If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online.
“In your words you have the weapons that could save us or sell us out. Do you have the political will to wield the right words?” - Brianna Fruean, Samoan climate justice campaigner at COP26, Photo by IISD/ENB
Dear Beloveds,
We at the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth greet you wherever you are today; let us take a deep breath together… exhale, and repeat.
We are in the second week of the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow. Political leaders are discussing potential reforms - and UUA credentialed delegates are there to apply pressure for “the advancement of human rights for those who are most affected by the climate crisis and unjust systems.”
The tensions evident at the conference can be dispiriting. Knowing this time carries joys and sorrows, UUMFE is committed to offering grounding moments and worship experiences in the weeks ahead.
Would you be interested to join one of the grounding moments upcoming?
On Thursday, November 18 at 4:30 PT / 5:30 MT / 6:30 CT / 7:30 ET, join Decolonizing Thanks Giving - a Virtual Worship Service, presented by many Indigenous Unitarian Universalists and relatives, the UU Ministry for Earth & Side With Love.
Now through November 30, 2021, sign up to bring the documentary film TheCondor and Eagle to your congregation, or just stream it anytime with your household, family and friends!
Save the Date: December 7, 2021, at 4 PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET, join Climate Crisis: Act Now, a special panel presented by UU Ministry for Earth, Fourth Universalist Church of New York, the UUA Office at the UN, and the New York Unitarian Universalist Justice.
On December 22, 2021 at 5 PT / 6 MT / 7 CT / 8 ET join us for a special Winter Solstice Service.
Whether this week’s United Nations climate negotiations bring good news or angering disappointments, we will be there to accompany one another.
As the mystic and social prophet Howard Thurman once beckoned, “Look to the Growing Edge.”
May our Unitarian Universalist communities recognize our interdependence and build beloved community.
In solidarity and faith,
Aly Tharp (they/them or she/her) & Daniel Lawlor (he/him)
Co-Directors, Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth
An appeal from Unitarian Universalist Young Adults for Climate Justice
“The UU Young Adults Divestment Caucus is still seeking people to sign their pledge, calling on Unitarian Universalism as a faith to divest from the financial institutions and corporations that fund violent fossil fuel projects. The UU Young Adults Divestment Caucus invite you to join in asking the UUCEF to make sure its investments reflect our UU values bysigning the pledge, which right now focuses on asking that the fund and UU congregations immediately divest from banks that fund and provide loans to fossil fuel companies,”
- Zoë Johnston, Network Coordinator, UU Young Adults for Climate Justice
Ground & Connect for the COP26 UN Climate Conference
To hear Indigenous activist Txai Surui's COP26 speech, clickhere. Photo by IISD/ENB
UU Ministry for Earth is partnering with the Unitarian Universalist Association Office at theUnitedNations on a series of online events to elevate the UN Climate Conference, COP26. Learn more here.
The delegates are just past the midway point of the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow (COP 26)...where do negotiations stand?
We are pleased to highlight this podcast from reporter Dr. Jennifer Allan, who is facilitating coverage for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
Recorded on Sunday, Dr. Allan offers a concise recap of where the negotiation issues stood to that point, what to expect from this second week of negotiations, and reflected on the overall mood at the venue as delegates attempt to enter a deeper round of negotiations. Listen to the Earth Negotiations Bulletin here.
Intrigued to learn more about what's happening at COP26 day to day?
You can watch hundreds of events at COP26 directly LIVE via the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website: Click here.
For further reading, check out the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) for balanced, timely, and independent reporting on United Nations environment and development negotiations.
To meet with other UUs interested about the latest events at COP26, you can join “The Daily Discussion,” a one hour conversation facilitated by Dr. William McPherson, UUMFE Board Member, and UU@UN Envoy at University Unitarian Church in Seattle, WA.
Join each day at 1pm PT/2pm MT/3pm CT/4pm ET on Zoom, now-Nov 14th. Register here.
Note: While COP26 is scheduled to end on Friday, Dr. McPherson will host daily sessions through Sunday to discuss the final conference outcomes and documents.
For the past three years, UU Ministry for Earth has partnered with the creators of the award-winning documentary, The Condor & The Eagle, as an executive producer, and host of over twenty community screenings, raising over $40,000 to support Indigenous-led Climate Justice efforts. The next two weeks are the final chapter of our work!
NOW through November 30th, you can stream the film online any time, and/or share the film with your community as a congregational or organizational co-host! A pre-recorded panel discussion will play immediately after the film credits, and co-hosts are welcome to organize their own community discussions to pair with the film as well.
Join Unitarian Universalist Young Adults for Climate Justice via Zoom
Tuesday, November 16th at 5:30pm PT/7:30pm MT/6:30pm CT/8:30pm ET 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. Join the monthly UUYACJ drop-in space.
You can register for the drop-in space here. If you (or someone you know!) would like to join UUYACJ or hear more about it, please email Zoë Johnston at uuyacj@uumfe.org.
Inviting all Unitarian Universalist Black, Indigenous, & People of Color to gather Wednesday, November 17, 7– 9:30pm ET/6-7:30pm CT/ 5-6:30pm MT/4-5:30pm PT.
We invite all UU BIPOC people to come gather to reflect on this moment of climate devastation, exchange our aspirations and learn how our UU values can strengthen our commitments.
The caucus is a space where the challenges of racism, and environmental and climate injustice may be lifted up, and where substantive conversations about such challenges can sustain and nourish our commitments.
Thank you for hosting Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth!
The Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg, photo by Rev. Ben Atherton-Zeman
A special thank you to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, in Manhasset, New York, San Marcos UU Fellowship in San Marcos, TX, Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg, Florida for hosting the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth as guest preachers! We'll join Bell Street Chapel in Providence, Rhode Island via Zoom on November 14th.
If you’re looking for a virtual guest preacher, let us know, and we might be able to help!
In recent years, Unitarian Universalists have made a commitment to reconsider cultural and colonial foundations, in counsel and relationship with First Nations and Indigenous communities. In that spirit, you are invited to join us inDecolonizing Thanks Giving, on Nov 18th at 4:30 PT / 5:30 MT / 6:30 CT / 7:30 ET, for a special virtual worship service intentionally crafted by centering Indigenous people and cultures. This service will be presented by many Indigenous Unitarian Universalists and relatives, UU Ministry for Earth, & Side With Love. Join us.
The Church of the Larger Fellowship discusses Climate Justice
UUMFE was recently honored to be (twice!) on the VUU (Voices of Unitarian Universalism), the podcast/talk show from Church of the Larger Fellowship.
On October 14th, Rev. Cindy Davidson (UUMFE Board Chair) Joshua Long (UUMFE Board Member) and Daniel Lawlor (UUMFE Co-Director) joined to discuss "Spiritual grounding to navigate the Climate Crisis."
On October 28th, Paula Cole Jones (Co-Chair of UU BIPOC on Climate Justice Caucus) and Aly Tharp (UUMFE Co-Director) joined to discuss "Uniting the 7th and 8th Principles."
These Pumpkin Muffinsare vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free, oil free and whole-foods, plant-based compliant! Not to mention, delicious.
GRATITUDE
To all who donate, volunteer or spread the word, thank you! Especially as we enter the end of year giving season and prepare for 2022, thank you for investing now in Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth.
.png){kind=logo}
