UU/BeLovedVillage Project

Oct 14, 2022 | Featured, Justice Ministry

As part of our congregation’s ongoing support of BeLoved Asheville— a local nonprofit focused on lifting up fellow community members most in need — we are providing UU volunteer opportunities to help BeLoved build small homes for our neighbors who otherwise cannot afford “affordable housing.” The BeLoved Village project is an innovative way to enable people earning approximately 30% of area median income (AMI) afford a home while building equity and community—so needed here in the Asheville area where rental rates are the highest in the state. Regardless of skills or experience, there are ways for everyone—adults and youth—to contribute their time and energy to this vital community project. For more information and to sign up as a volunteer, contact Jim Gamble.

Another project UU has initiated with BeLoved is the Pantry Project. UU congregants and friends have been supplying and filling our pantry on Charlotte Street every day since December. If you would like to know more, contact Anita Feldman. 

Exploring Spiritual Leadership for Cultural Change

Oct 12, 2022 | Weekly Message

During the last year, I have been participating in conversations with UU lay leaders and ministers from the New England Region about spiritual leadership for cultural change. These conversations have been challenging and inspiring as I witness what happens when congregants see themselves as leaders. It isn’t just ministers or staff who lead, each member of the community has potential to contribute as leaders in different capacities in the ministries of the congregation. Spiritual leadership, according to facilitator Meck Groot, involves the following practices:
1. Centering gifts: We all have gifts. Leaders are called to acknowledge, receive and uplift these gifts in our community. This helps reframe our understanding of wealth and abundance while moving away from a scarcity mindset.

  1. Doing the inner work: Leaders work to support staff and volunteers to create and sustain community that supports healing and nurtures resilience as we process our own journeys. The community reminds us that no matter our journey, we belong to each other as equals.
  2. Tending our tradition: Leaders support bringing forth the gifts of our tradition with awareness of the importance of acknowledging and working for reparation for current and past harms. Our faith is not static. We are continually evolving in what it means to be UUs as the world we live in also evolves (sometimes it may seem like it is devolving!). Working toward adopting the 8th Principle and understanding why it matters is a way of tending to our tradition. Join us for worship October 23 to learn more about the 8th Principle and participate in the Sermon Reflection Circle after the service.
  3. Covenanting: Leaders promote the covenanting and re-covenanting process in the work and life of the congregation. Covenanting involves not only behavioral agreements but also agreements about what is needed for community to thrive, learn and take risks together. Covenanting is a practice, not a product. We not only make commitments to each other in community. We also make commitments to the Earth, justice, future generations and the other congregations with whom we covenant to affirm and promote our principles.
  4. Faithful risk taking: Leaders collaboratively discern when to take risks for justice and love that move the community beyond their comfort zone or need for certainty and perfection. Ha! I wonder when those occasions might arise for us.

These are just the basics that I hope generate curiosity as we continue to explore our hopes for this community and its new settled minister. I wonder which of these practices we would like to see more of in our current leadership (myself included) and a future settled minister. I also wonder how these practices can support the work of our Justice Ministry Council which has been tapped to hold the board and congregation accountable for implementing the recommendations brought forth by the Racial Justice Advisory Council to support our goal of being a radically welcoming, anti-racist congregation.  Lastly, I wonder if these practices resonate with you. What intrigues you? What is missing? I’d welcome an opportunity to hear your thoughts.

Rev. Claudia, Minister of Faith Development

 

Justice Ministry Events & News, October 12

Oct 11, 2022 | Justice Ministry

Reaching Out to Those Affected by Hurricane Ian: Donate to the UUA’s Disaster Relief Fund

From Our Partners UU Justice Ministry NC
FRIDAY ACTION HOUR: October 14, 11am
Moore vs. Harper Presentation with Common Cause NC –  The next major challenge to American democracy comes from North Carolina. Experts say an extreme interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court in North Carolina’s Moore v. Harper redistricting case would make it even easier for state legislatures to suppress the vote, draw gerrymandered election districts, and subvert election results, among other concerns. This Friday, UU Justice NC is thrilled to welcome Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause NC to Friday Action Hour. As a lead plaintiff in the case, he will provide an in-depth look at what’s being argued by Republican lawmakers in December, its potential impacts on our elections, and what North Carolinians can do to fight back. Join us via this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/91029655107

Check Out the New UUJusticeNC.org! Our state-wide Justice Ministry – UU Justice NC is excited to announce the launch of their brand new website! There you will find the most up-to-date information about their current justice work and how you can get involved. You will also find information about the great work happening in UU congregations across the state. Visit the new site here! 

