Winter’s chill may surround us with its icy embrace, but within the frosty depths, we find solace and purpose. As the bitter cold tests our resilience, so too does it remind us of the warmth we carry within. In the unity of diversity, we find strength in our collective ability to endure and persevere through the harshest seasons.
Embrace the beauty of winter, not just as a season of cold and darkness, but as a time for introspection and renewal. In the stillness of snowfall and the crispness of the air, discover the inner flame that keeps us connected, compassionate, and resilient. Let the blistering cold be a reminder that even in the face of challenges, our shared humanity can bring warmth and light to the coldest of days.
UU Avl & UU Events Jan 25 – Curious Conversations: What is happening in Justice Ministry at UU Avl? Sandburg Hall, noon-1PM; bring a bagged lunch. Zoom conversation at 7PM. Contact Rev. Claudia for the Zoom link: faithdev@uuasheville.org Facilitators: Rev. Audette & Rev. Claudia
Jan 26 – UU Justice NC ZOOM Friday Action Hour, 11:00 AM; The Faithful Fight for Reproductive Rights. On the 51st Anniversary of Roe v Wade, people of faith (including many UUs!) turned out in big numbers for a rally and press conference in front of the State General Assembly. This event sent a loud and clear message that the majority of people of faith in North Carolina believe in the sacred right to bodily autonomy and reject the state’s agenda to control and criminalize birthing bodies. This Friday, we will join the chorus by calling our state and federal elected officials to demand reproductive rights for all. Join us via this Zoom link.
Jan 31 – UUSJ Event – Power to Heal Film Screening & Discussion with Producer Dr. Barbara Berney Power to Heal tells the story of a poignant chapter in the historic struggle to secure equal and adequate access to healthcare for all Americans. Central to the story is the tale of how a new national program, Medicare, was used to mount a dramatic, coordinated effort that desegregated thousands of hospitals across the country in a matter of months. The evening will also include a discussion about the current state of Medicare with policy guests Brittany Shannahan, Medicare-for-All Campaign Organizer with Public Citizen, and our very own Rebecca Cerese, Healthcare Advocate with the NC Justice Center. Register Here.
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Community Events & Beyond Jan 18 – “Build Power: Start a Democracy Circle” webinar offered by the Workers Circle and the Center for Common Ground, 7 pm. Get details and register here.
Jan 23 – “Reducing Youth Incarceration Rate” webinar offered by The Sentencing Project, 1 pm. Get details and register here.
Jan 23 – NC State & Local Tax Policy Webinar offered by the NC Budget & Tax Center, 7 pm. Register here for this virtual webinar led by director Alexandra Forter Sirota.
Jan 25 – “Reimagining with Energy Democracy,” offered by the Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, 6 pm. Get details and register here.
Planning Ahead Feb 2 & 3 – Creation Care Alliance is offering a symposium. Get details and register here.
Feb 9 – Justice Film: Unspoken. 7PM, Sandburg Hall. If you wish to view the film on Zoom, request a link from Charlie Wussow at mnpopi@icloud.com.
March 2 – Save the Date for the “Moral March on Raleigh” from the NC Poor People’s Campaign. Get details from this release.
UNSPOKEN explores the racial divide in America, through the experiences of one small southern town.
Monroe, Georgia resident and filmmaker Stephanie Calabrese offers an insider’s perspective and an intimate journey that digs deep into the roots of this divide entrenched by the 1946 Moores Ford Lynching, the last mass lynching in the U.S., and its ongoing impact on the community. The film uncovers buried truths and sheds light on the secrecy that still surrounds this tragic event and the continued pursuit of justice, as well as the ongoing impact of segregation and the integration of schools and society in Monroe, Georgia. By bringing these issues to the surface, UNSPOKEN aims to inspire dialog focused on race relations, divisions, and opportunities for reconciliation in hometowns across America.
“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”
— DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (1959)
Note: This film will be shown in person in Sandburg Hall and on Zoom.
If you wish to view the film on Zoom, request a link from Charlie Wussow at mnpopi@icloud.com. Due to technical limitations, there will be separate in person and Zoom discussions. Trailer |Runtime 78 min
Justice Ministry Film Night Friday, February 9th, 7 PM Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville One Edwin Place, Asheville, NC 28801
Groundhogs. Robins. The swallows of Capistrano. All around us, nature tells us stories of how to find our rhythm in the world. You have a story, too! Join us Wed., Feb. 7th at 6 pm for a warm meal and after for a playful time of reflection & connection at our monthly Vespers service, with Rev. Audette. Please RSVP.
Between October 4, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024, the congregation undertook a process of first identifying areas of justice concerns and then voting on top priority areas, for the purpose of focusing efforts, energy and attention over the next two years. This focus is intended to help guide the Ministers and the congregation in developing new and meaningful involvement in the priority areas among the larger congregation and in the Asheville community. As you will see below, this focus is in addition to the core congregational justice commitments already established previously by work, votes, and UUA recognition.
Members of the congregation were invited, in person and then via online opportunities, to suggest justice priority areas throughout October and early November. In November, members were then invited in person to vote for their top three priorities, and throughout November and December, there were opportunities to vote online from the list of over 21 priority areas.
The results!
Voting Rights & Reproductive Rights tied for first place, and Climate Justice received the next highest number of votes. These areas will be where we focus internal and community-facing effort through education, action, and expanding resources. We hope to become community leaders in this work.
The above are our areas of focus within this specific context: Core to our identity as a congregation is the fact that we are a Welcoming Congregation, affirming the worth and dignity of every person, which includes our LGBQA+, intersex & trans beloveds whose safety and civil rights we are fully committed to and as an 8th Principle Congregation, which means we understand that efforts to root out oppression and racism in ourselves, our congregation, and in the world around us is ongoing and foundational to our purpose. We strive for collective liberation! It is also worth noting that UU Asheville has also been certified as a Green Sanctuary congregation, confirming our ongoing commitment in the journey toward a just and abundantly healthy future for all living beings. This means that we will continue with full programs, ongoing education and meaningful actions to live into our commitments to these core congregational values.
There are other ongoing efforts and work toward justice being done by beloveds at UU Asheville, and this work will continue. Every member and friend is encouraged to participate in the work that can change the world; it is core to our Unitarian Universalist faith to love and serve justice. This time of reflection and feedback allows your Ministers and lay leaders to better understand where the energy and interest of the larger congregational community is right now, so we can focus our leadership and resources more effectively, and hopefully have higher participation and wider impact as we work toward collective liberation.
Rev. Audette and Rev. Claudia will host “Curious Conversations” at noon, Jan 25, in Sandburg Hall (bring a bagged lunch) to discuss Justice Ministry at UU Asheville and your questions and wonderings about the priorities. There will also be a 7PM Zoom conversation that evening. Contact Rev. Claudia for the Zoom link.Libertad y Amor!
Winter’s chill may surround us with its icy embrace, but within the frosty depths, we find solace and purpose. As the bitter cold tests our resilience, so too does it remind us of the warmth we carry within. In the unity of diversity, we find strength in our collective ability to endure and persevere through the harshest seasons.
