JPANet September 2026 Newsletter

Labor Sunday & Labor in the Pulpit 2026

To mark the end of summer, take a moment to plan a powerful service: Labor Sunday 2026 can be celebrated Labor Day Weekend or the preceding or following weeks. Our Minister for Economic Justice Rev. Seth Wispelwey has put together a sample liturgy with calls to worship, readings, sermon prompts and hymn suggestions – including two newly commissioned hymns! View, download, or print it here.

Your congregation is also enthusiastically invited and encouraged to incorporate a “Labor in the Pulpit” speaker (a local labor leader) during your service with the help of Seth and the AFL-CIO. Read more about the dynamic Labor in the Pulpit program here. Please reach out to Rev. Wispelwey at wispelweys@ucc.org with any questions.

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The Good Neighbor Podcast

The Good Neighbor Project is a limited podcast series hosted by David Giron, Global Relations Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, in collaboration with Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. Through conversations recorded during his travels across Latin America and the Caribbean, David highlights the voices and lived experiences of NGO leaders, church representatives, and members of civil society whose stories are often overlooked in mainstream media. Learn more and listen here.  

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Check Your Voter Registration With the UCC Election Center 

Election season is here, don’t get caught off guard! Head to the UCC Our Faith Our Vote Election Center to:

✅ Check your registration status
✅ Find your polling location
✅ Access state-specific voting resources
✅ And so much more!

Access our Election Center here. 

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UCC Grant Opportunities: Closing Tuesday, September 15th

The UCC has several upcoming grant opportunities, including: 

▷ CASA New and Renewing Church Grant offers grants to new and renewing ministries seeking to establish transformative faith communities with Local Church standing in the United Church of Christ and to build financial sustainability for ongoing ministry. Learn more and apply here.

▷ Neighbors in Need (NIN)is a special mission offering that supports works of justice and compassion throughout the United States. The NIN Grant can support a broad range of ministries—from direct service and community organizing to advocacy for systemic change and transformative cultural initiatives that can be replicated across the denomination. Learn more and apply here. 

▷ Love of Church Rapid Response Grants support United Church of Christ Local Churches with standing in an Association or Conference that are experiencing unexpected financial burdens or urgent needs. This may include critical infrastructure repairs or replacement, sudden increases in rent or operational costs, or an urgent need within a church’s outreach ministry. Learn more and apply here.

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Host a Video Screening to Help Launch a Climate Hope Affiliate

Right now, Climate Hope Affiliates across the country are screening a powerful 17-minute video about one community’s struggle against a massive, polluting data center. Recently, two volunteers in Billings, Montana, showed the video at their local public library, and afterward, 19 people signed up to help start a local chapter of Climate Hope Affiliates. Set up a meeting with Brooks to plan a similar event in your community.

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What’s Happening At Your Congregation? 

Are you witnessing “justice in action” in your congregation? Share your story by sending a short description to ucctakeaction@ucc.org for a chance to be featured in this newsletter and inspire others across the church! Please include “Justice Story” in the email subject line. 

The Washington D.C. Office is Hiring! Applications due Friday, September 4th

Are you passionate about faith and social justice? Consider joining our team at the UCC Washington D.C. Office as the Justice and Peace Policy Fellow! This fellowship is a two-year position where you would have the opportunity to dive into domestic and international policy work and gain hands-on advocacy experience on Capitol Hill. Learn more about the position and apply here. 

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Monthly Action Sheet Focused on Data Centers

Last month, Climate Hope Affiliates (CHA) launched a new campaign to address data center pollution. Churches can utilize CHA’s action sheet to host postcard-writing parties that advocate for bills that have been introduced in Congress. Postcards feature the artwork of Leah, the 12-year-old winner of the Climate Hope Art Contest. The text beneath the artwork reads, “What kind of future do we want? Don’t ask AI. Ask our children.” 

Take Action: Meet With Your Elected Officials to End Military Aid to Israel

Over nearly three years, Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including at least 1200 since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement. July has been the deadliest month so far this year, with the levels of humanitarian aid are vastly under-serving the population’s needs. Meet with your elected officials to end military aid to Israel today.

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Emotional and Spiritual Care Team Applications Are Now Being Accepted

The Emotional and Spiritual Care Team, a program of Global H.O.P.E.’s Disaster Ministries, focuses on providing support to spiritual caregivers serving at the local church, association, and conference levels, as they provide pastoral care to their impacted communities. Now that network of volunteers who work alongside the UCC’s Conference Disaster and Response Coordinators is widening its reach. Learn more and apply here. 