COMMUNITY PLATE PARTNER 
BeLoved Asheville created the first homeless/formerly homeless street medic team in the nation to help improve health and prevent premature death of the most vulnerable people in our community.  Trained by local medical professionals, team members learn how to perform health assessments and respond to emergency situations.  See how medic teams and health fairs provide hope and healing to those living on the streets of Asheville by clicking this link.  BeLoved Asheville

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE OPPORTUNITIES
Support the Carolina Abortion Fund which offers a confidential, toll free hotline providing financial, practical, and emotional support to callers in North and South Carolina trying to access abortion care.

MIDTERM ELECTIONS – OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION
Carolina Jews & UUs Faith in Action Phonebank in Partnership with the New North Carolina Project Foundation. Thursdays from 6:30 – 8:30 from September 15th through November 3rd. UU Justice NC is teaming up with Carolina Jews for Justice to co-host this weekly Get Out the Vote phone bank in the run up to the midterm elections. We’ll be calling voters of the Global Majority across North Carolina empowering and equipping them to Vote Love and Defeat Hate. Register Here

OTHER EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES:

Concerned about education in NC?
Watch this timely video produced August 29, and consider if this is an area of advocacy and engagement for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ihL90I5GE

BeLoved Pantry Needs YOUR Support
http://uuashevillecom.revaudettefulbright.com/uu-beloved-pantry-project/


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justice Ministry Film Night-Border South

Oct 11, 2022 | Featured

Friday, October 14, 7pm  Zoom Only
ABOUT THE FILM

Mexico and the United States crack down on the trails north, forcing immigrants into more dangerous territory. Told against the backdrop of the North American migrant trail, ‘Border South’ weaves together migrant stories of resilience and survival from different vantage points. The film exposes a global migration system that renders human beings invisible in life as well as death.

“Gut-wrenching intimacy…BORDER SOUTH personifies the statistics of failed U.S. immigration policy.”   Dr. Peter Laufer, Chair, Journalism, University of Oregon

 “Compassionate…Vivid…We receive the message strongly that these are ordinary people expected to do extraordinary things…This is skillful film-making, not to present the migrants as heroes, but just as people with mundane plans and dreams like the rest of us.”

Charlie Phillips, The Guardian

 Note: This film will be shown on Zoom Only.  If you intend to view the film on Zoom, send a request for the link to Charlie Wussow by Thursday, October 13th. 

There will be a discussion after the screening of the film                       runtime: 87 minutes

Justice Ministry Film Night       Friday, October 14th, 7 PM
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville
One Edwin Place, Asheville, NC 28801
There is no charge for viewing the film             Donations are welcome

Honoring Hispanic Heritage

Oct 9, 2022 | Sermons

Sunday, October 9, 2022  11am  In person & on YouTube
Dr. Edwin Murillo, Guest Speaker with special music by Chris Rosser
Dr. Edwin Murillo is an Associate Professor in the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. He received his doctorate in Romance Studies from the University of Miami.  Dr. Murillo is a second-generation US Hispanic and the first person in his family to attend college. His articles have appeared in Hispanófila, Crítica hispánica, and Hispanic Journal, among others. His poetry, written in Spanglish and Portuñol, has appeared in various international academic journals. His short-story collection Midnight Vallenato was published by Floricanto Press in 2019. His book Latin America and Existentialism is under contract with the University of Wales Press. At UTC, he teaches Spanish language, composition, and literature courses, as well as creative writing in Spanish. He loves music, travel,and the noise his daughters make in the morning.