Peace & Social Justice

PSJ (Peace and Social Justice) action has long been a part of Unitarianism in Auckland. A small active group of members decided that they wanted to do more than talk about issues, they felt they needed to walk that talk. To do this, they decided to start building a special Peace and Social Justice Fund, and from 2006 onwards regular pledging by these members began. The aim has been to focus efforts where the PSJ group felt they could make a real difference.

Also much of About Us / Our History / The communion of Unitarian Saints is concerned with Peace and Social Justice issues.

Contact our Peace and Social Justice Group

Peace & Social Justice Report – July 2020

Amnesty International - Urgent Action Network, Dances of Universal Peace, Duffy Books in Homes - Glen Taylor School, Pacific Dyslexia Aid

Watch:-

Peace & Social Justice Report – July 2020

or listen:-

Listen, or download the MP3

Duffy Books in Homes – Glen Taylor School

Brenda reports that in the Food Parcel Assistance for Glen Taylor School (GTS) during lockdown, in which much of the congregation was involved, a total of $2,370 was donated by us which meant many families in their local communities were helped. The principal of GTS and Clay put together a Sunday Zoom service on 17th May which was much enjoyed.

When asked how we could best help advocate for GTS, the principal suggested we could help ensure the promised upgrade to the school property actually occurs, support an increase in wages for Teacher Aids, and continue to press for an end to child poverty and a reduction in inequality.

Continue reading Peace & Social Justice Report – July 2020 →

Glen Taylor School

Duffy Books in Homes - Glen Taylor School, Peace & Social Justice, Sunday Talks

with Chris Herlihy

Glen Taylor School
Listen, or download the MP3

No text this week.

Links

Spirit of Life is written by Carolyn McDade and sung by the Ogrange County Unitarian Universalist Choir

Opening words are Fierce Urgency By Ashley Horan.

Closing words are To Water in Excelsis By Richard M Fewkes.

Postlude:- Carrie Newcomer – Room at the Table

Shared Links

Links were provided by church members for discussion purposes, inclusion in this list does not signify endorsement of the linked content by Auckland Unitarian Church.

  • From Jeff Parke: Retroviruses are nearly impossible to develop vaccines against. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrovirus Accelerated vaccine testing procedures might come up with a vaccine soon, but major risk is one that either isn’t effective enough, or has a harm profile as bad or worse than the disease. Jury is out for a number of months about this.
  • From John Maindonald: How many have seen this piece of local satire? ‘And the Lord did speak unto Brian’ https://bit.ly/2X6rVlx

“Everything you think is wrong” day…

Sunday Talks, Understanding Islam

A reflection on the Christchurch massacre

with Rev. Clay Nelson

“Everything you think is wrong” day… A reflection on the Christchurch massacre
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Read below or download the PDF

Clay Nelson © 15 March 2020

I’m sure that not long ago I thought there was no such day as “Everything you think is wrong” day to celebrate. I was wrong. I have no idea who comes up with these days, and no one knows who came up with this one or why on this date, March 15. My guess is the Ides of March was chosen because Julius Cæsar thought Brutus was his friend right up to the moment the knife entered his back.

So how does one celebrate this faux holiday? According to the anonymous founder this is a day to avoid making decisions, and by all means avoid saying “I think”. It is also a good day to spend time contemplating everything we don’t know or think we do, but don’t. We can take time to laugh at ourselves for things people used to think were true but aren’t.

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Discomfort is our teacher

Standing on the Side of Love, Sunday Talks

with Rev. Clay Nelson

Discomfort Is Our Teacher
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Read below, or download the PDF

Opening words are from ‘Everybody’s In’, a Prayer By Lori Walke

Closing words are ‘A Protest and a Party’, by Hannah Roberts Villnave

Clay Nelson © 16 February 2020

For as long as I have been giving sermons I’ve been guided by the maxim that it is the preacher’s job “to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”

I always thought it came from some saint of the distant past; turns out that it was by Finley Peter Dunne, an Irish humourist who wrote a column for a Chicago newspaper. In 1901 he had this to say about newspapers, not preachers, although they seem to have a number of commonalities:

Continue reading Discomfort is our teacher →