OWL Taking Flight: Learning About Bodies Book Series
2024-09-04 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller join us to talk about their new book series for young children. Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller are the authors of the Our Whole Lives K-1 (2nd ed.) curriculum, and the picture books for young children All About Vulvas & Vaginas and All About Penises (learningaboutbodies.com).

Climate Action Assembly
2024-09-04 13:00 - 14:00
The UCC Council for Climate Justice hosts Climate Action Assemblies every two months to focus on efforts related to the implementation of past General Synod resolutions. In this Climate Action Assembly, we will hear a briefing on the UCC’s current Vote for Climate Hope Campaign as it enters a critical stage. Climate Action Assemblies are open to all members of the UCC.

Community Safety Training Series
2024-09-09 20:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-23 20:00 - 21:00, 2024-09-30 20:00 - 21:00
How can congregations build an ecology of community safety that is rooted in care, investing in each other, believing in each other, and trusting each other and the rhythms and cycles around/within us? What community safety practices can we engage in now that also help us build the world we long for? Our experienced trainers will expand on our “Ecology of Community Safety” guide to offer practical skills, psycho-social care practices, planning tools, and analysis of current conditions, all towards practicing new ways of creating safety within our own congregational contexts.
This series is hosted by the United Church of Christ’s Love of Church FaithINFO team, and is open to all faith traditions.

A Refuge in Times of Trouble: Faith Communities as Resiliency Hubs
2024-09-11 13:00 - 14:00
As the climate crisis leads to more extreme weather events, faith communities can play a vital role as places of refuge and resiliency. For example, a house of worship with solar panels, battery storage, air conditioning, and an air filtration system can provide a place for community members to come during heat waves, power outages, or unhealthy air quality days. Faith communities not only can serve as drop-in centers, but they can also serve as evacuation zones, emergency shelters, and resource hubs in times of trouble. In this webinar, we will learn more about the cutting edge of how faith communities are embodying a love of neighbor in very tangible and needed ways. We will hear from those leading the way in their local communities to make this happen:
-Bekah Estrada, Southern California Director, Interfaith Power & Light
-Rev. Dr. Kevin Earley, Senior Pastor, Community Church of Atlanta
-Gary White, Environmental Justice Ministry Leader, Congregational Church of San Mateo
Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it.
This monthly installment of Creation Justice Webinars is brought to you by the United Church of Christ, Alabama Interfaith Power & Light, and the People’s Justice Council.
The co-hosts will be the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt, the Environmental Justice Minister for the UCC, and Katie Howe, the UCC’s Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: "Toxic polarization and partisan divides: Holding on to Faith, Hope, and Love this election season"
2024-09-12 15:30 - 16:30
Toxic polarization is a spiritual crisis. In this polarized moment, powerful social forces push us to think people across our divides are evil, extreme, or even subhuman, causing a breakdown of community and trust. Calling toxic polarization a spiritual crisis means it is a problem that exists not just in society but in our hearts, harming us from the inside out. This is a question of who we are as people, not just what kind of democracy or society we’re going to have. The good news is that our faith calls us to a higher standard, teaches us how to live together in daily life, and gives us tools to rebuild community and trust. The One America Movement organization supports faith leaders and faith communities as they put their moral and spiritual resources to bear against toxic polarization. In this UCC Our Faith Our Vote (Vote with Love!) webinar, we will hear from Chandra DeNap Whetstine, Chief Operating Officer at One America and a UCC Member in Discernment, along with Abigail Cipparone, UCC Domestic Policy Advocate, on the dynamics of toxic polarization and how Jesus calls us to respond. In short, we will explore together how to hold on to faith, hope, and love this election season! Join us!

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: God’s Love Knows No Borders
2024-09-18 15:30 - 16:30
An ecumenical delegation comprised of 10 faith leaders will bear witness at the southern border, from September 12-16. This border immersion experience is offered by the UCC Rio Grande Valley as a way for groups to get a clear picture of the challenges faced at the Texas-Mexico border, and ways to support this life-saving work. The Central Pacific Conference Immigrant Welcoming Network organized faith leaders from four UCC conferences, the ELCA, UMC, UCC Colectivo de Latinx Ministries and the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice in Oregon.
Panelists Include: Rev. Tyler Connoley (CPC Conference Minister), Rev. Ali Lopez, Pastor of UCC Rio Grande Valley, Pastor Keren Rodriguez IMIRJ Organizer/UMC in Aloha, Oregon, and Pastor Lucas Shurson, Faith Lutheran, Caldwell, ID, NW Intermountain Synod of the ELCA (Southern Idaho).

