All in For Climate Justice!
Preached 11/1/2020 at SouthWest UU in N. Royalton OH
By Rev. Meg Mathieson
All in for Climate Justice is the theme this week, and it’s meant to evoke a feeling of hope and excitement even in these difficult times. OK, so we get that, we care about the environment a lot here at SWUU! But what is the part about the UUA and the United Nations? What does that have to do with anything?
Well,
The history of Unitarian Universalist involvement in the United Nations dates back to its very beginnings. A number of Unitarian volunteers were present in San Francisco at the founding of the United Nations on October 24, 1945.
The Unitarian Universalist Office at the UN was created in 1962 at the recommendation of the U.S. Ambassador to the UN at the time and a Unitarian, Adlai Stevenson. From leading the faith caucus to establish the International Criminal Court, to overcoming UN apathy about sexual orientation & gender identity issues, the UU@UN has a long history of providing strong leadership in all aspects of human rights at a policy level through UN consultative status. Since 1947, October 24 has been called United Nations Day to commemorate the anniversary of the UN’s creation.
Some UU churches celebrate UN Sunday every year. Because we are a free faith, we aren’t required to, but this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and I think it’s really something that they chose the environment as their theme. Here is what the official statement from the UN office says about the theme this year:
“Covid-19 is a stark reminder of the need for cooperation across borders, sectors and generations. Our response will determine how fast the world recovers, whether we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and how well we handle pressing challenges: from the climate crisis to pandemics, inequalities, new forms of violence, and rapid changes in technology and in our population.
But just when we need collective action more than ever, support for global cooperation has been flagging. In many countries, public trust in traditional institutions is in decline and relations between countries have been under strain. Will this pandemic bring the world closer together? Or will it lead to greater mistrust? Global dialogue – and action – is now more urgent than ever.”
So what collective action do they suggest? Well I’m proud to tell you that you are already doing a lot of it: supporting your UU church, which supports the UU at the UN is a great start.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle when you can! Reduce your garbage as much as possible, reuse things rather than buying new when you can, and when all else fails and you have to put something in the garbage bin, try to recycle it! There are folks in our community who are on the no-waste bandwagon. It’s quite a challenge!
There is a whole schedule of pro-environmental actions this month through the UUA called “Harvest the Power 2020.” You can find all of the virtual events on the website, which is easy to find if you just google UUA and Harvest the Power. The website describes the program way: We’ve been planting seeds of justice for weeks, months, years, and generations.
In this season of pandemic, elections, and uprisings, this is the time to Harvest the Power of our values, our organizing, and our shared imagining of a more just and loving world.
Join with UUs across the country in these opportunities to deepen our relationships, draw on the sources of wholeness and strength in which we are rooted, and move together in powerful ways for justice.
There is a lot we can do to support each other in our fight for our dear mother Gaia. I want to thank you for doing what you can.
I’d like to end with this poem, titled History's Road By Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley, Clyde Grubbs
The road of history is long, full of both hope and disappointment. In times past, there have been wars and rumors of wars, violence and exploitation, hunger and homelessness, and destruction of this earth, your creation.
We have become a global village, with a growing realization of how fragile this earth is, and how interconnected we are to each other and to all creation.
We cannot continue to live in the old way. We must make a change, see a new way. A way toward peace with justice and a healthy planet.
O Great Creative Spirit: You have given a vision of the good, and we yearn for a new way. But where are we to find the courage to begin this work? We know that a different tomorrow is possible, but how can we build it?
We think of the prophets, women and men, who voiced unpopular opinions, who made personal sacrifices, and sometimes lost their lives, for the sake of justice.
We think of Isaiah, who called out to let those who are held in captivity go free, to give solace to the poor and homeless. Let us be inspired by all who work to overcome misery, poverty, and exploitation.
We think of Harriet Tubman, who called out to people of goodwill to join her on an underground railroad, to lift a dehumanized people from the bondage of slavery to the promise of freedom, even when it meant challenging unjust laws. Let us be inspired by those who are outlaws for freedom.
We think of Gandhi, whose belief in "Soul Force"—the witness to Love's Truth—helped to overthrow the oppression of an empire and gave witness to the way of nonviolent action. Let us be inspired to become witnesses for peace.
We think of Chief Seattle, who reminded us that we belong to the earth, not the earth to us. Let us be inspired by all those who work for the healing of creation, of Mother Earth and all her creatures.
Who are the prophets who inspire you? They may be well known, or known only to you, offering personal inspiration, courage, and hope.
May they join a great cloud of witnesses to a new way of life—the way of peace and justice, the way of justice lived according to the way of peace, the beloved community.
