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"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." Dear friend, How does this quote from the legendary John Lewis resonate with you today? For me, it is a powerful and helpful reminder. Optimism is not my default. Last month, I decided it was time for me to “tap out” and take a mini-sabbatical. I realized that my spiritual resilience was struggling, and I wasn’t ready to get into the good trouble of this revolutionary summer. So I spent two weeks in a very sacred place, at the base of the Sangre de Cristo mountains of lower Colorado. And friends, let me tell you, it was restorative! Nature has so much to teach us about rhythm and resilience, and changes that span many generations. “Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime” As I prepare for a very packed Fall season of UU community mobilization for collective liberation and Earth Justice, I am so grateful for these lessons and for the ancestors and elders who have helped us get to where we are today. Times are tough, but together we are strong enough to weather the coming storms. I hope that you enjoy the offerings from UU Ministry for Earth listed in the newsletter below, and I also want to lift up a phenomenal offering from colleagues at UUA & UUSC: “Taking A Collective Breath: Deepening our alignment to the movement for Black Lives” --- a 5-webinar intersectional series that begins tonight, Aug. 11th at 4 pm PT / 5 MT/ 6 CT / 7 ET. At the end of this newsletter is a prayer that I wrote while in Colorado. You are welcome to use it for any context!
ACTIVATION
Take Action: Thank Your Mayor For Climate Leadership Think global, act local: make a difference with the Strengthening Local Climate Commitments campaign! 198 Mayors just released a letter calling on Congress to take bold action for climate, racial and health justice. Send an email to thank your mayor for their leadership, or join the campaign and get your mayor on board. Climate Activists Need Your Help in Unlocking a Challenge Grant Help double the impact of a donation to UUMFE today. A Challenge Grant has been offered to help convene identity- and role-based communities united around the call to Create Climate Justice. The ‘challenge’ is that monies offered must be matched. With the first $2,500 in new donations, you can help activate this opportunity to strengthen and transform UU climate justice ministries for UU youth & young adult activists, UUs of color, UU ministers & seminarians, & UU teachers & religious educators. Donate HERE to help empower activists for climate justice. EDUCATION
Harvesting Lessons for a Just Transition Over the past eight weeks, UUs have been listening, learning and reflecting together on the deep wisdom of Movement Generation’s Course Correction: Just Transition in an Age of Covid-19. In between the sessions, UUs also gathered to discuss what the material means for participants’ local communities and UU climate organizing. Check out these key takeaways from the discussion group, and watch, read or listen to the recorded sessions. CONNECTIONPeople of the Land: Healing From the White Supremacy & Colonization Pandemic Join this conversation with the Esto’k Gna (Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas) about the pandemic of racism, and explore the difference between ceremony and lifeways. This series is a project of UUSC, Texas UU Justice Ministry (TXUUJM), & UUMFE. UU Young Adults for Climate Justice Network (UUYACJ) Updates: Update your e-address books: the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice Network just got a bit of an online makeover. Once housed in an independent website, you can now find past and current young adult stories through Ministry for Earth’s blog archives. INSPIRATIONThe Condor & The Eagle has subtitles! UU Ministry for Earth is thrilled to announce that closed captioning is now available for all future online film screening events of The Condor & The Eagle. This option, along with a Spanish subtitle option, will automatically be included for all future online screening events. Register for an upcoming event or sign up to be a co-host with your congregation. High Desert Pine Great Spirit,
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