Upcoming Events |
| Thursday, May 14 — |
Justice Council Monthly Meeting
Please note schedule change! Contact Laurie D at (215) 514-7955, with questions or agenda items.
| Wednesday, June 17 — |
| Every Monday Morning — |
Prayer Vigil at ICE Field Headquarters
PA Senator Art Haywood + Community Partners
Join PA State Senator Art Haywood and community partners in a prayer
vigil at ICE Field Headquarters on Monday mornings. The vigils are intended
to bring public awareness to the cruelty of ICE raids, detentions, and
deportations. These vigils are a "Call to Conscience," and are peaceful, prayer
-centered gatherings, not acts of civil disobedience. Participants will engage
in readings, prayers, and singing. All are welcome.
| Weekly on Wednesdays — |
|
Interfaith Vigil at ICE Field Headquarters New Sanctuary Movement Philly 114 North 8th Street 11am every Wednesday morning |
| Weekly on Wednesdays — |
We the People Wednesdays is a weekly event combining community singing, educational presentations about threats to our democracy, and successes in fighting those threats, along with simple actions anyone can take to stand against tyranny. Please note: We The People Wednesdays is returning to its warm weather home and earlier start time - at the High Point Cafe at the Richard Allens Lane Train Station for an hour of music and inspiration.
Join in at 4pm every Wednesday at the High Point Café at SEPTA’s Richard Allen Station (Cresheim Road at West Allens Lane)
We the People Website | Email | Instagram | Facebook
News & Information |
Philly and NYC Delegation to Palestine Report on Their Trip’s Findings
About 40 people gathered on January 24, at UUsMA to hear a report back from the 2025 Philly & NYC Solidarity Delegation to Palestine, which took place last fall. The delegation traveled to the West Bank to meet with Palestinian grassroots initiatives and organizations, and shared personal stories about what they witnessed. The stories reflected the repression by the Israeli apartheid system and the broader movement of displacing and ethnically cleansing Palestinians from their land, and their resistance to these systems of oppression. The delegation’s report also discussed how we can join the movement to end the occupation and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The report was presented by delegation members Anna F, Sukey B, Sonia R, Gina E. occupation and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The report was presented by delegation members Anna F, Sukey B, Sonia R, Gina E.A recording of the event is available here.
The report back included a fundraiser for Yafa Cultural Center (YCC), located in Balata Camp
near Nablus. YCC is a nonprofit established in 1996 by the Committee for the Defense of
Palestinian Refugee Rights and offers a range of educational and creative programs to meet the
needs of residents of the Balata camp. Attendees raised $1,000. Learn more about the Yafa
Cultural Center here.
The Fundraiser remains open for donations. Use this link or QR Code to donate.
The report back event was co-sponsored by Prayers for Peace Alliance, UUJME Chapters of UUs of Mt. Airy, the Unitarian Society of Germantown, and Families for Ceasefire Philly. To request a report back at your congregation or organization, or for questions and information about the YCC fundraiser, contact Anna F at via phone/text to (910)990-2322.
ICYMI - UUs Join Hundreds at MLK Day March and Vigil at Immigration Court and ICE Field Office (photo via WHYY)
Reverend McKinley, the Board’s Moderator Cathy M and Assistant Moderator, Anam O-E, members Linda and Bruce P-J, Sharon F, Ethan C, and Jane U were among the hundreds of people who showed up on a cold MLK Day to join in a march and peace vigil against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in detaining and deporting immigrants. The vigil was organized by State Senator Art Haywood and community partners, who have met for prayer vigils outside of the ICE Field Office on North 8th Street every Monday morning since last fall. The march and vigil garnered additional energy following the death of Renee Nicole Good of Minneapolis, who was shot to death by an ICE agent at a protest in the city on January 7. Ms. Good’s death prompted nationwide protests and launched the “ICE Out for Good” campaign in a number of cities.
UU Justice PA “Meet the Moment” Campaign
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With the Meet the Moment
Campaign, we can turn UU values
into public action: ✅ Advocate for voting rights and a thriving democracy. ✅ Push for compassionate and dignified public policy. ✅ Support vulnerable communities across Pennsylvania. ✅ Help UU congregations respond with clarity, consistency, and courage. This work requires coordination, staff power, reliable tools and statewide connection. Donate today. |
UUJME Chapter Summarizes Its Activities in Report to Congregation
In a brief update designed to keep the congregation abreast of its
activities in September and October, the UUsMA/Justice Council
Chapter of Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East
(UUJME) has posted a report on the Justice Council page of the
church’s website. The report covers the Empty Cups ritual alongside
UUsMA’s Water Communion in September to bring attention to the
UUJME Chapter Summarizes Its Activities in Report to Congregation
denial of water to Palestinians by the Netanyahu regime and discusses recent and upcoming programs.
To read the entire report, click here.
