Weekly Vineyard UU Voice Links:

Mike Kobran – From Where I Stand  Putin’s Problem is also our Problem 

 

New:  …fostering universal justice and community action… Newsletter

Universal Justice Newsletter June 2020

Universal Justice Newsletter April 2020

Universal Justice Newsletter September 2020

Unitarians and Universalists have long been at the forefront of justice work with active participation in movements in the 19th and 20th century for religious freedom, abolition of slavery, women’s rights, prison reform, and mental health services.  Today, Unitarian Universalists continue to work for justice on issues such as environmental justice, immigration, religious pluralism, LGBTQ rights and marriage equality, economic justice, and racial justice.

Our UU Principles call us to affirm:
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;
The goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part;
And,
Our UUSMV mission calls us to:
Foster community action and universal justice.
See how we live our mission and principles through community and justice actions…

At UUSMV, we advocate, we educate, we serve, and we donate. We live our mission of community action and universal justice and our UU principles of justice, equity and compassion by

Advocacy:

Supporting the UUA’s endorsement of the Black Lives Matter campaign, by witnessing for racial justice (http://www.uua.org/multiculturalism/black-lives-matter)

Side with Love campaign seeking to harness the power of love to end oppression (https://sidewithlove.org/)

Bearing witness for human rights by participating in the Stand Together Rally and the Women’s March,

Using our Wayside Pulpit and Facebook page to bear witness against oppression and for human rights, (https://www.facebook.com/uusmv/ )  

 

Working for food justice by marching in the annual CROP Walk;

UUSMV members participate in the annual MV Crop Walk

Education:

Monthly our youth participate in Universal Justice Sunday where they learn of and take action for a specific justice or community issue, such as animal protection, homelessness, transgender justice.

Participating in the UUA Common Read.  This year’s Common Read is:  Centering:  Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry

Promoting lifelong learning through justice related programs on topics such as: transgender information, important issues in the election.

Service:

Supporting the Houses of Grace Island Shelter Program through leadership and staff volunteers;  

Making and donating comfort items through the UUSMV Sewcial Action Knitwork.

 

Donating to the MV Committee on Hunger Family to Family Dinners;

Providing needed clothing and gifts for children through the annual Red Stocking Fund,
Supporting the UU Services Committee efforts for international justice and human rights through the Guest at Your Table and calls for international relief support; (http://www.uusc.org/ )
Collecting nonperishable food items for the Island Food Pantry.

 

Through our quarterly Share the Plate Program, we share the Offertory with a charitable organization in keeping with our mission and principles.

 Download a nomination form.

 

How You Can Help
Our actions for universal justice bring love to others, nurture hope in our lives, and help move the arc of universe toward justice. Join us…

To advocate:
Follow our Facebook page and the newsletter, the UU Voice, for advocacy action items! Contact Dorie Godfrey if there is a justice issue for which you would like to champion advocacy.

To educate:
Attend UUSMV Life Long Learning programs. Check the UUSMV calendar for upcoming programs.
Offer to lead an educational program on a justice or community issue.
Lead a Universal Justice Sunday with the children.

To serve:
Volunteer for the Houses of Grace Island shelter. Contact Dorie Godfrey.
Help with the UUSMV Red Stocking gift purchasing or wrapping.
Join the Sewcial Action Knitwork. Contact Laura Beebe.

To donate:
Donate food. The Island Food Pantry collection is inside the front door of the Chapel.
Give generously on the Share the Plate Sundays.
Donate to the
Family to Family dinner fund in November,
Red Stocking fund in December,
Guest at Your Table in October.
Watch the newsletter for other opportunities.