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Dive Deeper on Mutual Aid

Mutual Aid. Perhaps you know the term. Perhaps it’s new to you! Perhaps you’re involved in local mutual aid efforts in your community. Perhaps you understand your church as imbued with the spirit and practices of mutual aid. Perhaps you’d like it to be! Join Minister for Economic Justice Rev. Seth Wispelwey and Dr. Sharon Fennema for an in-depth “train the trainer” workshop this fall on all things mutual aid. More information is available here.

The Vote is Sacred Webinar Series 

Faith has always had a voice in the public square and this election is no exception. The United Church of Christ is honored to co-sponsor The Vote Is Sacred, a webinar series hosted by Interfaith Alliance exploring the vital role faith communities can play in this upcoming election. Join us to learn how you and your community can get involved: register today!

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Sept. 10th: Responding to the Deadly ICE Detention System

As Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) continues to terrorize communities, separate families, and even kill citizens and non-citizens alike as part of this administration’s mass deportation campaign, there is also increased public scrutiny of this country’s detention center system for migrants. Join us to learn from UCC pastors and lay leaders as they share how they’ve taken action and learn what we can do as people of faith to stop detention and continue to resist this deadly system. Register today!

Sept. 19th: Webinar on Data Center Legislation

All are welcome to join Climate Hope Affiliates in taking a deep dive into two current bills in Congress that address the environmental and financial impacts of data centers. Our guest speaker will be Karim Marshall, Director of Climate and Energy Policy for the Consumer Federation of America. Marshall was previously the Senior Advisor for Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights at the U.S. EPA. Sign-up now for this webinar on Saturday, September 19th at 1 pm ET/10 am PT.

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Sept. 28: Vote with Love: Mobilizing Our Communities This Midterm Election

This midterm election, the stakes are higher than ever. Join the United Church of Christ and our partners for a conversation about why community mobilization matters right now, and what’s on the line for a few of the issues closest to our hearts: climate change, immigration justice, and economic justice. We’ll explore how these issues are showing up on ballots and in policy debates this election cycle, and why voting with love is a faith practice, not just a civic duty. Register today!

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October 4-6th: Faithful Response Immigration Gathering

You’re invited to join with people of faith from across Texas for training and resource building to faithfully respond to attacks on immigrants in our communities. The UCC and ecumenical partners are coming together to plan and sponsor this gathering at Slumber Falls Camp in New Braunfels, Texas, October 4-6 to facilitate space and provide tools for pastors, lay leaders, and the church community. Register and learn more about the event here (in English or en Español) 

Sept. 17th: Faith in Action: Global Peacemaking (A Two-Part Series)

2025 saw the highest number of active conflicts since World War II, and data so far this year shows that the rise in conflicts globally is likely to continue. As we mark International Day of Peace on September 21, we take hope from our global partners who are working for peace with justice in their communities and countries. In this webinar, learn about transformation through mission as partners share their work, how to support their efforts, and ways to share their stories in your churches and community. Register today!

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Sept. 20th: Just Peace Sunday 

Each year, the United Church of Christ recognizes the Sunday before International Day of Prayer for Peace as Just Peace Sunday. We take this Sunday to renew our commitment to our Just Peace vision. This year, we gather around the theme “God’s Economy: People Over Profit”. Stay tuned for more worship resources here. 

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Sept. 29th: Faith in Action: Conversations on Global Advocacy

Join Global Ministries’ Advocacy Team to ask questions about and hear updates from various staff and global partners about current issues and ways to act to bring about peace and justice in the world. This virtual event features topics such as how to engage with Congo Week, what has happened at the United Nations General Assembly, an update on the human rights situation in the Philippines, and more. Learn more and register today!

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October 11th: Access Sunday 

This year’s Access Sunday is October 11, 2026. Our Disability Theology committee has created the 2026 Access Sunday resources, which can be found on the Access Sunday page of our website. Access Sunday 2026 resources include Access Sunday liturgy based on Matthew 22:1-14, sermon discussions of Matthew 22:1-14 and Psalm 23, and an original song coming soon! Be sure to also visit our liturgical year archives for resources from past Access Sundays.

DC Action Center

Each week, the D.C. Office creates an action alert based on what is happening at that time in Congress and offers you the opportunity to contact your legislators with just one click! You can take action with our previous action alerts here.

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Justice & Peace Action Network Archives

Want to dive deeper into the expertise of the UCC on a variety of policy issues? Check out the previous Getting to the Root articles and our newsletter archive.

Witness for Justice

Looking for up-to-date social justice commentary? Check out Witness for Justice, a weekly editorial opinion column written by the National Staff.

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The Pollinator

The Pollinator is a digital platform of the UCC for the sharing of ideas and inspiration. Its focus is the building of a faith-filled and faith-rooted movement for the care of creation.