Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Weaving the Web

September 22, 2006
Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

As Jean McFadden announces in the Bulletin, the Social Justice Committee is retiring after a long and honorable run. The patio table will go quiet, and we will develop new ways of choosing the monthly recipient of 10% of our collection.

What is so remarkable is that even after – as Jean notes “forty-plus” years of activism – the members of this committee are still out there in the streets, in the kitchens, on our patio, and in city council meetings bending the arc of the universe toward justice. Their work as a committee has been the least of it. They have run our Ripples tutoring program, Hotel de Zink, and the UUSC membership drive, to give just a few examples, and they will continue to put their energies into this good work. That is their true passion, the end to which all those Sunday afternoon meetings in Room 10 have only been means.

And we as a congregation have many avenues to social justice and will continue to do so. We have several programs devoted in whole or part to “giving life the shape of justice: Cool Deeds for Kids, the Green Sanctuary Committee, the Peace Umbrella, Peninsula Interweave, and our Local Organizing Committee of Peninsula Interfaith Action. And that’s not even to mention all the unofficial but thriving opportunities that members bring to the rest of the community by enthusiastic ones and twos: Afghans for Afghans; the Opportunity Center; the South Palo Alto Food Closet; sales of fair trade, environmentally responsible coffee; collecting signatures for marriage equality at the Peace Dance; Clean Money…

During my study leave this summer, I researched strong models of organizing for social justice in UU congregations, and Darcey and I will make a proposal to the Board later this year about some ways to make our justice work even more organized and effective. One thing it already has plenty of is passion. UUCPA has demonstrated a long-lasting and deep commitment to making the world as just and compassionate a world as the one we dream of in our minds.

When you see them, please take a moment to join me in thanking the outgoing members of the Social Justice Committee for their service to UUCPA and the world: Larry Aronson, Rae Bell, Malva Blosser, Julie Cockroft, Jane Glauz, Litsie Indergand, Jean McFadden, Hurd Twombly, Mary Elizabeth Van Patten, and Rachel Vasiliev. Thank you all for inspiring us and giving us hope!

— Blessings,
Amy