There
is nothing more potent than thought, deed follows word, and word
follows thought.
And where the thought is mighty
and pure, the result is mighty and pure. --Gandhi
Current
Events
The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee web page (www.uusc.org) always has some thought provoking news on current events. They even have a wonderful eWire service to deliver the latest news to your email service. The December 2005 eWire highlights recent honors that recognized the wonderful works of two UUSC founders, Rev. Waitstill and Martha Sharp.
The Massachusetts Legislature will vote again this year on the controversial subject of equal rights for same-sex couples. Make sure your representatives are aware of your position on the issue of same-sex marriage and how important this issue is to you. The Internet makes it easy to find out who your representatives are and how to contact them.
Visit the following Massachusetts government web page (http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php), type in your home address and voilà, you are presented with a list of your representatives. Click on the name of any representative and you are presented a full page of information about that representative including the phone number to call to make your opinions known.
The UUSC asks you to contact your political representatives to express your views concerning the so-called "Salvador Option" being discussed for operations in Iraq. Please take a few moments to review the material on this web site http://capwiz.com/uusc/home/ and then take whatever actions or conscience dictates. While concerned over the "Salvador Option" is currently at the top of this action just, this web site is updated often and is a useful resource to be visited regularly. (January 14, 2004)
Statewide advocacy networks organized before the elections
will
continue the work of Defending Democracy after Election Day. After
their election-related
work such as registering voters, get-out-the-vote campaigns and
providing issues education, UU advocacy networks in several states will
promote
participation in current and upcoming public policy debates.
Learn more about the statewide networks, visit: http://www.uusc.org/info/article102904_02.html
Got an idea that should be tackled by a Council on Social Justice? Download this Proposal Form or this MS Word Version and send your idea off to the Chair of the Council on Social Justice via the Church office (office@fculittle.org)
The United Nations has described this human travesty as "the world's greatest humanitarian disaster." While aid organizations have been diligent in providing relief to refugees and displaced persons, the overwhelming requirements for such an effort have left certain populations out of reach. There is an urgent need for support to help save the lives of millions of people who are deeply affected by this genocide.
UUSC is accepting contributions to provide aid to the victims of the crisis. All donations to the Darfur Relief Fund will be forwarded to the nonprofit organizations listed below that are working in Darfur to provide humanitarian relief.
The choice of these organizations reflects UUSC's trust that donations will benefit hard-to-reach communities and be administered by those who have demonstrated a commitment to-and work with-the country's poorest. Although we are not currently working in Sudan, the choice also reflects UUSC's history of working with the poor in that country.
How to donate:
If you wish to contribute to the relief effort in Darfur, please make your check payable to Darfur Relief Fund and mail to:
Darfur Relief Fund,
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee,
P.O. Box 845259, Boston, MA 02284-5259
Or to donate online through our website, visit: www.uusc.org/programs/support_darfur.html
UUSC has chosen to channel donations through organizations working directly with grassroots communities in the affected areas in Darfur and with refugee groups in Chad, including Darfur Peace and Development, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International and Caritas International.
Social
Action & Volunteer OpportunitiesParents Helping Parents is a mutual support program for parents, and other adults in the care-taking role, who want to improve their relationships with their children. PHP seeks caring individuals to serve as co-facilitators for area support groups. Volunteers should be compassionate, non-judgmental, & have good listening skills. Some group leadership experience is helpful, as is some understanding of the problems parents face. Group meetings offer parents a safe place to share their difficulties and successes, help each other deal with frustrations, and explore ways of dealing with challenges. The time commitment for volunteer facilitators is approximately 3 hours per week. Training & ongoing support are provided.
The good news is that the government of South Africa has just abandoned its policy of not giving antiretroviral drugs to people with HIV, in a country where 25% of the population is infected. This is the world's epicenter of the AIDS epidemic. In Africa alone 65 million people are infected, and 25 million people have already died. The bad news is they don't have the money to make it happen. A multidisciplinary approach to stopping this pandemic is necessary, but nothing will happen without money. George Bush has promised funding, but we ALL need to help. Secretary General of the U.N., Kofi Anan recently asked "Why don't we have a global fund to make this happen?" Well, now we do. Help stop the spread of HIV-AIDS in Africa by giving what you can when you visit (http://www.theglobalfund.org/en) Please note: in the time it took to write this one paragraph, 10 more people were infected with the virus.
The HGRM Mission is to provide recycled household goods to the needy individuals and families of our surrounding communities at no charge, through the use of volunteers, and in cooperation with religious organizations of all faiths and denominations, human service agencies, service organizations, and commercial businesses.
