[SRCAction] Social Justice at UCM

[Ansel Ploog]

Happy New Year, Social Justice advocates!


*The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice*


It can feel a little like we are swinging too wide and too wild on the arc
of justice. Sometimes I wonder if we are going to fly off completely. Then,
love grounds me, again.


*Ongoing and Upcoming Events and Opportunities*


*UCM Warming Shelter **- *On Thursday evenings from 5:00pm until 8:00pm as
a warming shelter for homeless community members. Those willing to
volunteer can sign up to bring food and or participate in setup, assisting
guests, and cleanup. Setup will begin at 4:30pm and will include setting up
tables and chairs, making coffee, and setting out plates and utensils. The
shelter will be open from December through early April. UCM contact: Peter
Thoms
*https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0549a9ad29a4fb6-thursday*
<https://ucmvt.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=40d52449ed4f4a7f7c42bb657&id=85c4688b79&e=92ba8d7e33>

*UCM Community Lunch – Mondays*

Volunteer: http://signup.com/go/FG1SJm

UCM Contact: Emily Seifert : *ucm.communitylunch at gmail.com*
<ucm.communitylunch at gmail.com>


*Montpelier Food Pantry* – Leave donations at UCM on Sundays. Needed items:
ravioli, pasta Sauce, progresso soups, fruit/applesauce, toilet paper,
toothpaste, shampoo.


*SPUDS Projects– *Monthly. UCM Contact: Nancy Schulz:
*saddleshoes2 at gmail.com* <saddleshoes2 at gmail.com>



*Monday, Jan 15:*

After Community Lunch: (1-4PM) AmeriCorps MLK Day of Service and Community
Dialogue

*Sat. Feb. 9th*

*White Privilege & Critical Humility Workshop*

*9:30am - 3:30pm*


*Feb. 16th and 23rd*

*Active Listening Workshop*

*11am - 1:30pm*



In December, some of us at church had the privilege to hear Elsa Englstrom
speak about her work with No Más Muertes (No More Deaths) in Arizona. No
More Deaths distributes water and other life-saving supplies in the West
Desert, a particularly dangerous migrant corridor on the US-Mexico border.
The humanitarian aid that No More Deaths has provided since 2004 has become
increasingly criminalized under the current US administration, leading to
arrests of volunteers (charges include “felony harboring”). The
organization also provides free legal services, medical aid and support for
the borderlands community, as well as documenting US border patrol abuse.
No More Deaths operates as one of the only humanitarian aid organizations
on the US-Mexico border and is a mission of the UU Church of Tucson.

For More Information:

www.nomoredeaths.org


“*We Are Not the Resistance” *Michelle Alexander

Although “Resist!” has become a rallying cry recently, this author argues
that recent regressive policies are themselves the resistance to a country
that is becoming more free and fair. In no way meant to diminish the harm
that these policies cause, this article offers a vision of the future that
is less… apocalyptic (which is how it looks to me on really bad days).

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/21/opinion/sunday/resistance-kavanaugh-trump-protest.html


*Take care of each other **& Take care of yourself*

I feel like a real Millennial by extolling the benefits of “self-care” but
it’s part of our spiritual practice to tend to our inner flames while we
work toward justice and self-determination for all people. If that means
bubble baths to calm our nerves, let the *gift* of hot, clean water
rejuvenate us!


Social Responsibility Meetings

In the remaining meetings of this church year, I hope that we will continue
to share our social justice work, feed our enthusiasm and explore the ways
we are called to participate.


Join us at 12:15 in the Fireplace room on:

Jan 27

Feb 24

Mar 24

April 28

May 26


Thanks and Peace,

Ansel Ploog
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