Faithful Action for Justice
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Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ
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August 2023
Faithful Action for Justice provides announcements and information from ORUCC’s Justice missions (Care of Creation, Immigration Justice, Heart Room, Racial Justice, Christian Witness and Service, Palestinian Justice).
Nobody can do everything. Saying yes to some things requires saying no to others. Our health and obligations limit us. As you read, briefly celebrate and pray for people doing something you will not join. As you feel called, reach out to a project’s contact person to learn more, and consider joining or click on links to read more.
Our justice mission teams provide information on issues that may be controversial, speaking to the congregation but not for the congregation.
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Opportunities for Action or Service
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Donate items for MOSES Rummage Sale
MOSES is having a rummage sale. MOSES, of which ORUCC is a congregational member, is an organization that advocates for criminal justice reform and ending systemic racism thus allowing all people to thrive. The rummage sale will be at St. Dunstan’s 6205 University Avenue (Near Allen Blvd) Saturday August 25 8 am to 5pm & Sunday August 26 8 am to 3 pm. Items are sold for the amount the person is willing and able to pay. This policy has worked in the past both to raise funds for MOSES and to allow community people to acquire things they need.
Items needed (in good working condition)
tools, small appliances, household items, clothing (clean, gently used), books
NOTE: MOSES cannot accept computers, TVs, exercise equipment, sofas, futons, or baby furniture.
If you’d like to contribute items for the sale, there is only a small window of opportunity. Please bring items to ORUCC Saturday or Sunday, Aug 20 and 21 or to St. Dunstan’s on August 24 (8 am to 5 pm). Please don’t bring items to either site at any other time. If you can’t bring items then, there will be a FREECYCLE event at ORUCC in the Spring.
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ORUCC Immigration Justice Team Thanks All
for Another Successful Clothing Drive
The Immigration Team was thrilled to sort, box, and deliver 44 U-Haul boxes of clothing to Casa Alitas in Tucson Arizona this July 2023. A tremendous set of people helped to make this happen, and we extend our gratitude to all.
This was our fourth clothing collection drive, held annually since 2019. The clothing drive reinforces the commitment of the ORUCC congregation to immigration justice and our connection with Casa Alitas, the immigrant welcome center near the border. It was a joy to see the education wing at the church fill with donated clothing week after week, culminating with a fun day of loading the trailer of Steve Sheets for transit to Casa Alitas. Steve was met by the welcoming faces of our friends at Casa Alitas.
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Casa Alitas Clothing Drive through Beth Israel
If you missed the chance to donate clothing to Casa Alitas last month when ORUCC collected donations, you can donate now until September 29 through Beth Israel Center, 1406 Mound Street (corner Randall Ave) at the bin on the Randall Ave side by the parking lot entrance OR the porch of 611 Prospect Street, both Madison. Please do NOT drop off donations on Shabbat (sundown Friday through sundown Saturday).
General Guidelines
- New or newly-washed, gently-used items
- Casual summer and non-bulky winter clothing
- No underwear
- Shoes, especially flip flops, sandals or tennies
S, M, L (not XL) men’s clothing
- Jeans, sweatpants (waist 28” to 34”; length 27” to 32”)
- Shorts and caps
- T-shirts; polos; sweatshirts; hoodies
S, M, L (not XL) women’s clothing
- Jeans, sweatpants, leggings
- T-shirts and knits
- Maternity clothes
Children
- T-shirts and knits (sizes 6 to 18)
- Pants and shorts (sizes 2 to 16)
- Baseball caps; hats
- School quality backpacks (no string bags)
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Learn About Justice Issues
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Teaching about Indigenous Issues in Wisconsin
A bill has been introduced in the Wisconsin legislature to strengthen the state-mandated social studies curriculum for K-12 education about the history, culture and tribal sovereignty of the federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands in Wisconsin. There will be Zoom programs sponsored by Taking a Faithful Stance for Equity on Wednesday August 16 and Tuesday September 12 that will provide information about this issue.