Living Our Extravagant Welcome, A Two-Part Series
2024-09-19 15:30 - 16:30, 2024-09-26 15:30 - 16:30
Part One, September 19, 2024 – The “Purple Church” In a denomination like the United Church of Christ, what does it mean to lead a purple church, a church with members from across the political spectrum, in the midst of a culture that is increasingly divided and siloed? Our panelists will explore how this works in rural and suburban settings of the United Church of Christ, as well as how such ministry can be a calling for our denomination.
Part Two, September 26, 2024 – Multiple Religious Belonging We are witnessing an increase in our culture of individuals and families who practice and/or identify with more than one faith tradition. Is there room in our congregations to welcome and embrace these people and families? How does this look in different settings of the church. Our panelists will speak about this present and growing reality in our churches from various perspectives and discuss how it is part of our sense of expansive welcome.

Race to the Polls: Preparing the UCC for the 2024 Election
2024-10-01 15:30 - 16:30
Almost every ballot measure and candidate policy platform have implications for racial justice because racial disparities are woven into every part of our political system and common life. No matter what your political views are, in the 2024 election we all will be making choices that either maintain the status quo of racism or create greater equity and justice. In the UCC, we have the resources of our faith and the covenants we share in our General Synod Resolutions to help guide us, but with all the information swirling around us, it can be hard to discern what and who will actually help us build a more just world for all. So we hope you’ll join us for this webinar where we will prayerfully engage in care-full conversation to discover the ways our faithful commitments to intersectional justice and collective liberation can guide our voting and campaigning in this vital moment for democracy in the United States. A special offering from the Racial Justice Ministries and Join the Movement.

OWL Taking Flight: Let’s Talk Month with Advocates for Youth!
2024-10-02 12:00 - 13:00
Lauren Barineau from Advocates for Youth joins us to talk about Let’s Talk Month. How do we talk to kids about sexuality and why is it important?

Nurture the Soul: Exploring Access Sunday: A Discussion with UCC Disabilities Ministries
2024-10-03 15:30 - 16:30
The second Sunday of October is designated Access Sunday in the UCC calendar, a day for celebrating the disability community and advocating for greater access. Each year, the UCC Disabilities Ministries Board produces resources for Access Sunday, including a complete liturgy, original music, and scripture commentary. Come join members of the UCCDM Disability Theology Committee as they discuss the meaning and purpose of Access Sunday, the 2024 resources, and how to start celebrating Access Sunday at your local church!

Project 2025 as a Threat to God's Creation
2024-10-09 13:00 - 14:00
Project 2025 is a compilation of policy proposals and a presidential transition project launched by the Heritage Foundation. The proposed policies would have far-reaching implications from bolstering the US military to cutting social welfare programs. In this webinar, we will look specifically at what Project 2025 would mean for environment justice.
Our panelists will include:
-Xavier Boatright, Deputy Legislative Director for the Sierra Club
-Rachel Cleetus, Climate and Energy Policy Director for the Union of Concerned Scientists
-Abigail Cipparone, Domestic Policy Advocate for the United Church of Christ
Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it.
This monthly installment of Creation Justice Webinars is co-hosted by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt who serves as the Minister of Environmental Justice for the United Church of Christ and the Rev. Michael Malcom who serves as the Executive Director for Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and the People’s Justice Council.

Nurture the Soul: Discovering Wellness Ministries in your Congregation
2024-10-10 15:30 - 16:30
This webinar will explore the variety of Wellness Ministries programs in UCC churches. Wellness Ministries resources will be illustrated. You will be invited to share ideas and questions in this interactive session.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: Healing the Body Politic(s)
2024-10-16 15:30 - 16:30
Ever wonder why there is so much political discussion about our bodies? Why the emphasis to legislate limitations on diversity? Why the need to confine our bodies to assigned roles, behaviors, and relationship styles? This panel discussion will discuss how people of faith can respond to the wide variety of political assaults of what appears to be an anti-body movement because, this election season, our bodies are on the line.

