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Justice Sunday: The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s Work Now in it’s 80th Year
Sunday, August 7, 2022
10:30 am service via You Tube video link
Worship Leaders: Rev. Jacqueline Brett, Rev. Ned Wight, and Rev. Aisha Ansano
The UUSC was started during World War II to help rescue victims of Nazi oppression in Europe and has been working for social justice around the world and in the US ever since. Each year around Thanksgiving time we collect for their benefit with the “Guest at Your Table” collection boxes and often share our plate with them. In the past we have had representatives come to speak at our Lyceums or from our pulpit about what they have been doing to put our UU values into action for social justice in the world.
This year with all the restrictions caused by the COVID pandemic instead of visiting churches they have put together an entire virtual worship service on this theme to be shared with UU congregations such as ours. In this service you will hear about what is being done for the Rohyngya in Burma (Myanmar), women in Nicaragua, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color in Louisiana. Although they partner with over 50 different local agencies all over the world these three are spotlighted in this service with videos and interviews with the people affected. The service ends with a collection of recorded testimonials from past and present leaders of our denomination including a cameo appearance from our own former minister and past President of the UUA, Rev. John Buehrens.
Come join us on YouTube to worship together and see what’s been happening recently with the UUSC and their work toward social justice. Then afterwards join the Zoom Social Hour for our own virtual gathering and sharing of Joys and Concerns.
Previous Posts
Easter Sunday
April 17, 2022 10:30 am, live streamed from the sanctuary Rev. Catie Scudera leading For our one Easter service this year, we’ll reflect on our Unitarian and Universalist Christian ancestors who invested in an “Easter Sunday faith” (as opposed to a “Good...
Other Oppressions
I want to talk about the 8th principle, but not in the way you might expect. When someone asks you what you think about the 8th principle, up for a congregational vote on May 15, usually what comes to mind is race, ethnicity, maybe sexual orientation or gender...
General Assembly Registration (Online & In-Person) is Open!
June 22nd-June 26th Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR General Assembly is the annual national gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into...
Lane Lyceum- Needham’s Response to Food Insecurity TONIGHT
The final Lane Lyceum in the series entitled, "A Just Harvest: Ethical Food Production, Consumption and Policy" will be held on April 5 at 7:30pm. The Zoom link is: http://bit.ly/LyceumJustHarvest It is called, Needham's Response to Food Insecurity and...
Hi First Parish!
It was really timely that our Widening the Circle workshop on “Living Our Values in the World” and this amazing conference at Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) on disability, embodiment, and theology both happened in the same week. You see, one of...
We Don’t Talk About…
April 10, 2022 10:30 am, in person and live streamed from the sanctuary Rev. Catie Scudera In the Disney film Encanto, we meet the Family Madrigal who are given magical powers, but struggle with the effects of intergenerational trauma. Notably, the...
Re-Opening Task Force
March 29, 2022 Based on the continued low prevalence of the Covid 19 virus in our community, the Reopening Task Force considers moving back to worship services in the Sanctuary to be low risk. The Parish Hall will continue to function as the Worship Cafe during...
Digital Order of Service
This is our final Saturday Bell Notes because the order of service is now available on your smart phone or tablet via this QR code or by entering uuneedham.updates.church (bookmark it!) in your browser. Each Sunday's order of service will become available on the...
Celebrating Poetry with Charles Coe: The Defining Moment
Sunday, April 3, 2022 4:00 - 5:30 PM Zoom link (Meeting ID: 978 0277 1043 | Passcode: 1711) The Defining Moment The emotional energy generated by the “Defining Moment” when life changes for one's family, community, country, or the world, in ways that...
Peace (& Poetry) Be Upon You
April 3, 2022 10:30 am, Live streamed from the Parish Hall Rev. Catie Scudera leading At the start of both National Poetry Month and the holy time of Ramadan, we will celebrate the long and inspiring history of Islamic poets. We’ll hear from better-known...
Gender Abundance
March 27, 2022 10:30 am, live-streamed from the Parish Hall Reverend Catie Scudera In celebration of Trans Day of Visibility, we honor the abundance of human gender identity and expression and explore how, in modern times, our culture became so stuck in...
It’s a Climate Emergency — But What Can I Do?
Perhaps you heard them -- church bells ringing in Needham at exactly 11 a.m. on Friday, March 11. Our venerable Paul Revere bell, which has called people to worship, celebrated important events, and warned the community of imminent danger for over 200 years,...