It's hard to believe that it's still the first month of the year - so much has happened in the last few weeks that my heart barely registers that it's January.
While our spirits ache over crises both national and global, it can be difficult to navigate the day-to-day with healthy alignment. Poetry is something that buoys me through hard times. I hope that the following poem by John O'Donohue brings you comfort and offers a balm for your spirit as we enter this new year.
Beannacht: a Blessing for the New Year For Josie, my mother
On the day when The weight deadens On your shoulders And you stumble, May the clay dance To balance you.
And when your eyes Freeze behind The grey window And the ghost of loss Gets in to you, May a flock of colours, Indigo, red, green, And azure blue, Come to awaken in you A meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays In the currach of thought And a stain of ocean Blackens beneath you, May there come across the waters A path of yellow moonlight To bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours, May the clarity of light be yours, May the fluency of the ocean be yours, May the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow Wind work these words Of love around you, An invisible cloak To mind your life.
—John O'Donohue
When times are rough, it can also help to be together and practice simple rituals that honor what we're experiencing. In the year ahead, UUMFE plans to offer more opportunities to connect in this way. If you are so moved, I hope you'll join us for a community vigil on MLK Day. Bring a little salt, a bowl of water, and some flower petals (fresh or dried) if you'd like to participate in our grief ritual during the vigil. (Click here to join the Zoom meeting.)
And, as always, please know that I always welcome your thoughts, reflections, and feedback. I'm only an email away: laurenlevwood@uumfe.org. I especially invite you to reach out with any creative ideas or constructive concerns for UUMFE's programming in the year ahead.
May the love of your bright and benevolent ancestors surround you, and in the words of John O'Donohue, may you be wrapped in a cloak of love as you move into 2026.
With kindness, Rev. Lauren Levwood Acting Director, UU Ministry for Earth
Support UU Ministry for Earth's Work
Do you value the time you spend with Unitarian Universalists from across the country during our UUMFE gatherings? Have you enjoyed the facilitated discussion of our first Community Read? Are you appreciative of having UUMFE at the table with other partners, such as the UUA's Side with Love and UUs for Social Justice, to advocate for earth-centered care?
If so, then please consider making a donation to help support our work. Look soon for a summary of accomplishments during 2024-25 in your inbox. And thank you for your past support through your financial contributions and your attendance at our events.
This section includes special announcements and upcoming events from UUMFE staff and board members. Click here to view the UUMFE blog.
Announcing... UUMFE's New Movement Chaplain Intern: Chelsea McCoy!
UU Ministry for Earth is excited to announce an important addition to our team - meet our new Climate Justice Movement Chaplain Intern, Chelsea McCoy! Chelsea is a Master of Divinity student at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. UUMFE is excited to be serving as the virtual site for the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) component of Chelsea's ministerial training.
About Chelsea McCoy:
I am first-lineage college student born and raised in St. Louis, MO. I completed my Bachelor's degree in World Literature and Sociology at Truman State University in 2017. During my time in undergrad, I was blessed with the opportunities to study abroad in Taiwan (2014), then Prague (2015), before returning to Taiwan to teach English in 2016. I am graduating from Naropa University in May 2026 with a Master's in Divinity with an emphasis in mindfulness coaching. I will also be completing a sacred activism and embodiment yoga teacher training through Courageous Space Yoga this upcoming June!
I am passionate about helping others reconnect (or more deeply connect) with spiritual ancestry in hopes of bridging their spiritual and activist values to create their own unique relationship with sacred activism. In my free time, I enjoy visiting museums, traveling, going on walks, making candles, and reading tarot.
During my time as UUMFE's Movement Chaplain Intern, I hope to support the community through 1:1 and group sessions on social justice, holding vigils, contributing to the monthly newsletter, facilitating grief and healing circles, and supporting any other needs that arise.
It is increasingly clear that there is an emotional and spiritual cost of participating in the enduring work for justice. The climate crisis, in particular, creates grief, fear and anxiety. Movement chaplaincy offers the opportunity to debrief, process and restore after an event. Simply put, Justice Movement Chaplaincy provides spiritual and emotional support to people who are engaged in justice work.Click here to read more about UUMFE's commitment to Movement Chaplaincy.
All members of the UUMFE community are welcome to schedule a 1:1 movement chaplaincy session, or a series of sessions, with Chelsea. Her email address for scheduling is:chelsea@uumfe.org.
