Church on the Green Newsletter February 2018 | Page 8

Social

Justice

8

Social Justice Team

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8

Fifteen members of the newly formed Social Justice Team met in January to share what brought them to the group and discuss some possible plans for the future. Possible intentions for the group include the following:

Speak with the voice of scripture; learn more about what the Bible says about social justice

Collaborate with Mission, Adult Ed, Environmental Justice, ONA, Family Ministries, YES, and YUP and other teams within the church which seek to do justice work

Work with other social justice organizations in the community to learn from them more about what is needed and what works

Raise our awareness of how deeply racism is woven into the systems and institutions with which we live

Catch up on what is happening in the UCC

Accompany victims of social injustice and listen to their testimony

We discussed a book of free verse entitled Citizen-an American Lyric by Claudia Rankine that addresses the subject of racism. You are invited to read the book with the team and join in discussion on Tues., February 20.

The group discussed various ways area churches reach out to the wider community such as St. Andrew’s weekly “Church Without Walls” in Court Square and community dinners at Faith United Church on Sumner Avenue.

Many issues were touched on including the Sanctuary Movement, the “Fight for Fifteen” effort to raise the minimum wage, the “Poor People’s Campaign-Repairers of the Breach”, and human trafficking. In addition to hand-outs of food, clothing, etc. We hope to look at the REASONS why these exist: “charity” vs. “justice”. Sound like you might be interested? Join us! Watch for a notice of the next meeting!

Want to learn more?

Consider subscribing to UCC mission and justice news through “Ever-Flowing Streams”

http://myemail.

constantcontact.com/Ever-Flowing-Streams-.html?soid=1100608281924&aid=hGGpvtowry0

and /or the justice link on “Keeping You Posted”

http://www.ucc.org/justice