by WUUC | Aug 25, 2021 | Announcements
By John Hartman
Bad News
- Virtually every child on the planet is exposed to at least one climate or environmental hazard right now.
- 850 million children are exposed to four or more climate or environmental hazards.
- Thirty-three countries are considered extremely high risk for children, but those countries emit just 9 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions.
- The 10 countries with the highest emissions collectively account for nearly 70% of global emissions, but children in those higher-emitting countries face lower overall risks associated with climate change.
Good News
- Federal climate action is happening. (Thanks for voting!)
- The Glasgow Climate Summit in November will put countries “feet to the carbon fire.” They will ratchet up the goals they set in Paris.
- Countries are already signing up for deep carbon cuts. China aims to go carbon neutral by 2060.
- Renewables are now the cheapest energy. At some point it will make economic sense to shut down and replace coal and gas power stations.
- Covid was a wake-up call. It has reminded us that it is possible for our world to be upended in ways we cannot control.
- Business is going green. Why invest in new oil wells or coal power stations that will become obsolete before they can repay themselves? Tesla is the world’s most valuable car company. Exxon stock’s value fell so far that it got booted out of the Dow Jones for major US corporations.
There is reason for hope. But even if we win the battle to create a carbon-neutral world the major fight will be in persuading the rich carbon-producing countries to support the countries who will suffer from the greatest impact of climate change. Creating a mechanism for this to happen will be one of our greatest challenges.
by WUUC | Aug 23, 2021 | Announcements
Join us on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. for a meeting of the WUUC Nonfiction Book Club, hosted by Alaine Davis and Donna Johnson. We will discuss An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States (Revisioning History Book 3) by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. Depending on what the world looks like then, we may meet on Zoom or in person. RSVP to Alaine.
Every Sunday we say these words: We acknowledge that this land is the traditional territory of the Coast Salish People. Their presence is imbued in these mountains, valleys, waterways, and shorelines. May we nurture our relationship with our Coast Salish neighbors, and the shared responsibilities to this place, their homelands.
This land acknowledgement is necessary but insufficient if we just say the words and fail to accurately understand the past 400 years of US history. The next steps for WUUC might start with deep inquiry followed by actions that address the legacy of injustice against Native Americans.
An Indigenous People’s History of the United States is a good place to begin. It is “An extraordinary book by Indigenous scholar and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz that challenges readers to learn US history through a narrative that centers the story, the experiences, and the perspectives of Indigenous peoples. Upending myths and misinformation that have been promulgated by leaders and media, it asks readers to reconsider the origin story of the United States taught to every US school child. Movements in response to global and local environmental emergencies, many involving UUs, are increasingly recognizing the connection between Indigenous rights and climate justice.” *
Goodreads says this about the book: “Today in the United States, there are more than five hundred federally recognized Indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Spanning more than four hundred years, this classic bottom-up peoples’ history radically reframes US history and explodes the silences that have haunted our national narrative.” **
An Indigenous People’s History of the United States asks us to consider how acknowledging the reality of the trauma and resilience of indigenous people and taking steps based on this history might transform our society. Read the book and join us Oct. 16 to share your insights.
Four times a year, the WUUC Book Discussion Group gathers to read and talk about a nonfiction book. You only attend the meetings about books that interest you, so we end up with a different group of participants every time. We meet to connect and talk about a book in depth. Anyone is welcome to suggest a book and/or lead a discussion. Contact Alaine to RSVP, suggest a book, or offer to host a future discussion.
*https://www.uua.org/read/indigenous-peoples
**https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20588662-an-indigenous-peoples-history-of-the-united-states
by WUUC | Aug 23, 2021 | Announcements
Hello, I’m Lori McConnell. I volunteer with Snohomish County’s Medical Reserve Corp. I have been volunteering with them since March 2021, first working as a screener/observer at the mass COVID vaccination site in Monroe, then doing PCR COVID testing in Everett and Lynnwood. Currently I am working at the mobile vaccination clinics.