In addition, all are invited to attend an MLK Day Vigil on Monday, January 19th, 5pm PT / 8pm ET. This vigil will be co-facilitated by UUMFE Acting Director, Rev. Lauren Levwood, and Movement Chaplain Intern, Chelsea McCoy. To fully participate in the ritual portion of our vigil, please bring: a container of salt, a bowl of water, and fresh or dried flowers. You are also encouraged to bring comfort items such as warm tea, a cozy blanket, or tissues. More info below.
All are invited to attend an MLK Day Vigil on Monday, January 19th, 5pm PT / 8pm ET. This vigil will be co-facilitated by UUMFE Acting Director, Rev. Lauren Levwood, and Movement Chaplain Intern, Chelsea McCoy. To fully participate in the ritual portion of our vigil, please bring: a container of salt, a bowl of water, and fresh or dried flowers. You are also encouraged to bring comfort items such as warm tea, a cozy blanket, or tissues.
Our next discussion will take place on the evening of January 27th, and will focus on the book's fourth section, “Follow the Money”. You only need to register once to attend all remaining sessions. Click here to print a poster for your congregation’s bulletin board.
This section includes contributions from organizations who are partners with UUMFE in the intersectional work of climate justice in Unitarian Universalism or interfaith work, such as the UU Climate Justice Coalition.
Side With Love (UUA)
Spiritual Practices for Challenging Moments
There are many challenging moments in our justice work—there is no way around that. What we can do is bring our spiritual and religious wisdom—the words, songs, prayers, embodied practices and more that strengthen us to the day to day work of justice.
We're grateful to share this collection of Spiritual Practices for Challenging Moments. If you're needing a space to strengthen your spirit for solidarity in this moment, we invite you to check out these practices, reflections, and other resources that may be of use in bringing your spiritual muscles to the challenges we face in justice work.
The annual Celebration is a time for our Active Green Sanctuary Teams to come together to share what they’re working on. It’s a fast-paced, inspirational review of all the good work our congregations are doing. Come to learn how UUs are transforming our congregations through climate justice or share what your congregation is working on in your GS2030 ministry. Join the fun! --- Come together for shared learning and mutual supports with other UUs transforming our congregations through climate justice.
Creating Climate Justice is not just for adults! Our Green Sanctuary activities can engage with our children and youth programs, and those programs can also shape our Green Sanctuary work. Come learn from Julie Rigano, Director of Family Ministry at the UU Church at Washington Crossing in New Jersey, who will share her experiences on how the GS work with children and youth, especially the Climate Justice Revival materials, has enhanced programming for all. Let’s Reimagine Together not only our future but how we get there together. Come together for shared learning and mutual supports with other UUs transforming our congregations through climate justice.
A new year has begun — a time for renewal, recommitment, and courageous action. Our world needs moral leadership more than ever, and our faith calls us to meet this moment with purpose and hope.
The Covenant for Our Future is that call — a multi-faith campaign to lift up the values of care, welcome, protection, and justice that lie at the heart of our traditions and our shared humanity.
While a few meetings have passed, GreenFaith USA is still looking for 100 faith leaders across the country to preach, pray, and host conversations launching this vision of moral courage and community healing in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK) Weekend.
This section includes events and news UUMFE wants to share from the greater climate justice advocacy community.
Our Children's Trust
Montana Youth Return to State Supreme Court to Enforce Their Historic Win
On December 10, 2025, Our Children’s Trust filed a new case, Held v. Montana II, on behalf of thirteen youth from Montana, all of whom were plaintiffs in Held v. State of Montana. The youth are filing a petition for original jurisdiction with the Montana Supreme Court to enforce their prior victory and ensure the state complies with its affirmative constitutional obligations.
Held established, with uncontested factual findings, that these very plaintiffs are being harmed by climate change and fossil fuel pollution today, and that every additional ton of greenhouse gas pollution makes their injuries worse.
On December 1, 2025, Our Children’s Trust, in partnership with Deiss Law, filed Roberts v. Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining on behalf of ten Utah youth to protect their fundamental rights to life, health, and safety. The plaintiffs argue that fossil fuel permits issued for coal, oil, and gas development are unnecessary, costly and causing them harm by worsening air quality and taking years off their lives. Utah has some of the worst air quality in the United States because of fossil fuel pollution.
Visions of Climate Futures: An Evening with Ayana Elizabeth Johnson in Conversation with Leah Penniman
Last month, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Leah Penniman, and Reggie Harris blended their unique wisdom and presence for an evening of awe and collective inspiration. Those of us in live attendance were gifted their honesty, joy, and visions of possibility.
The tapestry they wove was framed by the questions and consideration of BTSC staff Rev. Nicole Diroff and Madeline Bugeau-Heartt and environmental educator/activist Sue Inches.
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