Category: Congregational News and Events

Monmouth Co – Social Action Film – June 25

by UU FA Office

The UU Congregation of Monmouth County’s Social Action Film Series next film will be shown on June 25.

Living Downstream follows scientist, professor, author, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer, its environmental links – and the urgent human rights issue therein. Both personal journey and scientific-social exploration, this film is a powerful reminder of the intimate connection between the health of our bodies and the health of our air, land, and water.

Morristown: Microloans Change Lives

by UU FA Office

40 Lives Changed by MUF Sponsored KIVA Micro-loans

In May 2011, the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship initiated a series of micro-loans with $1,165 raised through a dedicated collection. This allowed them to provide loans to 14 individuals in 8 countries. Once the first round of loans was repaid, 20 additional people in 17 countries were provided loans in 2012. Then timely repayment of these loans has enabled them to extend loans to six additional individuals in five countries.

Plainfield: Marriage Equality Resolution

by UU FA Office

The First Unitarian Society of Plainfield joined forces with the Plainfield United Church of Christ and the Rahway Plainfield Society of Friends to pass a marriage equality resolution for New Jersey. The resolution states the three churches, as institutions that “affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people,” have an imperative to call “for the rights of all people to love those whom they love, with full rights to marry and enjoy the benefits of life-time commitment to their loved ones without restriction.”

Sussex Co: Climate Change – March 12

by UU FA Office

Climate Change
To Be or Not To Be

It is Hard to Know What to Believe
An Opportunity to Finally Address YOUR Questions to a Real Person
Ellie Whitney, PhD
Citizens Climate Lobby
Speaker, biologist, author, columnist, climate activist, UU

A Gathering brought to you by The Skylands Group of The Sierra Club

Hosted by the Fellowship of Sussex County
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 7pm-8:30pm

Ellie Whitney, a member of the UU Congregation of Princeton, authored the article, “How to Meet the Climate Crisis,” in the Winter issue of UU World.  She explains that a way to do this would be to establish a carbon tax: “The fastest, most effective way to change consumption patterns is to change the prices of things. If we want less CO2, we need to tax carbon, an idea gaining traction among economists, politicians, and the general public.”  http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/280781.shtml

Plainfield: Transitioning in Corporate American – March 10

by UU FA Office

On March 10, the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield’s service, “Transitioning in Corporate America: One Transgender Woman’s Journey to Activism and Advocacy” will feature Stephanie Battaglino, a Corporate Vice President at the New York Life Insurance Company. She transitioned on the job in October 2005 and is a founding member of New York Life’s LGBT employee resource group.  More info at www.fusp.org.

Plainfield – Social Action Weekend – March 1-3

by UU FA Office

On behalf of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (FUSP) I would like to invite you and members of your congregation to attend our 3rd Annual Social Action Weekend, March 1- 3, 2013.  The theme of the weekend “Partners for Immigration Justice” seeks to explore forming community partnerships to promote immigration reform by identifying issues, planning activities and taking action.

The weekend will kick off on Friday March 1st with an International Pot Luck Dinner from 6:00 to 9:30. This will be an opportunity to informally meet representatives from other congregations, community organizations, and immigration coalitions. We are planning a fun-filled family friendly event with music, entertainment, juggling, face-painting, and more. We are encouraging those that attend on Friday night to bring an international or traditional family dish to share.

On Saturday March 2nd from 10:00 to 2:00 we invite you and members of your congregation to attend the “Building Partners for Immigration Reform” forum. The event will be facilitated by the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ). We plan to have representatives from various congregations, community organizations and immigrant coalitions share information and identify the issues and needs of the local immigrant community. We also plan to explore how we can cooperatively work together in the future to best (to) address the needs of the immigrant community locally as well as nationally.

On Sunday March 3rd at 12:00 noon at our Sunday Explorers Series, guest speaker Ingrid Diaz, MA, MSW, LCSW, PhD (candidate) will describe the Latino culture, migration experience and the impact it has on the individual and family system. Ms. Diaz has a vast clinical experience in working with the severe and persistent mentally ill population, particularly with Latinos in community mental health centers.  There will be a light lunch served at 11:45 prior to the lecture.

We here at FUSP recognize the enormous issues surrounding immigration and that the struggle to ensure honest and effective immigration reform will require partnering with likeminded individuals, groups and organizations.  We look forward to seeing you in March at one or more of our events. For your information we have attached a flyer.  Thank you in advance for your participation.  Please RSVP and let us know which events you plan to attend (908-756-0750).

Ridgewood – Gun Control Forum – Feb. 28

by UU FA Office

Unitarian Society of Ridgewood
Gun Control Forum  
Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 7:30 PM

An Evening of Explorative Social Justice: 21st Century Concerns for our 18th Century Second Amendment  
Sponsored by the Peace and Justice Committee  

Join other members of the congregation and community for a facilitated discussion of gun control, types of gun violence, the rights of gun owners, the responsibilities of gun owners, the likelihood of current government proposals to curb gun violence, and our responsibilities as citizens to create a world as safe for each other as possible.

We will work together to create more light than heat around these issues and consider the question of what concerned individuals can do about this issue. The discussion will be facilitated by Dwight Panozzo, PhD, LCSW. Dwight is a member of USR, a psychotherapist, and an adjunct faculty member of the Silver School of Social Work at New York University.