, infographics, articles, action steps and more from our United Methodist friends. Share the resources with your friends and family to expand and support racial justice work.”
Read MoreHundreds arrested in D.C. as Poor People's Campaign presses for voting rights, $15 minimum wage, including UCC Washington office’s Sandy Sorenson.
Read MoreGiving much gratitude to the Desert Palm family for your immediate response to the request for financial support in the amount of $629.00 to help provide mats for cooling centers. The mats allow people to lie down and relax and/or sleep.
Read MoreYou are invited to come and listen as Michael Curry, Lay Minister for Disability Education, Advocacy, and Awareness in the Southwest Conference, shares his story about the challenges he faced as child and adolescent growing up in the church. We will explore why it is difficult for many people to be authentic and true to who they are. Michael will share an overview of how your faith community can become a Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaging for Mental Health. Register here.
Read MoreOur history as a country of enslavement and white supremacy must be addressed and H.R. 40 outlines a path for the study of reparations. As people of faith, we believe in restoration, and that healing and repair are needed for true justice. We are asking that Congress bring this bill to the House floor for a vote before the summer recess. Please contact your member of Congress and use your voice to help bring us into a right relationship with one another.
Read MoreInvitation from Rev. Rich Doerrer-Peacock:
AZ JFON is offering a video that I’ve seen before. It is a virtual tour of La Casa, via Zoom. The informative video provides a first-hand view of the shelter and the clients as well as insight into the decisions that these people face as they decide their next steps. Following the video there will be a time for questions and comments.
It is this Thursday, August 5th at 1:00 pm (Arizona time), 2:00 pm (New Mexico & El Paso time).
Register here.
Read MoreThis report from the US-Mexico Border on the current immigration struggle was written by Rev. Randy J. Mayer for the American Waldensian Society.
The US/Mexico Borderlands are sweltering in record heat this summer, with temperatures already spiking to 115 Fahrenheit (46 Celsius). As a result, migrant suffering and migrant deaths have also spiked. It is literally impossible for most migrants to carry the 6 to 10 gallons of water, weighing between 48 and 80 pounds, that they will need to survive a three-to-seven-day journey in the scorching heat across the Sonoran Desert.
But the situation is much more serious than just the extremely high temperatures and the difficulty of carrying enough water for three to seven days in the desert.
Read MoreRev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, Environmental Justice Minister of the UCC, “Historically, we have been a denomination of firsts, and I am excited to see our members leading the charge to undo a legacy of colonial theology and planetary destruction.” He continued, “This resolution is about undoing a centuries old theology of empire and colonialism. It puts into the dustbin of history worldviews that regard the natural world around us as something to be exploited and consumed by humans with callous disregard.”
Read MoreThis nonviolent direct action will call on Senator Kyrsten Sinema to pass key voting rights legislation, including the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and to put an end to the Filibuster. Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. William Barber, Barbara Arnwine, and other national leaders will join to train, speak, and lead us in this movement.
Read MoreIf you missed the conversation, you can watch it on YouTube or Facebook.
Read MoreCall on the Biden Administration to keep up the push for a temporary “TRIPS Waiver” and use its leverage on EU partner countries before the next round of negotiations this month.
Read MoreAs people of faith, we believe in upholding the dignity of each person, which means protecting their sacred right to participate in the democratic process, unencumbered by voter suppression. It also means making sure all voices are lifted up, not just those who can afford a corporate political action committee. The For the People Act is an important step toward helping us live more fully into the promise of a democracy for ALL.
Please contact your Senators asking for their full support and swift passage of the For the People Act, so we can make sure that each person’s voice and vote are protected.
Read MoreCheck out anti-racism resources from CHHSM (Council for Health and Human Services Ministries, UCC).
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