Nurture the Soul: Wellness Ministries Intergenerational Holiday Happenings
2024-10-17 15:30 - 16:30
Reduce loneliness and deepen a sense of community within your congregation by organizing intergenerational gatherings during Thanksgiving and Advent. We will share three different types of activities and answer your questions about how to plan and advertise your events.

Our Economic Leverage
2024-10-23 12:00 - 13:00
As people of faith in the United States, we have seen how boycotts have been effective over the years in creating social change (e.g. the Montgomery Bus Boycott). How can we best use those, and what are some other economic measures we can use today to ensure our personal money and our church’s money is being spent in a way that aligns with our faith values? How can we leverage our resources to offer solidarity to Palestinian partners for the long term, especially in these times?
Join us as we hear from two colleagues who are directly engaged. From the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA and the YWCA of Palestine, you’ll hear from Muhanad al-Qaisi about the ways we can invest in the long-term stability of Palestinian farmers who are being threatened by Jewish settlers and the Israeli military in the West Bank. You will also hear from Matthew Illian about some best practices the United Church Funds uses to ensure that church investments are in line with our faith values and what questions to ask about your own investments.

Nurture the Soul: Christian Zionism in Our Churches
2024-10-24 15:30 - 16:30
Over the past century, Christian Zionism has been used to justify first the immigration of Jews to Palestine and then, with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, justification for the unquestioning support of Israeli policies of occupation and apartheid. So what even is Christian Zionism? How does it appear in our churches? What are some different lenses we can use to examine the scriptures that underpin it?
Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner, retired Presbyterian pastor and theologian, and Rev. William T. Young IV, pastor of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ, will share with us how they unpack and challenge Christian Zionism in their contexts.

Nurture the Soul: Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared! What to Expect in the 2024 Election
2024-10-31 15:30 - 16:30
With November 5th approaching fast, it can be difficult keeping the election anxiety at bay. The past few years have demonstrated how the time between the presidential election and the presidential inauguration can be uncertain, chaotic, and even scary. But one of the best ways to keep the election scaries away is to have a plan in place, as a church, for the many scenarios that could play out on and after election day.
Join us for a conversation about how we can best prepare for November 5th and the following days. We will discuss topics such as 1) election security and ballot counting, 2) how to combat misinformation/disinformation on and after Election Day, and 3) how churches can discern their role as community leaders in keeping our elections safe and accessible.
We’ll hear from experts including Abigail Cipparone (UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy), Chris Crawford (Protect Democracy), Cheryl A. Leanza (UCC Media Justice), Rev. Michael Neuroth (UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy), and Raelyn Roberson (Common Cause).

Vote with Love: An Election Day Prayer Vigil & Convening
2024-11-05 16:00 - 18:00
On election day, November 5th, join Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson and UCC leaders from across the nation for a non-partisan election day prayer vigil and convening. The vigil will highlight the prayers and intentions collected from across the UCC using this portal, which will be woven together with music and prayers from UCC leaders. Following a time of prayer, we will then hold space for the fears and anxieties many feel around the election in separate breakout rooms for pastoral care concerns, spiritual grounding, and election protection tips. Let us join together on November 5th to pray for our nation, for our democracy, and for justice and peace to prevail.

POSTPONED: Our Whole Lives Taking Flight: Celebrating OWL for Grades 10-12, 2nd edition and More!
2024-11-06 12:00 - 13:00
POSTPONED – more information will come later.
Amy Johnson and Melanie Davis will give you the latest Our Whole Lives curriculum info, including what to expect with the next edition of OWL for Grades 10-12, the difference between “editions” and “reprints,” and how the new format is rolling out across levels of OWL.

