Peace & Social Justice

The Peace and Social Justice (PSJ) Group exists to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person by direct charitable action through projects and services external to the church community.

We aim to “Walk the Talk” through actions that align with the Unitarian Universalist 7 Principles. Members of the PSJ Group are church members who are directly involved with PSJ Projects and Initiatives. The PSJ Group operates under agreed Terms of Reference for the PSJ Group. All projects are evaluated, and actions requiring funding must be approved by the Church Management Committee, and Church Treasurer. Approved projects are funded by a separate PSJ Fund, which derives income from PSJ pledges, donations, congregational monthly offertory and fundraising events.

Monthly updates on PSJ projects and activities are given to the church congregation at every 3rd Sunday Service of the month. These updates are (sometimes) available for viewing on the church website.

Peace and Social Justice action has long been a part of Unitarianism in Auckland, 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

West Auckland Dances of Universal Peace – Monday, 30th August, 2021 – Cancelled.

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This evening now cancelled due to Covid.

Come join us for a special evening of dances of universal peace with Sally Mabelle and Matêj Koukl, sufi whirling by Abheer, and the resonant sounds of crystal singing bowls by Katrin Franz.

Ranui Community Centre, 474 Swanson Road

Supported by Auckland Unitarians, Koha appreciated toward hall rental and refreshments.

RSVP to Sally Mabelle – 02102228782, or via the form below.
RSVP, get more information, or leave a comment below.

Quiz on Wheels – Fundraiser for PSJ projects

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Photos from this can be seen on this google slideshow.

On Saturday 7 August Auckland Unitarians will be holding a battle of wits as we gently explore Northcote/Birkenhead. The stakes are high, those in the winning car will win movie tickets!

This is a fun day out for all the family, there are questions to answer and quests to accomplish. Learn some of the history, love stories and and interest spots of one of our fascinating city suburbs. It is highly recommended that each team has at least one member with a phone with access to the internet.

We finish up with a shared afternoon tea chez Rachel and Clay. This is a fundraiser for Peace and Social Justice projects. Suggested entry fee is $10-$20 per adult, depending on what you can afford. Children are free. Winners are determined by wits, not speed! More details later…

Craftivist Companions update: 1st August 2021

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We are currently working on two projects. If you would like to come along and help us with strategy, or just to create your own piece of craftivism, please join us on Thursday evenings 7.30 at the church. Cups of tea, yummy snacks, stimulating company and craft tuition are all part of the package. Hope to see you there!

  1. Our blanket in support of Amnesty International’s campaign for Asylum Seeker Rights. The blanket has a flock of birds of many colours, flying towards a better future, and carrying messages of hope. Purple hearts, representing compassion and courage also adorn the blanket. We also hope to include flowers. (If you would like to add a bird, please point it to the east, so it is flying with the flock.)
  2. We are also supporting a campaign for a fairer future through Action Station. We are making bookmarks, with Fairer Future messages, and plan a guerrilla bookmark insertion campaign, into public library books, once we have enough ammunition.
Blanket with AI logo, birds, hearts
Work in progress…

Dances of Universal Peace — Sunday 8 August, 2021

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Arrive from 4.45pm for a 5.00pm start.

Dances 5:00-6:30pm.

Followed by a community potluck 6:30pm–8:00pm, so please bring a plate to share.


Koha appreciated (to support the Auckland Unitarians Peace and Social Justice projects and events such as this.)

Location: our church sanctuary.

RSVP to Sally Mabelle via the form below.

RSVP, get more information, or leave a comment below.

Tree Council badges presented to MPs

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Join us for our next Craffiti project, Thursday evenings, 7.30, in the church.

Craftivist Companions have completed our project on behalf of The Tree Council. We made 120 badges and sent one to every MP asking them to support legislation to provide greater protection for urban trees.
25th June – We presented them to Deborah Russell, MP for New Lynn…
30th June – Deborah Russell delivered them to parliament for us, and we are delighted to see them being worn by several MPs!

Winter Solstice Dance Deepening Weekend – 19-20 June 2021

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Here’s a short video recorded on the day

You are warmly invited to participate in a winter solstice weekend, 19-20 June.

10-4pm Saturday the 19th will be a day of dance deepening, open to all who wish to deepen in their experience of the Dances of Universal Peace and associated walks and meditative practices. Please bring a vegetarian plate to share for lunch.

5pm Sunday will be an evening dance gathering, followed by a community shared vegetarian supper, 6:30-8pm.

From 2-4pm on Sunday, 20th June, Dance leaders are invited to join together in the spirit of collaboration and mutual support/growth by contributing in a shared reflection gathering preceding the dance evening.

Continue reading Winter Solstice Dance Deepening Weekend – 19-20 June 2021

Glen Taylor School

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with Chris Herlihy, Principal, Glen Taylor School

with Chris Herlihy, Principal, Glen Taylor School

Chris Herlihy © 13 June 2021

Links

Welcome includes:- “Children Widen the Circle of Our Being in Ways That Are Limitless” by Gary Kowalski

Chalice Lighting is:- “Chalice Lighting for Children’s Sunday” By Christian Schmidt, Alexis Capen

Time for all ages:- “If I Built a School” by Chris Van Dusen

Koha Hymn:- “Sometimes I feel like a motherless child”, #97

Reading:- “Honouring Children” By Linda Olson Peebles

Closing Hymn: “I Seek the Spirit of a Child” #338,
performed by Julia Stubbs

Closing Words:- “We All Emerge” By Eric Williams

Pacific Dyslexia Aid – June 2021 Update

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Although Tonga fortunately has no community transmission of COVID-19, travel there is not possible at present and thus the pandemic has seriously affected our ability to train teachers in the use of Steps as well as supply laptops to schools.

Our main effort has shifted to attempting to collect from New Zealand companies laptops which are up for replacement. We will then provide them to Tongan primary schools as soon as we can. In addition, fund raising continues in order to purchase new laptops for the schools.

We look forward to being able to return to Tonga and assist their Ministry staff to expand this valuable and well received Steps literacy programme, especially helpful for dyslexic children.

Tongan teachers and Ministry of Education and Training staff with certified Steps Pacific Islands literacy trainer Dr Paul Henriques of our Auckland Unitarian Peace and Social Justice Group, in January 2020.

India Covid-19 Humanitarian Crisis

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While NZ has been at Covid-19 Alert Level 1 for some time and life for most has largely returned to “normal”, the Covid-19 virus is spreading exponentially overseas, and especially so in India. With more infectious variants occurring, India is in crisis and in desperate need of medical supplies including oxygen, respirators, PPE and isolation facilities. Hospitals are overflowing.

Continue reading India Covid-19 Humanitarian Crisis

Help a Kid to Camp – Thank You!!

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Thanks to everyone for the tremendous support for this campaign! 

Through your efforts, church members have sponsored 43 Year 7 & 8 Glen Taylor School students to the school camp at Kawau Island held later this month.  Sponsorship for these students is very much appreciated, and the school’s Principal, Chris Herlihy, sends huge thanks to all! 

Read the original appeal for more about this campaign