Dear Beloveds,

As we count down to the year’s end and the winter solstice draws near, UU Ministry for Earth invites you to register to join us online for our Winter Solstice Celebration on December 22nd. 

Together, we will remind ourselves to still our minds and our hands so we can appreciate the beauty and peace of the dark of winter. To open our hearts so we can take time for rest and reflection. To prepare our whole selves so we can rekindle an active hope and pace ourselves when the light begins to return.

We know this has been a roller coaster of a difficult year. Collectively, we have borne so many burdens and sorrows: illness, lost life, social isolation, the griefs of ecological devastation, threats to our democracy and setbacks on many justice fronts. 

It has been a year marked with joys, too! Some among us have reconnected with family, friends, colleagues, and churchmates in person, while others of us are filled with anticipation and still waiting, patiently or not, to do the same. 

I am finding deep joy in the steady resolve and witness and accompaniment I see around me as UUs and activists of all faiths are re-gathering, masks and all, to do the work of creating environmental and climate justice. Despite the not-so-good news about advancing climate change and the toll of the latest weather disasters, UUs and our allies have remained steadfast in our commitments to protecting the flourishing of all life and re-building an interdependent Beloved Community. This gives me infinite hope.

Hope alone will not get us there, I know. The UN Climate Summit last month showed us global and national commitments and actions are likely to be inadequate to stall the steady advance of climate change. Which is all the more reason to double down and join forces to strengthen our local and state climate commitments. 

UU Ministry for Earth invites you to plant seeds of justice and joy with us in the communities where you live, work and worship. 

Please make a donation today to help UU Ministry for Earth support this vital work in the year ahead.

May your intentions for the New Year be deeply aligned with your deepest values and wishes. May you cultivate strength and resilience. May you reap moments of joy.

With joyous resolve,

Rev. Cindy Davidson, Board Chair

ACTIVATION

Act in Solidarity for Democracy    

On Monday, December 13, UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray and more than one hundred Unitarian Universalists joined the US Poor People’s Campaign Moral March to tell the US Congress to delay their recess and work immediately to pass legislation to secure voting rights and social reforms, including legislation for clean energy incentives. 

Watch a livestream of the rally here and read more about it at the Religious News Service. Can you support this witness to Side with Love by making a phone call to the US Senate to tell the elected officials to pass key legislation to protect the democratic rights, health and well being of residents? The UUA’s click-to-call program offers a script and talking points, and connects callers with their Senators. Please phone the offices of the US Senate today through the UUA, and share the link with your friends and family!

Volunteer with UU Ministry for Earth's Fundraising Team 

Are you passionate about environmental justice? Do you like telling stories to inspire? Do you have experience in grant writing or interest in learning? Your passion and skill sets would be a welcome addition to our advisory fundraising committee!

If you are interested to explore a 3-4 hour a month volunteer role to help our fundraising committee as we prepare and solicit grants, please email Rev. Daniel Lawlor (daniellawlor [at] uumfe.org). Thank you! 

EDUCATION

Engage with Climate Crisis: Act Now

UU Ministry for Earth was a proud organizing partner for a special convening of New York Unitarian Universalists on December 7th, Climate Crisis: Act Now. Co-hosted by Fourth Universalist Society in New York, Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth, New York UU Justice, Beyond Plastics, the Unitarian Universalist Association Office at the United Nations, and Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, Climate Crisis: Act Now was an engaging forum connecting local activists, Unitarian Universalist communities and leaders. 

Enjoy the video of our gathering and share widely. Click here for the presentation slide deck. Collaboration with our peers builds our community capacity for resilience and creativity.

Tune in to Slow Down, Connect, and Heal

SAVE the Date! Slow Down, Connect and Heal
January 6, 2022 
Time: 5pm ET/ 4pm CT/ 3pm MT/ 2pm PT

UU Ministry for Earth Board member Susanna Wu-Pong Calvert hosts the Finding our Fit broadcast on WRWK “The Work” 93.9. Join her as she welcomes UUMFE  Co-Director Rev. Daniel Lawlor for a conversation on the place of spiritual disciplines in our response to the climate crisis. 

You can tune in on the radio in the Richmond, Virginia area, or from anywhere on Facebook Live or WRWK online. 

CONNECTION

Join Unitarian Universalist Young Adults for Climate Justice via Zoom 

Wednesday, December 29th at 7pm ET/6pm CT/5pm MT/4pm PT on Zoom. 

Unitarian Universalist Young Adults for Climate Justice (UUYACJ) is a community of support, resources, and action for UU young adults that are passionate about and organizing for climate justice. 

Zoë Johnston, the UU Young Adult for Climate Justice Network Coordinator, writes, "This will be our last gathering of the year and is a great chance to reconnect with each other! We'll be spending time reflecting on our year, both personally and climate-related. We'll also set intentions for the year to come."

If you (or someone you know!) would like to join UUYACJ or hear more about it, please email Zoë Johnston at uuyacj@uumfe.org.

Join the Unitarian Universalist Black, Indigenous, & People of Color Caucus on Climate Justice

Exciting News Coming in January

 A message from Co-Chair Dr. Rashid Shaikh:  "Hello Friends, We hope that you are well and safe and are enjoying the holiday season...We are taking a short break and will be back in January with announcements about some exciting new programs. In the meanwhile, we hope you get some peace and relaxation during the holidays."

INSPIRATION

Santa Soaked - A Story for All Ages & Storytelling Workshop Series

Unitarian Universalist communicator and creative arts-activist Carl Lindemann has just published an illustrated story book, Santa Soaked: a Story for All Ages — a rhyming, rhythmic, interfaith, inclusive twist to the turn in Santa's story as his Arctic home melts. It is a call to action for youth empowerment and climate justice. 

Whether alone or with its companion storytelling workshop, Santa Soaked is an invitation for a long-overdue talk between generations.

Readers like you can download the free eBook below for education, reflection and a conversation opener with family and friends. Plus, you can find out how to bring a Santa Soaked storytelling workshop to your congregation or community! Enjoy!

RECIPE TO SHARE

As the days get shorter, the food is still delicious! We hope you enjoy this tasty recipe for Thyme & White Bean Pot Pie or Potato Sauerkraut Hot Dish- and, for dessert, Sugar Cookies!

GRATITUDE

To all who donate, volunteer or spread the word, thank you!  Your kindness and your commitment to the Ministry for Earth helps us cultivate community and healing. Have a safe and connecting New Year!

Visit Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth online at uuministryforearth.org.
Please sustain our work.