Making the Most of August Recess

“August Recess” is the time in which members of Congress head back to their states and districts. Many use this time to connect with constituents, highlight legislative wins at town halls and state fairs, and lay the groundwork before campaign season ramps up in the fall. But this break isn’t just valuable for lawmakers, it’s also a prime opportunity for advocates. The UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy encourages you to consider the following ways to make the most of this August Recess. 
 

Meet With Your Elected Officials Locally 

August Recess is a key opportunity to engage with your members of Congress on their home turf. It’s a chance to meet with them in their districts and connect at local community events. Unlike the months when lawmakers are in Washington, D.C., recess gives constituents a direct line to build relationships with their representatives. 

District offices may already be planning town halls, site visits, and other community events, and depending on where you live, your members may even be out on the campaign trail. All of these are great opportunities to raise your concerns directly with their office. 

We encourage you to reach out to your congressional members’ district offices to set up a meeting. Our advocacy toolkit walks you through how to do this, including email templates, tips for a productive meeting, and answers to frequently asked questions. Personal meetings are essential to the relationship-building that drives long-term advocacy. The process of meeting with your member in-person takes more effort than a call or email, but the impact is far greater. 

Prepare Your Community for the Midterm Elections  

The midterm elections are less than three months away, and the United Church of Christ is prepared to give you the resources you need to get involved. The UCC’s Our Faith, Our Vote (OFOV) campaign equips congregations with practical, nonpartisan tools to foster faithful civic engagement in our communities. Rooted in the UCC’s longstanding commitment to inclusive democracy, OFOV includes guidance on voter registration, election education, candidate engagement, legal considerations for churches, and strategies for encouraging participation in the electoral process. 

Now is the time to start organizing a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) committee in your church! Voting is something we do as individuals, but elections are something we do as a community. In addition to reminding your circles to check their voter registration, we encourage you to start organizing a GOTV campaign in your congregation, using the OFOV resources on how to get started. 

In addition to voter mobilization, now is an excellent time to press local candidates on the issues that matter most. From affordable housing to healthcare, our issue-specific one-pagers include: 

• A synopsis of the United Church of Christ’s historical position on the issue 

• Questions to ask your candidates to learn more about their policy stances 

• A prayer to ground you in your advocacy 

Whether your congregation is launching a new civic engagement initiative or expanding an existing one, Our Faith, Our Vote offers resources to help churches strengthen their witness by encouraging informed and active participation in our shared democracy. 

If you’re interested in learning more about how to get your congregation involved in nonpartisan election engagement but are unsure how to begin, register for our upcoming webinar, Election Engagement 101 for Congregations, held August 11th @ 4pm.

Send a Virtual Justice Message 

In addition to in-person local advocacy, now is a great time to review the many action alerts the UCC Office of Public Policy and Advocacy has sent out this year. Take a look at our Action Center and send messages to your members of Congress on issues like nuclear disarmament, dignity for detained immigrants, voting rights protections, ending the death penalty, and more! 

The Justice & Peace Action Network has collectively sent over 83,000 messages to Congress since January 1^st, 2026. Help us grow that number to 100,000! 

Please note that weekly emails featuring action alerts will pause for the month of August. We’ll resume weekly emails in September. 

Don’t Forget: Rest is Resistance

August is also a natural time to take a break, reflect, and recharge. In a culture that often equates worth with productivity, rest itself can be an act of resistance; a reminder that we are more than what we produce, and that our bodies and spirits are worthy of care simply because they are beloved by God. This August, we encourage you to take time to rest and to reflect on where we’ve been and what lies ahead. Trust that God is indeed “making all things new” and will make a way even through the wilderness of this season of transition (Isaiah 43:18-19). 

Rest is not a departure from the work of justice, it is part of it. Advocacy is sustained not by burning out, but by pacing ourselves, tending to our own well-being, and modeling the wholeness we hope to see in the world. Consider taking some time this month to read a Pilgrim Press book, take a walk, sit in silence, or simply recharge your soul.