If you are interested in racial justice and equity, the Western North Carolina Racial Equity Collective is hosting several virtual REI (Racial Equity Institute) workshops heading into the new year. Go to the following links to register and/or express interest: REI Phase 1 Workshop- Friday & Saturday, Feb. 3 – 4, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Three additional REI Phase 1 Workshops are being planned. Get details and express your interest by completing this form.
The Racial Justice Coalition has created a new webpage on its website that highlights two of its projects. Go here for an overview, but for specifics for each, go to the links for Every Black Voice and the Government Accountability Project. Each is open for people to support and join.
For nearly three years, our partners at UU Justice Ministry of NC have offered weekly Action Hours on Friday mornings. These hours address social justice issues impacting our state and country. Along the way, they have deepened relationships, grown as social justice organizers, and had a lot of fun! The organizer, Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, offers a Friday Action Hour Weekly Email that includes a promo of the week’s actions, the Zoom link and the link to their Actions Google Doc. For those interested, click here to sign up!
Learning Corner: Listen to Rev. Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Sunday, January 22, 2023 11am Rev. Claudia Jimenez, Minister of Faith Development This month as we explore the the path of finding our center you are invited to consider the spiritual practice of prayer. What does prayer mean to you? Is it a “UU practice”?
You are a ray of sun. Together, our community brings rays of sunshine into our walls and beyond into the Asheville community. These rays look different for each of us. They are composed of the time, talent, and treasures you choose to share.
One of the most precious gifts we can give to others is our time. The ray of time shines because of you and the time you generously give. You carve time out of your day to listen to others, to lend a helping hand, and you volunteer in the smallest and biggest of ways. You are a ray of time.
So many of you graciously share your talents. Your talents are the ray of light that lead us, entertain us, sustain us, inspire us, support us and challenge us to grow in supportive ways. You are a ray of talent.
If you went on a treasure hunt throughout this congregation, we would find you, sharing the treasures of gratitude, care, a heart yearning for equity, gifts of both monetary and sentimental value, and our core values of connection, inspiration, compassion, and justice. You are a ray of treasure that glistens, shimmers, and shines.
Together, you, and your time, talent, and treasures, are the energy sources that generate our sunshine and allow our rays to shine within our walls and beyond. Let this new year be a reminder of how much you shine and how appreciative we are of you, in all the many ways you share your time, talents, and treasures.
I invite you all to lean into the many ways we give of our time, talents, and treasures throughout the year. In this new year, we begin our year of giving with giving gratitude to all our volunteers. In our last e-news we announced that Appreciation Ave is coming soon to Sandburg Hall! Appreciation Ave is dedicated to celebrating our Awesome Volunteer Energy! Look for the Ave in the coming weeks and start thinking about our Awesome Volunteer Energy. On the AVE you’ll be able to add to the scene your appreciation, shout-outs, kudos, and thanks to our UU Asheville volunteers who have been moved to share their love through their service to the congregation. If you’d like to acknowledge one of our awesome volunteers, and you’re not able to be here to add your appreciation to the Ave, send us an email and we’ll add it on your behalf.
I also invite you to explore our current volunteer opportunities. Volunteering your time is a much-needed ray of sun to the congregation and allows you to connect with others and engage in meaningful work. If the spirit moves you, please consider volunteering. Visit our volunteersign up form where you’ll learn about current volunteer opportunities and how you can help.
We are truly blessed that this congregation is so bright.
NC House Speaker Tim Moore wants to make House Rules Change to Override Vetoes without notice. The NC House rules have previously required advance notice that votes will take place to ensure all representatives are on the floor for crucial decisions. Speaker Moore wants to eliminate this window so that he can override Governor Cooper’s vetoes swiftly and without a democratic process. If Moore gets his way, crucial issues on personal freedoms and individual rights could be voted on without every representative present. (Action talking points created by DownHome NC)
– Hi my name is _____, I live in ____ and I am a person of faith.
– I am calling to express my deep anger and disappointment that Speaker Moore is attempting to change the NC House rules so that he can unilaterally and without warning call a veto override vote.
– This rule change undermines the functionality of our legislature and is a disservice to the people of our state. It is both juvenile and unethical that he is seeking the power to call a vote when a representative goes to the bathroom, is sick, or has a family emergency.
– North Carolinians deserve a transparent and accountable legislature where all of our representatives have a fair chance to represent us.
Sunday, January 15, 2023 11am
Rev. Claudia Jimenez, Minister of Faith Development and
Kim Collins, Religious Educator
Join us for an embodied, joyful thought provoking All Ages Service honoring the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He said “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” How does Dr. King’s message and example inform the work of co-creating the Beloved Community? It is not enough to celebrate his legacy, we honor him through our actions.
You are a ray of sun. Together, our community brings rays of sunshine into our walls and beyond into the Asheville community. These rays look different for each of us. They are composed of the time, talent, and treasures you choose to share.