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UU Ministry for Earth

"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."
-John Lewis

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!  


In faith and solidarity,
Aly Tharp
UUMFE Program Director

 

 

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


Artist Credit: Ricardo Levins Morales

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.

CONNECTION

People of the Land: Healing From the White Supremacy & Colonization Pandemic
SESSION TWO: Honoring Lifeways
Friday, August 21st - 4 pm PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET

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:
Book Club: Sunday, August 30 - Time TBD
The Young Adults Book Club is back! Gather with fellow UU Young Adults (~18-35 years old) to discuss Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, and explore what this classic science fiction novel means for climate justice. Save the date for this month’s session and sign up for future book clubs! 

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. 

INSPIRATION

The 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
by Aly Tharp

Great Spirit, 
Help me feel the power and patience of a high desert pine, 
with roots nested in the sands on an ancient glacier’s final destination,
soaking in sunshine and soft breeze as the hummingbirds wrestle 
and weave between its branches.
Help me to remember and carry that feeling -- of quiet, settled strength --
in my mind and in my spine as I move about this day, 
these months, 
and years to come.


Bonus Recipe

Watermelon Peach Salsa

Image and recipe source: Hot for Food

 


Visit UU Ministry for Earth online at uumfe.org
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