#uusc

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Prayers and Action for Ukraine

Below is a post written by my Unitarian Universalist colleagues Rev. Alex McGee, Rev. Shari Woodbury and Rev Roger Bertschausen.  Thank you for pushing us from prayers to action.

Did you know that the Carpathian mountain range in Ukraine continues on into the Transylvanian region?  These very same mountains were the site of a 2018 gathering when the three of us and six other UU ministers from North America gathered with colleagues in Transylvania for retreat and partnership building.… just a half day’s drive from the Ukrainian border.  On our way to the retreat we saw military bases, operated by other nations, which might be used in case of a conflict in with Russia.

We are writing this letter to encourage you as congregational and community leaders to educate fellow Unitarian Universalists about the impact of the current war.  Many people are wondering what they can do.  Here are some suggestions from a Ukrainian friend of Alex: ask your politicians for sanctions; ask NATO to give military protection from the sky; support charity through Caritas Ukraine (https://www.facebook.com/caritasukraine).

People in Eastern Europe have for centuries been subject to wars made by others, as empires battle over their rich mountainous mineral resources and agricultural fertility.  Generations carry in their bodies the fear and disempowerment of cultural loss and political violence.  Let us never forget the many subcultures within a culture—one example are the Hungarian people, many of whom are also Unitarian.  This current war is trauma upon trauma.  And let us never forget the vulnerable people in any population: the elderly, the infirm, children, those already marginalized, those who have trouble making their voice heard.  We suggest that you and your congregations follow insights from our own UU Service Committee: www.uusc.org and reach out to partner churches in Transylvania.

As people of faith, we may risk leaning too much on prayer at the expense of action.  Today a Ukrainian theologian sagely observed: “The Pope prays for Ukraine, while Russia preys on Ukraine.” Let us remember to also be agents of action in the world, guided by sacred wisdom.

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Non-Sectarian Holiday Greetings to All!

A 1965 holiday card from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, designed by M. Wheaton Crane.

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December twenty-fourth, The Flaming Chalice (1965). The Unitarian Service Committee adopted the flaming chalice as their logo in 1941. Years later, in 1965, at the West Shore Church in Cleveland, Ohio, the youth led a Christmas service opened by ritually lighting a chalice. This is the first time the chalice was used in this way except for in children's classes and youth gatherings where the practice began. —the Rev. R. Y. Roberts

Read more about the history of the flaming chalice from UU World.

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Happy International Archives Day!

On this year’s theme of “Archives, Citizenship, and Interculturalism”, we offer some images from our Unitarian Universalist Service Committee collections. 

From the UUSC’s website: “The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is a nonsectarian human rights organization powered by grassroots collaboration. We work anywhere rights are threatened – by natural disasters, armed conflicts, genocide, forced migration, and systematic injustice.”

The images above represent the UUSC’s work in Europe during WWII in aiding displaced people, their partnership with the Awo Omamma village in Nigeria, and their help in spreading Archbishop Oscar Romero’s message of human rights violations in El Salvador.

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Welcome Home, Dot!

Dorothea Bowditch Jones started working with the Unitarian Service Committee in May 1945. She was in charge of the United States medical mission to Poland, setting up a new hospital and even personally escorting two freight cars with medical supplies across Germany into Warsaw. When she arrived in Poland, she brought with her supplies as varied as food and clothing, 3,000 sets of false teeth (!), and art supplies sent by Harvard Art students to their Polish counterparts. The photo above shows Jones upon her return to America in 1947.

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Declaration of conscience

A joint statement from the leadership of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, issued January 18, 2017:

At this extraordinary time in our nation’s history, we are called to affirm our profound commitment to the fundamental principles of justice, equity and compassion, to truth and core values of American society.

In the face of looming threats to immigrants, Muslims, people of color, and the LGBTQ community and the rise of hate speech, harassment and hate crimes, we affirm our belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

In opposition to any steps to undermine the right of every citizen to vote or to turn back advances in access to health care and reproductive rights, we affirm our commitment to justice and compassion in human relations.

