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A message from UUMFE staff
Happy November! As we move into the holiday season the UUMFE staff has a special message of thanks and partnership for you. Click the video above to watch. Thank you for your support of UUMFE.
You're Invited! Winter Solstice Celebration
Let’s celebrate sacred light! UU Ministry for Earth is excited to invite you and your communities to our third annual Solstice celebration.
Wednesday, December 20 at 4 pm PT/ 5 pm MT/ 6 pm CT/ 7 pm ET
The Winter Solstice occurs when Earth's axis tilts away from the sun, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere. Join UUMFE the evening BEFORE the Winter Solstice for music, reflection, meditation, and spiritual grounding.
On this longest night, we will be featuring the work of the Energy Democracy Project and sharing a portion of our offering with them. Let’s work for light for all on the longest night of the year. Our service is part of the larger arc of Clean Energy as a Human Right being led by Side with Love.
Each month, you and/or your congregation will receive a collection of materials focused on a different theme and filled with ways to help with your EMBODIMENT, EMPOWERMENT, & ENGAGEMENT in the face of environmental injustice. We hope you use these resources for worship, contemplative practice, and religious exploration in your congregation. You can find past issues here.
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 7PM - 8PM ET (Please note the Time Zone!)How do we honor Earth not just on Earth Day? How do we build worship services that are inclusive of not just humans, but the more-than-human world, too? Rev. Kelly Dignan from UU Ministry for Earth will offer resources and lead us to share ideas with each other! --- --- Come together for shared learning and mutual support with other UUs working on congregational transformation through climate justice on the third Wednesday of the month at 4PT - 5MT - 6 CT -7ET. Each meeting includes a short presentation on a climate justice topic, followed by open discussion on pressing needs.
LAST Weekly Meditation
November 16. 9:30 am ET/ 8:30 CT/ 7:30 MT/ 6:30 PT
Save the date for an online workshop on Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 7:00 pm ET, 6:00 CT, 5:00 MT, 4:00 PT
UUMFE’s annual Spring for Change begins with World Water Day and the Spring Equinox.
Earth Day is April 22, 2024. We will provide an expanded Monthly Musings with worship resources for April so congregations can celebrate all month long. It will include an Earth Day ritual, video clips of certain segments, and small group ministry discussion questions - all available February 1, 2024. What do you need? We’d love to hear your input for Earth Day worship materials. Complete this form. We hope you’ll share your plate with UUMFE for the month of April, 2024. The form allows you to indicate your willingness.
(This year, we will not be offering an online Earth Day worship service.)
International Biodiversity Day is May 22, 2024. Save that date for an online concert celebrating the more-than-human world. 7:00 pm ET, 6:00 CT, 5:00 MT, 4:00 PT. Your congregation can sponsor the concert. Email daniellawlor@uumfe.org.
UU Young Adults for Climate Justice will offer Movement Training Saturdays in April.
UUYACJ is hosting its third annual movement training workshop series! This workshop series seeks to support, resource, and empower young adults to act with courageous love. They offer organizing skills, collective knowledge, and sustainable care practices. It is open to all young adults (ages 18-35). These workshops will be happening every Saturday in April on Zoom. Each session will last for 90 minutes. Justice work asks so much of organizers and UUYACJ is grateful that we get to offer these free workshops as a gift in return. You can attend just one, or all of them!
More details to follow on UUMFE’s Spring for Change.
UUMFE is on Social Media!
Come socialize with us in a different way. Our social channels are a good way to get in-real time updates, and see links/photos/videos of what we've been up to. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Vimeo. See you there!
FB: https://www.facebook.com/uuministryforearth Insta: @uumfe Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user178821501 OR search UU Ministry for Earth
The UU Ministry for Earth is seeking new leaders for our Board! Will one of our new Board members be YOU?
If you have a deep and embodied commitment to uplifting the need to face and adapt to the climate crisis, counter environmental injustice, and support the flourishing of all lifeIf you feel drawn to support and contribute to the many offerings of the UU Ministry for Earth (www.uumfe.org), please reach out to the UUMFE Nominations Committee to share your strengths and desire to be part of our team. We are looking to develop a dynamic, multicultural, multigenerational anti-oppressive Board, inclusive of people of color, trans and gender-nonconforming people, young people, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, and/or frontline communities; people who self-identify with such identity are especially welcome to apply. Please contact SearchTeam@UUMFE.org to submit your resume and letter of interest.
The UUMFE Board is also looking for someone experienced in Human Resources to jump on the monthly "HR Committee" zoom to advise us during the meeting on best practices in managing staff. No admin work, no commitment outside the meeting, just someone to listen and opine and give us direction! We currently meet once a month on Tuesday at 11 am, but could shift the day/time to accomodate an interested person. Email betsytomic505@gmail.com .
Intentional Living in the Alaska Backwoods
An Excerpt from a blog post from longterm UUMFE supporter Laura Emerson
"About 15 years ago, my husband and I embarked on a radical shift in our lifestyle. We moved from a high-rise urban condo in Houston, TX to a 2 room log cabin in Alaska… with an outhouse. There was nothing in my background that prepared me for this rigorously, self-reliant lifestyle. I was a mediocre Girl Scout. I am still afraid of daddy long legs.
Now, though, instead of weekly trips to the supermarket and restaurants, I raise and forage 65 foods. We make most foods and cleaning supplies from scratch, such as dog treats, shampoo, home remedies, beer, wine and bread.
Since we live so remotely, we receive none of the municipal utilities or services that I took for granted in a city. To heat our home and tub, we cut 10 cords of firewood each year. For water, we dug a well."
Puree it or leave it chunky. Add steamed cauliflower for added texture and nutrition. You can also add a variety of sautéed mushrooms, and finish with a can of full fat coconut milk, and have a completely different soup that is equally delicious as the basic recipe! Top with croutons, roasted chickpeas, or fresh herbs, like dill!