I wish everyone would get vaccinated so we could all get back to living life normally. My memorable event was when a man came into a mobile clinic in Granite Falls recently. He told me he “had to” get vaccinated or wear a mask to work, but he didn’t believe COVID was real until a co-worker was hospitalized. I told him he was lucky it wasn’t him! I was so glad to see him there.
I’ve also been volunteering within my local community as a Board member of the Clearview Community Association since 2015. The great thing is it’s all about issues I can really affect! My most memorable event in this role was when I drove the effort to bring our community together to preserve our natural environment — and the tract housing developers finally lost interest (for now) in destroying our rural area. We are a rare unincorporated area that actually has an effective voice at the county government level.
by WUUC | Aug 23, 2021 | Announcements
Adapted by Linda Sherry
from Soul Matters materials
Historically, Unitarians and Universalists were people who believed that God hadn’t given up on us and so we shouldn’t give up on each other or this world. This has led Unitarian Universalists to being a people of “Why not?” Why not give people another chance? Why not fight what seems a losing battle? Why not risk a little failure? So that’s our religion.
How open have you been recently to “Why not?” How’s your faith in possibility doing? Trusting possibility isn’t so easy for many of us.
One Soul Matters member offers this:
“When I think of possibility, I think of all the people and opportunities we close the door on. Such as: ‘I will never see eye to eye with my sister.’ ‘I couldn’t possibly leave this job to start my own business.’ ‘I will never have close friends like I had where I used to live.’ ‘I will never really make a difference, so why bother?’“
Part of it has to do with real life defeats. But often a bigger part of it is about imagined fear and protecting ourselves. There is ironic comfort in convincing yourself that the effort is hopeless; that way you don’t have to try — and risk failure, hurt or disappointment.
Embracing Possibility requires us to be willing to endure a few wounds along the way. It can hurt to be hopeful. So maybe Embracing Possibility has more to do with being a people of vulnerability and courage than we’ve thought. And having faith in your/our resilience, to get back up and keep moving forward.
So maybe the question this month isn’t, “Are you ready to lean into possibility?” but “Who’s beside you and who are you bringing along?” Who will help keep you inspired when you get discouraged; who will help you up when you fall flat?
After all, no one makes it down the road of possibility alone. It’s not a solo act. For it to sink in — and better yet take flight — it needs to be at least a duet. Of course a quartet is even better. And just imagine what we might pull off if we can gather a choir, all singing the tune of “Why not?!” and “Yes, We Can!” at the top of our lungs!
Each month WUUC engages with a theme which is explored in our Worship, in small groups, and hopefully in the minds and hearts of our members and friends. These themes and groups have been developed as a program called Soul Matters, as a tool for congregational enrichment from the UUA. September’s theme is: Embracing Possibility.
by WUUC | Jul 28, 2021 | Announcements
Last month the congregation voted to formally name our sanctuary Ditzler Hall in honor of WUUC founding member Bob Ditzler, who was the primary mover and shaker in bringing our beautiful building into existence.
From the day WUUC first began, “Bob the Builder” held the vision of creating a wonderful physical home for our congregation – he played a major role in every part of it’s development from choosing the property to coordinating and visioning with the architect ,and then to be the contractor and director of every aspect of building our space.
Did you know that over 65% of the labor to build the church was volunteer effort by members and friends of the church? Did you know that blessings and prayers and signatures of all those volunteers are written inside the walls of our building?
Bob directed ALL the volunteers every step of the way, often teaching us a skill we never dreamed of having; using skill saws and other power tools, mounting drywall, laying concrete, different techniques in interior and exterior painting, cutting and laying carpet – We did it all because Bob Ditzler believed we could and taught us how!
Now we need a group of people to help plan a formal dedication event. Of course, the timing is unclear but it is now time to begin planning a ceremony and, to properly honor Bob’s spirit, a PARTY!! If you want to help, please email Board Member Linda Sherry. lindasherry@wedges.com