So may it be. Amen.
Preached 11/1/2020 at SouthWest UU in N. Royalton OH
By Rev. Meg Mathieson
All in for Climate Justice is the theme this week, and it’s meant to evoke a feeling of hope and excitement even in these difficult times. OK, so we get that, we care about the environment a lot here at SWUU! But what is the part about the UUA and the United Nations? What does that have to do with anything?
Well,
The history of Unitarian Universalist involvement in the United Nations dates back to its very beginnings. A number of Unitarian volunteers were present in San Francisco at the founding of the United Nations on October 24, 1945.
The Unitarian Universalist Office at the UN was created in 1962 at the recommendation of the U.S. Ambassador to the UN at the time and a Unitarian, Adlai Stevenson. From leading the faith caucus to establish the International Criminal Court, to overcoming UN apathy about sexual orientation & gender identity issues, the UU@UN has a long history of providing strong leadership in all aspects of human rights at a policy level through UN consultative status. Since 1947, October 24 has been called United Nations Day to commemorate the anniversary of the UN’s creation.
Some UU churches celebrate UN Sunday every year. Because we are a free faith, we aren’t required to, but this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and I think it’s really something that they chose the environment as their theme. Here is what the official statement from the UN office says about the theme this year:
“Covid-19 is a stark reminder of the need for cooperation across borders, sectors and generations. Our response will determine how fast the world recovers, whether we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and how well we handle pressing challenges: from the climate crisis to pandemics, inequalities, new forms of violence, and rapid changes in technology and in our population.
But just when we need collective action more than ever, support for global cooperation has been flagging. In many countries, public trust in traditional institutions is in decline and relations between countries have been under strain. Will this pandemic bring the world closer together? Or will it lead to greater mistrust? Global dialogue – and action – is now more urgent than ever.”
So what collective action do they suggest? Well I’m proud to tell you that you are already doing a lot of it: supporting your UU church, which supports the UU at the UN is a great start.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle when you can! Reduce your garbage as much as possible, reuse things rather than buying new when you can, and when all else fails and you have to put something in the garbage bin, try to recycle it! There are folks in our community who are on the no-waste bandwagon. It’s quite a challenge!
There is a whole schedule of pro-environmental actions this month through the UUA called “Harvest the Power 2020.” You can find all of the virtual events on the website, which is easy to find if you just google UUA and Harvest the Power. The website describes the program way: We’ve been planting seeds of justice for weeks, months, years, and generations.
In this season of pandemic, elections, and uprisings, this is the time to Harvest the Power of our values, our organizing, and our shared imagining of a more just and loving world.
Join with UUs across the country in these opportunities to deepen our relationships, draw on the sources of wholeness and strength in which we are rooted, and move together in powerful ways for justice.
There is a lot we can do to support each other in our fight for our dear mother Gaia. I want to thank you for doing what you can.
I’d like to end with this poem, titled History's Road By Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley, Clyde Grubbs
The road of history is long, full of both hope and disappointment. In times past, there have been wars and rumors of wars, violence and exploitation, hunger and homelessness, and destruction of this earth, your creation.
We have become a global village, with a growing realization of how fragile this earth is, and how interconnected we are to each other and to all creation.
We cannot continue to live in the old way. We must make a change, see a new way. A way toward peace with justice and a healthy planet.
O Great Creative Spirit: You have given a vision of the good, and we yearn for a new way. But where are we to find the courage to begin this work? We know that a different tomorrow is possible, but how can we build it?
We think of the prophets, women and men, who voiced unpopular opinions, who made personal sacrifices, and sometimes lost their lives, for the sake of justice.
We think of Isaiah, who called out to let those who are held in captivity go free, to give solace to the poor and homeless. Let us be inspired by all who work to overcome misery, poverty, and exploitation.
We think of Harriet Tubman, who called out to people of goodwill to join her on an underground railroad, to lift a dehumanized people from the bondage of slavery to the promise of freedom, even when it meant challenging unjust laws. Let us be inspired by those who are outlaws for freedom.
We think of Gandhi, whose belief in "Soul Force"—the witness to Love's Truth—helped to overthrow the oppression of an empire and gave witness to the way of nonviolent action. Let us be inspired to become witnesses for peace.
We think of Chief Seattle, who reminded us that we belong to the earth, not the earth to us. Let us be inspired by all those who work for the healing of creation, of Mother Earth and all her creatures.
Who are the prophets who inspire you? They may be well known, or known only to you, offering personal inspiration, courage, and hope.
May they join a great cloud of witnesses to a new way of life—the way of peace and justice, the way of justice lived according to the way of peace, the beloved community.
So may it be. Amen.