UCC Climate Action Assembly: Post-Election Gathering
2024-11-06 13:00 - 14:00
On the day after the election, we will assess implications of the election results and begin to plan ahead. Our special guest speakers will include Robin Lewis, the Climate Equity Director for Interfaith Power & Light-DMV, and Abigail Cipparone, the Domestic Policy Advocate of the United Church of Christ’s DC Office.
We will also look ahead to the next stage of the Climate Hope campaign as church members prepare to visit the offices of their elected officials.
Every two months, the UCC Council for Climate Justice hosts a Climate Action Assembly focused on collective endeavors rooted in recent General Synod resolutions. Climate Action Assemblies are open to all members of the UCC.

Nurture the Soul - Building Community Connections to Create Resilient Communities Part I
2024-11-07 15:30 - 16:30
In this webinar, Katie Howe, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery will discuss how creating coalitions and community building during non-disaster times can create an environment that can help communities if they experience a disaster including climate-caused, human caused, technological or environmental disasters. She will be joined by Rev. Dr. Becca Girrell from the United Community Church of Morrisville, VT. Rev. Girrell will discuss her experience with building community connections prior to the significant repeated flooding in Morrisville, VT, and how that has had a positive impact on their community.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: "What's Next" - Naming the Pain: Unresolved Grief and the Lure of Political Extremism
2024-11-11 15:30 - 16:30
In most cases, anger and fear are the emotions most readily associated with Christian Nationalism and other forms of political extremism. Rev. Dr. Tanya Jeffcoat, however, will examine the ways in which unresolved grief often plays an underlying role in drawing people to extremist positions. After exploring several expressions of unresolved grief, she will offer potential approaches for addressing grief and building communities that offer opportunities to heal from the divisions we face.

What Is Owed: International Climate Debt
2024-11-13 13:00 - 14:00
While developed countries disproportionately caused the climate crisis, developing countries have disproportionately suffered the consequences. As a result, a debt is owed. Yet, the opposite is happening as developing countries are the ones saddled with the crushing burden of debt payments. According to a report from the IMF and World Bank, 47 developing countries will pay $400 billion dollars to service their debts in 2024. With the risk of default, these countries are not able to devote the money needed to address the climate crisis. As the UN Climate Change Conference takes place in Azerbaijan, we will focus on the enormous moral and financial issues at stake with climate debt. Athena Peralta from the World Council of Churches and Karimi Kinoti from Edeni Platform discuss these critical matters.
Even if you cannot make the webinar at its scheduled time, still sign-up, and we will send you a link to a recording of it.
This monthly installment of Creation Justice Webinars is co-hosted by the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt who serves as the Minister of Environmental Justice for the United Church of Christ and the Rev. Michael Malcom who serves as the Executive Director for Alabama Interfaith Power & Light and the People’s Justice Council.

Breaking the Chains - A 2-day Virtual Summit
2024-11-13 13:00 - 14:00
Join us as we participate in rich dialogue and intentional learning on Gender & Sexual Based Violence through the lens of Thursdays in Black!
Together, we’ll learn how to partner in Breaking the Chains of gender and sexual based violence through deconstructing biblical narratives, testimony in action, social media’s influence on youth and ways to engage in violence prevention and anti-trafficking work.

Nurture the Soul - Building Community Connections to Create Resilient Communities Part 2
2024-11-14 15:30 - 16:30
In this webinar, Katie Howe, Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery will discuss how loving our neighbor starts with being prepared for disasters. There are some steps that all churches should be taking regardless of their financial or human resources. She will discuss some of the main ideas in the newly revised Local Church Disaster Preparedness Workbook, and discuss the importance of having a well-structured preparedness plan. She will be joined by Rev. Kelly Hansen, Conference Disaster Response Coordinator for the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference United Church of Christ, and John Etter, a member of Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ in New Orleans, LA, who will discuss their experiences with disaster preparedness.

Nurture the Soul Special Offering: What’s Next: Building Community w/Faith Practitioners from Across the Country
2024-11-18 15:30 - 16:30
Join a small group of diverse faith practitioners (campus, church, community organizing and board settings) who met through a gathering of people to explore racial justice. In this webinar, we’ll learn through personal accounts of how they have attended to sacred self-care in complicated and diverse settings; developed strategies and skills for sustaining themselves in their work; confronted their fears personally and collectively in order to model building authentic relationships of trust across our divided Nation. All of this has led to an imagination and practice of what a just world for all looks and feels like and a deep admiration and a sustaining kinship.