And against actions to weaken or eliminate initiatives to address the threat of climate change—actions that would threaten not only our country but the entire planet – we affirm our unyielding commitment to protect the interdependent web of all existence.

We will oppose any and all unjust government actions to deport, register, discriminate, or despoil.

As people of conscience, we declare our commitment to translate our values into action as we stand on the side of love with the most vulnerable among us.

We welcome and invite all to join in this commitment for justice.  

The time is now.

Add your name to the Declaration of Conscience.

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Be Our Guest: Social Justice Activity (UUA Toolbox of Faith RE Curriculum)

Discussion Resources: UU Principles, Toolbox of Faith Tools

The 7 Principles:

We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We believe each and every person is important.

We believe in justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly.

We believe in acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together.

We believe in a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.

We believe in the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them.

We believe in the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.

We believe in respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.

Toolbox of Faith Tools:

Faith (Toolbox and Ruler)

Questioning (Magnifying Glass)

Integrity (Compass)

Flexibility (Duct Tape)

Reflection (Mirror)

Expression (Paintbrush)

Democratic Process (Chalk)

Power (Hammer)

Spirit Of Life (Canteen)

Courage And Conviction (Saddlebags)

Listening (Stethoscope)

Humor (Sandpaper)

Love (Gloves)

Justice (Flashlight)

Atonement (Level)

Resiliency (Hard Hat)

Activity Resources: Craft Supplies, Flyer

Craft Supplies:

3x3x3-inch paper boxes (flat), or similar

markers, colored paper, scissors, stencils, glue, gems, colored tissue paper (will need paintbrushes and glue water), etc.

Guest at Your Table Informational Flyer:

Find most current version here at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) website

Discuss: What is the Guest at Your Table program? Why is it called Guest at Your Table? How does it relate to our UU principles?

The Guest at Your Table program is a program of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee that UUs all over participate in. It started in 1975 and is still going strong today. The idea is that you keep a small box or container on your dining table (or nearby), and every night when you eat dinner, you put a small amount of money - pennies, even - into the box, like it’s a guest and the money is food. Then, once a year, the UUSC collects all the money that’s been saved in these boxes and uses it to fund social justice action and advocacy.

The UUSC chooses a new theme every year. The 2017-2018 theme is Small Change is Big Change.

Discuss: What does Small Change is Big Change mean? How does this relate to our UU principles? Do any of the tools we’ve learned about apply?

Reflection: How are small actions important?

“One raindrop raises the sea.” ― James Gurney

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” ― Edward Everett Hale

“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?” ― John E. Lewis

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ― Mother Teresa

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead

Discussion/Reflection (Optional): When is it appropriate to NOT take a specific kind of action? What are the additional factors you might need to consider?

Will taking that specific action put you in danger of some kind or harm you in some way? Will it put someone ELSE in danger or harm them? (some possible types of danger/harm: physical, emotional, financial, etc.)

Is there a less dangerous way to do something similar?

What’s the difference between being in danger/harmed and being inconvenienced or made uncomfortable? Is it always easy to tell the difference?

Is the action important enough that it outweighs the danger or discomfort?

Activity: Guest-at-Your-Table Boxes

Instead of using the official UUSC boxes, the kids will be given 3x3x3 inch paper boxes (flat) to decorate and put together. Teachers will need to assist with making an entry slot for donations to go through.

Kids should be encouraged to decorate the boxes however they’d like, although possibly reminded that they should be dinner-table-appropriate and as such possibly should not include say, depictions of blood and death.

The idea is that this box would be a more long-term guest at their table than one of the UUSC boxes and would be more integrated into their daily life and encourage a regular practice of giving (at one’s level of ability).

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Native American Heritage Month

Offering a small glimpse into Navajo life in New Mexico in the 1950s, these photos are just a few from our Unitarian Service Committee collections. For more photos of the Navajo, check out some of our previous posts here. Happy Native American Heritage Month!