URDC Helps to Rebuild a Family’s Life
Urban Resources Development Council (URDC), the congregation’s September Change4Change recipient, has set up a GoFundMe page to support repairs to the home of Nicole L, an East Oak Lane single mom whose house was destroyed by a fire that spread from a neighbor’s house 2 years ago. Nicole and her family are housed in shelter facilities. URDC, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Face to Face Germantown, and volunteers will repair the roof, upstairs bedrooms, kitchen, foyer, and living room. Follow the link above to support the repair effort.
Justice Council Reveals Its New Mission Statement
Completing the process of identifying its focus and priorities that began with a congregation-wide retreat in January, UUs of Mt. Airy’s Justice Council has revealed its new mission statement. The statement, which will help to guide Justice Council programs and activities, follows below:“Unitarian Universalists of Mt. Airy are committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression and broader social justice* efforts to create systems and structures that help everyone thrive and be whole.
The Mission of our Justice Council is to empower our congregation to identify justice* issues for evaluation, prioritization, and action, and to hold ourselves responsible for the outcomes of our work. We strive to build partnerships with our neighbors to dismantle the systems at the root of societal injustice and to build Beloved Community meeting urgent human needs in our community.
To ground our social justice work, we will strive to trust and listen to the voices of those who have been and continue to be harmed by injustice. We will value and follow their guidance on our path to healing actions and hold ourselves responsible to them.
Our work is rooted in UU spirituality, principles, and values".
* Social Justice issues including: economic equality, reproductive rights, LGBTQiA rights, climate justice and human rights for all.
Change for Change Guidelines, Nomination Process, and Form:
Revised 12/3/24 (CS)
Guidelines: We will select organizations led by and primarily serving Black, Indigenous and other People of Color
(BIPOC) in our surrounding community* as well as periodic, special projects from UUA associated
organizations, such as Side with Love, UU Service Committee, UUTheVote and UU Ministry for the
Earth, that reflect our congregational values and interests in promoting justice.* Community defined as Germantown, Mt. Airy and other NW Philadelphia neighborhoods.
Complete the form below as part of nominating an organization for an upcoming month’s Change for Change (C4C) offering and submit to Justice Council (JC) co-chairs. Their names are listed under the "Justice Council" link near the bottom of this webpage. They will share it with JC members a week prior to the next monthly JC meeting.
- For the C4C Newsletter description write a draft of no more than 150 words. Include a reference to who the agency serves, which NW Philly neighborhoods it serves and the organization’s website. See prior UUsMA newsletters for a model of this.
- Provide a draft C4C offering description based on the newsletter description to be used in Sunday worship Order of Service (OOS) bulletin and the slide projected on the sanctuary screen during the Offering. Length: approximately 75 words.
- Indicate that you have confirmed with the agency is a tax exempt, 501-c-3 agency or has a tax exempt fiscal agent or sponsoring organization
- Provide organization contact name and the person and mailing address that UUsMAs bank will send a check for the month’s C4C contributions,
- Finally, please explain briefly why you submitted this organization for our C4C financial support and ways UUsMA members can possibly volunteer with or otherwise support or participate in the organizations work.
Resources for Getting Through
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and several of its affiliated groups offer newsletters and action alerts specifically to keep UUs interested in social justice work informed on the issues of the day and individual and collective actions that one can take. Listed below are several UU, and other, affiliates and links to learn more about their work.- Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ):
UU Advocacy in the Nation’s Capital “With the active participation of our individual and congregational members, UUSJ works to help our Federal Government adhere to the practice of democracy and the dignity of all people—and other principles that we UUs hold dear. Today, our work is more important than ever to defend our democracy through advocating for fair elections; for racial, economic, and environmental justice; and stand as allies with marginalized and disfranchised people.” Sign up for monthly newsletter and action alerts.
- Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME):
Founded in 1971, UUJME is a UUA-related social justice organization of education and advocacy siding with love with the people of Palestine-Israel. UUJME “work(s) within the Unitarian Universalist community to educate and mobilize individuals, congregations, and denominational leaders to recognize and counter inequality and injustice in Palestine-Israel and to support our allies in the global justice and anti-oppression movements. Sign up for e-news and alerts.
- UUJusticePA :
“UUJusticePA is working for real change for real people. Our members help sustain the fight for justice for all in Pennsylvania. We hope you’ll consider joining or donating today. We also invite you to sign up for our FREE email list, which will provide you with Action Alerts, social justice news, and other vital information — at NO cost.” Get on our FREE Email List
- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC):
The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization advancing human rights together with an international community of grassroots partners and advocates. We focus our work on intersecting roots of injustice to defend rights at risk due to criminalization and systemic oppression of people based on their identity. We support self-determination and defend the rights of people displaced due to climate, conflict or economic hardships; and we respond to humanitarian crises as partners with people whose access to aid is most limited.
- American Friends Service Committee (AFSC):
AFSC works for a just, peaceful, and sustainable world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. We join with people and partners worldwide to meet urgent community needs, challenge injustice, and build peace. Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light of each person, AFSC works with people of all faiths and backgrounds to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace.