Since June 1991, Neighborhood Supper has been providing a free meal and a place of community every Tuesday evening at the Congregational Church in Littleton. Neighborhood Supper is a nonprofit organization modeled after meals served in the nearby towns of Acton, Maynard, and Concord, and coordinated to occur on a night not covered by these towns. Many come out of financial need, but many come for companionship or to have someone to talk to. It is supported by donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals and run by volunteers from five Littleton Churches: Congregational, First Baptist, First Church Unitarian, St. Anne's Catholic, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Responsibility for the preparation and serving of the meal rotates weekly between the churches. FCU cooks on the third Tuesday of every month. Volunteers include cooks, servers, shoppers, and dish washers; up to 20 or more volunteers are involved each week. They begin to arrive early in the afternoon to start cooking the evening meal and set the tables. As the guests arrive, plates of food will be delivered to them.
Our First Church Unitarian has two regular seasonal meals: beef stew with mashed potatoes and buttered carrots in the winter and pasta salad, sliced ham and fresh fruit in the summer. The exception is in November when we always cook a turkey dinner. And of course we always have brownies for dessert. An average of 50 to 80 people are served each week.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kristen Ersland at 978-486-0574, or e-mail kersland@comcast.net. We are especially looking for anyone interested in cooking on February 19, in April and during the summer. As always, we appreciate all the wonderful brownies baked each month. If you would like to bake, please drop the brownies off at the congregational church on the afternoon of the supper, or you may leave them in the FCU kitchen.
Neighborhood Supper is supported by donations. If you would like to make a donation, you may send it to:
The Neighborhood Supper
P.O. Box 112
Littleton, MA 01460
FCU sponsors the supper on the third Tuesday of each month. Volunteers are always welcome on Tuesday evening, but we also have the special responsibility of providing brownies. If you want to fire up your oven to make brownies for the Neighborhood Supper please contact the church.
What are you doing with your old cell phone? Donating it to may help stop the cycle of domestic violence. If your old phone is sitting around collecting dust, or being used as a toy for the kids, here is your chance to do something good and recycle at the same time. They can be reprogrammed with a 911 service, and given to a woman who is in a high risk situation.
Instructions for how to donate and old phone can be found at: www.charitablerecycling.com/CR/home.asp
Massachusetts information can be found at: www.massrecycle.org/cell-phone-donation.html
Loaves and Fishes exists as a mission of love and faith to serve people in Ayer, Fort Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton and Shirley by providing food, emergency shelter, resource referral, and other temporary services, and by advocating for changes that will promote independence and self-reliance.
Learn all about Loaves and Fishes, or make a donation at: www.devenspantry.org
Find out more about Habitat for Humanity in our area at www.ncmhabitat.org.
Social Action ProgramsOn a bulletin board in the vestry hangs a sizable, sturdy canvass bag which costs $2.99 at Donelan's. Other supermarkets sell similar bags. Treat yourself and the earth to several. Once you start remembering to take them shopping you will be saving on fossil fuels spent in making all those paper and plastic bags we lug home.
"What do the UUSC Just Workcamps have to do with us at FCU?" Well, that's what the SAEF intends to address. The fund, started almost 2 years ago with some anonymous donations, currently totals approximately $3,500. Our goal is to use the interest from the fund to send members of the FCU congregation to the 1-2 week workcamps to learn more about social justice in other communities and to make a difference doing social action. Some workcamps focus on the rebuilding of burned Black churches in the South, while others work with Native Americans on reservations. The expenses involved with sending folks to these camps, which are held in the spring, summer and fall, aren't great, but we need more principal than we have to make it work.
If you would like to donate to the fund (anonymously or otherwise), or have an idea for a fundraiser, please contact Rev. Small. Thank you in advance for your support!
They supports Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry and other area programs. If you would like to make a donation to them you may contact them at www.foodbank.org or www.wcfb.org, or 508-842-FOOD (3663).
The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), was founded in 1927 as the National Conference for Christians and Jews. It has transformed into a human relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America. The NCCJ promotes understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution and education. To contact them to find out more about their good works, check out their Web site at www.nccj.org
This is a great Web site that is still going strong. All you do is click a button and somewhere in the world some hungry person gets a meal to eat at no cost to you. The food is paid for by corporate sponsors. All you do is go to the site and click. But, you're only allowed one click per day, so spread the word to others. Visit the site and pass the word! http://www.thehungersite.com
Oxfam has worked in Afghanistan for 12 years and has extensive trusted contacts for effective aid distribution. They have been asked by the UN to set up clean water and sanitation systems in refugee camps that will soon be opening along the borders. Oxfam is also trying to get thousands of tons of food to the millions of civilians in danger of starvation in the midst of the current war. This humanitarian crisis could reach unthinkable proportions. Food relief in enormous quantities is needed now. If you would like to make a donation, the most efficient way to do so is online atwww.oxfamamerica.org/donate/index.html You can also send your cheque to Oxfam America Afghan Relief, P.O. Box 1745, Boston, MA 02105-1745.
Some Social Action Links Loaves and Fishes Ayer, Massachusetts
Tostan is....an American non-government organization based in Senegal, West Africa focused on empowering villagers to take charge of their own development and participate fully in society.
UUSC Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
The Nonviolence Web A Guide to the Contemporary Peace Movement
Empowerment Resources for Personal Growth, Social Change and Ecology
