Dear beloveds,

I have been one among many mourning the loss of a beloved friend and mentor, Elandria Williams (E), our late co-moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association. 

I first met Elandria in 2016, when E was a trainer for a “Grounded Resilient Organizers Workshop (GROW)” climate justice program with the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice and UU College of Social Justice. 

I was also blessed to co-host a long-form, prophetic interview with Elandria about “Beautiful Solutions” for the Environmental Justice Practitioners Network webinar series in 2018, and to record a brief message from Elandria for an interfaith program this past Earth Day speaking to how we can move collectively with deep theological UU intention throughout this pandemic. 

I will carry Elandria’s love and message with me always, and I hope you might as well.  

We are in the midst of great grief and catastrophe, and yet the sun keeps rising (the tide feels like it’s turning??), and the light shines through. We are in this together, and we have work to do.

I am beyond thrilled about the programs on the horizon that you will learn more about in this newsletter below. I hope to see you there. I also hope you will make a gift today to help unlock a $2,500 matching grant to fund UU Ministry for Earth’s winter programs.

Thank you. I am sending you my love and deepest regards,

Aly Tharp
Program Director, UU Ministry for Earth
Create Climate Justice Initiative Manager, UUA Organizing Strategy Team

INSPIRATION

Stop Funding Tar Sands Day of Solidarity ups the pressure!

Momentum against tar sands pipelines, including Keystone XL, is heating up. UUMFE, along with other organizations, supported the Liberty Mutual campaign by signing onto a letter of support for the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association’s demands that the company stop insuring the Keystone XL pipeline immediately and meet with Indigenous leaders. Get inspired by global solidarity, and participate in the call to action.

ACTIVATION

Harvest the Power of our Community for Justice & Decolonization

The United States election in November is a major fork in the road and decision point for the future of humanity and Life on Earth. Are you ready? 

Unitarian Universalists are invited to harvest the power of community --- to converge and mobilize in a sprint of collective action and faith formation.   

This is a shared endeavor between UUMFE, UUA, Side with Love, UU the Vote, and other partners, weaving together all Unitarian Universalist justice ministries.

Ask Your Senators to Demand that EPA Address the Unjust Burden of Climate Change and Pollution on Frontline Communities
DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15th

This month, UUSJ’s Write Here! Write Now! letter writing campaign is calling for increased federal funding of environmental justice programs in the Environmental Protection Administration for Fiscal Year 2021. Frontline communities battle pollution from power plants and factories and suffer the most from increased floods, wildfires, and heatwaves caused by climate change. This often leads to increased health problems, including COVID-19, due to poor air and water quality, disproportionately impacting low- income communities. Write your own letter with the Online Action Alert.

EDUCATION

People of the Land: Healing From the White Supremacy & Colonization Pandemic

Session Four: Defend Yalui Village
Friday, October 16th - 4 pm PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET

Register HERE for one or more upcoming sessions.

Join the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, in a collaboration with UUMFE, UUA, UU Service Committee (UUSC), and the Texas UU Justice Ministry (TXUUJM), for a 90-minute session, held every third-Friday through December. This session will be a conversation about supporting efforts to defend the Yalui Village from Trump's border wall and oil and gas pipelines.

UNEP and the Parliament of the World’s Religions Launch New Book, Faith for Earth: A Call to Action

On October 8th the Parliament of the World's Religions Climate Action Program and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched the new book, Faith for Earth: A Call to Action. The online edition is available as a free download at the Parliament’s website and UNEP’s Faith for Earth website.

Get inspired to learn more about our planet, share your knowledge and commitment to care for it, and to become part of the flourishing global interfaith movement that is increasingly bringing people together to protect and sustain life on Earth. 

CONNECTION

The Condor and The Eagle Large Interfaith Screening with Special Guest Speakers

Thursday, November 19th
5:30-8pm PT / 6:30-9pm MT / 7:30-10pm CT/ 8:30-11pm ET

Co-hosted by UU Ministry for Earth, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Religions Initiative, and others.

Special guest speakers after the discussion include:

• Casey Camp-Horinek, film protagonist and Hereditary Drumkeeper of the Womens’ Scalp Dance Society of the Ponca Nation of Oklahoma
• Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr., Ihanktonwan Dakota and Chickasaw First Nations, and United Religions Initiative Trustee
• Other special guests are still pending confirmation.

(Suggested Donation $1-100 sliding scale; avg. $25)

SIGN UP TO CO-HOST WITH YOUR CONGREGATION / ORGANIZATION: HERE

All In for Climate Justice

Sunday, October 25

This month marks the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and the UUA Office at the United Nations is calling on congregations to mark the occasion with a UN Sunday program on the theme “All in for Climate Justice: People - Power - Planet.” Can your congregation preach about international unity for climate justice on October 25th? Follow the link below for more information & resources.

YOUNG ADULTS

All We Can Save Book Club 

Saturdays 10am PT / 11am MT / Noon CT / 1pm ET until December 12

Over the next 9 weeks, the UU Young Adults for Climate Justice Network will gather to discuss All We Can Save, a new anthology of writings from women climate leaders. This book is already making waves in the climate justice world as a call for a feminist approach to climate justice. All UU Young Adults (18-35 y.o) are welcome for any of the sessions. Sign up to join the next discussion, Saturday, October 17th at 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Bonus Recipe

1-Hour Pot Pies

The veggies scream fall: parsnips, carrots, potatoes, and kale. Yum.

Visit UU Ministry for Earth online at uumfe.org
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