Taking a Faithful Stand for Equity is a statewide coalition including both the Wisconsin Council of Churches and WISDOM (organizations ORUCC is affiliated with). It holds monthly statewide Zoom meetings to share experiences and educate people about attacks on public schools, voting rights and other issues. The next meeting will be Wednesday August 16 at 6:30. Please register in advance to get the Zoom meeting link. The speaker will be Brian Ward, an activist and educator who has written about issues of the representation of Indigenous people in K-12 classrooms.
The speaker on September 12 will be David O’Connor, a member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe) and the American Indian Studies Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, where supports schools districts efforts to provide instruction about Wisconsin’s American Indian nations and tribal communities. Additional information about this presentation and the link to register will be sent later.
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MOSES Updates
The MOSES Education Advocacy Group led analysis, testimony, and development of a MOSES position in support of a Joint Legislative Bill to provide statewide requirements and financial support for improved literacy using the Science of Reading approach to instruction and curricula. This is a small step toward further literacy support for children with dyslexia, which is a major MOSES initiative. The amended legislation passed both houses and was signed into law by Governor Evers in July. Read more about The Right to Read Act here.
MOSES is continuing to advocate Restorative Justice (RJ) in Dane County schools. Task force members recently met twice with RJ support staff in the Madison Metropolitan School District and forged a framework for continued engagement with RJ coordinators and administrators.
For more information about MOSES goings-on, see the latest MOSES Newsletter.
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MOSES general meetings are the first Sunday of the month 2:30-4:30 with a social time before the meeting 2-2:30. Next meeting is August 6 at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church 6205 University Avenue. or on Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81036805998?pwd=SHdMT3hOT253TlRjRUdaRythWE00QT09 (this is the same recurring link as always) Meeting ID: 810 3680 5998 Passcode 640043 Please note that the meeting will prioritize in-person attendees. August Agenda. New attendees are always welcome. General meetings feature racial equity discussions, informational presentations about local issues, and short presentations from MOSES working groups.
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News From Our Mission Teams
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Racial Justice: Learning about Indigenous Issues
While continuing its concern with issues around racism and anti-Blackness, the Racial Justice Mission Team is discussing ways to educate ourselves and ORUCC about Indigenous issues. One project involves exploring ORUCC’s past support for an Indian boarding school. A small group of people led by Joyce Binder is looking into this issue and we may form a special-purpose mission team around this specific issue. If you are interested in being part of this small team, or interested in education about Indigenous issues more generally or in lifting up other topics for the racial justice mission team to consider, please contact Pam Oliver. We are also discussing create a separate mission team to inform the congregation about activities and issues supported by MOSES.
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Wisconsin Faith Leaders Call for a Just and Humane Immigration System – Watch the Video
On July 19, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice and the Dane Sanctuary Coalition, in partnership with Voces de la Frontera, released a statement calling for a just and humane immigration system. Over 160 clergy and people of faith, and 34 congregations and organizations, signed on to our statement.
When President Biden ran for office, he promised to make the immigration system fair, orderly and humane. He said he wished to “undo the moral and national shame of the previous administration.” On his first day in office, he announced sweeping plans to reform decades-old U.S. immigration laws.
But two years later little has changed. Migrants still daily risk death from any number of dangers— lethal exposure to excessive heat or cold, drowning trying to cross rivers, suffocation in semi-trailers, falls from the border wall, outright homicide, and now detention center disasters. Of those who reach here, the vast majority face denial of entry—or even worse, family separation.
Read Rabbi Bonnie Margulis’ statement here, the WFVJ statement with all the signatories here and watch our press conference with the link below.
Thank you all for your commitment to immigrant justice!
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Interested? Reach out to learn more about our justice teams and projects. Our mission teams welcome your time, talent and energy!
In addition, our Christian Witness and Service ministry connects members to a variety of opportunities to support justice activities (chair:LuAnn Greiner)
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Let us love and care for ourselves and each other as we work together for justice and mercy.
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