The 1st Friday Action Hour is April 4. The pertinent document will be available at noon. As usual there are no obligations to participate, no long-term commitments, or requests for donations. YOU WILL NOT BE ADDED TO A TEXT OR EMAIL LIST. Check it out at your leisure if you can’t “lunch” with us. If you decide to participate, please remember to fill out the response form. This helps UUFANJ gauge our effectiveness. Since there is so much going on, the main issue to be addressed at this particular Action Hour is still to be determined.
GAAMC Celebrates April
Come join us in celebrating April – a time of renewal, growth, new beginnings – hope.
April 7, 6 pm: The Joys of April: What a varied and interesting month April is!. It is the month of Earth Day, Passover, Easter, meteor showers, April Fools and GLSEN’s “Day of Silence.” Join other members of GAAMC to learn about the gemstone and flowers associated with this month when animals end their hibernation, the baseball season begins, the Titanic sank in1912, and da Vinci, Shakespeare, and Elizabeth II were born.
April 14, 6 pm: The Songs of Spring: Come join us as we play and discuss our favorite Spring Songs, celebrate the season, and break out of our winter state. What are your favorite songs that put pep in your step? Send links to [email protected] by April 7 and be prepared to speak to your selections.
April 21, 6 pm: Joys of Easter & Earth Day: Come join us as we celebrate Easter by learning about the origins of the Easter bunny & Easter eggs. We’ll also view & discuss a video on Earth Day and reflect on the current state of our planet and what can be done to improve it.
Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation at each of these meetings.
April 28 , 6pm: The Florham Park Diner: Enjoy good fun & food at a reasonable price! We’ll meet at the restaurant located at 182 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park. Please rsvp by Friday, April 25, to Gordon Sauer at [email protected].
UU FAITH ACTION NJ LIAISON’S CORNER
Busy time at UUFANJ! As liaison I will do my best to keep you informed of the prominent doings at UUFANJ – at times with a serving of Side With Love Action news.
March 21 will be the first THIRD FRIDAY ACTION HOUR at noon. As usual there are no obligations to participate in all the actions, no long-term commitments, or demands for donations. Participate at your leisure. Since there is push back from the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker on codifying an existing directive commonly known as the Immigration Trust Act, action will be taken up again. Other actions depend on developing events. There may be more Action Hour sessions added if deemed necessary. For more information, click on the link in the graphic.
SAVE THE DATE. The hybrid UUFANJ Annual Meeting will be held at the UU Church at Washington Crossing on Saturday 31 10AM-3PM. Since the Gala had been canceled, the Annual Meeting will include presentations by each of the task forces. More information to follow.
UUFANJ is looking for folks to serve on the board or as task force leaders/co-leaders. Training will be provided. For those who want to keep up to date on issues but don’t have the time to get deeply involved, sign up to get emails from the task force/s of interest. Go to uufaithaction.org for more information. Each Task Force is fighting the good fight on many fronts. Respect!
Some of the other bills being closely followed: Climate Superfund Act – Presently in appropriations committee. NJ A4696. Holds fossil fuel companies accountable. Accessed fees to be used to help impacted communities. Establishment low-carbon transportation fuel standard DEP program. NJ A3645. Oppose. Out of committee. Creates other pollutants.
Policy 5156 – Protection of Trans Students Second Look NJ Rehabilitative Release for certain incarcerated persons NJ S2338/A4463
Side With Love Action Center is the organizing strategy team of the UUA. There is a weekly update of evolving issues and actions on sidewithlove.org Side With Love is part of a large coalition of like-minded partners. The Gathering is a new program created to offer the spiritual support and analysis of issues needed to sustain long term collective action. For information go to sidewithlove.org/the-gathering
How to transform a Tesla into a “Prophetic Action Car”? A simple rebrand discovered by 2 ministers. The new UUA logo decal is the perfect size to cover the Tesla hood logo.
MUUF Members Taking Action
MUUF was well represented at the 1st Friday Action Hour for March. The actions focused on the Climate Super Fund Act, the Immigrant Trust Act, and the cuts to Medicare and Medicaid being considered at the federal level. If you were not able to attend and want to voice your concerns about any of these issues, it is not too late. Click on the link in the graphic to participate. Invite your friends. Updated issues and actions will be presented at the 3rd Friday Action Hour on March 21 at noon.
Involvement Without the Commitment
The easiest way to advocate – 1st Friday Action Hour – is online March 7 at noon. As usual, if you can’t participate at that time, you can do so at your leisure any time afterwards. Remember to fill in the form to report your participation.
March Madness with GAAMC
Mar 3, 6 pm: Adult Mad Libs: We will be playing the pride version of Adult Mad Libs. For those unfamiliar with this game, a “reader” asks everyone else (the “writers”) to supply words to fill in blanks in a document (known to the reader but not the writers). The results can be hilarious. Titles include “Cubs and Otters and Bears, Oh My!”, “Lesbian Potluck: A Menu”, and “Gay Beach Body Guide.” For a change of pace, we may also test our knowledge of Queer Trivia. Come prepared to have fun and perhaps to think a bit.
Mar 10, 6 pm: The Joys of March: Come to GAAMC’s “Joys of March” to learn more historical information about the third month’s events, including Daylight Savings time, Ash Wednesday, International Women’s Day & the first day of Spring.
Mar 17, 6 pm: St. Patrick’s Day: Come join us as we celebrate this festive day. Wear some green clothes and enjoy a piece of St Paddy’s cake!
Mar 24, 6pm: The Florham Park Diner: Enjoy good fun & food at a reasonable price! We’ll meet at the restaurant located at 182 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park. Please rsvp by Friday, March 21, to Gordon Sauer at [email protected].
Mar 31, 6pm: The Joys of Spring: Come join us when we talk about Spring and what we love about it. We’ll also discuss the changing of the seasons, our favorite season, and our plans for the warmer months.
Refreshments are served at meetings, and a small donation is requested of attendees.
February Festivities With GAAMC
Feb 3, 6 pm: The Joys of February: Come to GAAMC’s “Joys of February” to learn more historical information about the second month’s astrological signs, flowers, and stone. When did “Punxsutawney Phil,” and other prognosticator animals become significant in weather prediction, who is behind the history of Valentine’s Day, why is February Black History Month, and what are those born on February 29 called? Despite being the shortest month of the year, Super Bowl Sunday, as well as Presidents Day and Valentine’s Day make it one of the most celebratory!
Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation.
Feb 10, 6 pm: Love & Relationships: In celebration of the upcoming Valentine’s Day, we’ll be discussing our loves –past and present. We’ll also talk what makes a good relationship and about dating and how it’s changed over the years.
Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation.
Feb 17, 6 pm: Love Songs & Lullabies: We know the connective power of music in life and love. There are all kinds of love so let’s explore! Join us, as we celebrate the songs that enrapture and give us solace. Be sure to listen with us and share your thoughts and memories!
Submit your selections to [email protected] by February 8 for inclusion in the program.
Refreshments are served, and attendees are asked for a small donation.
Feb 24, 6pm: The Florham Park Diner: Enjoy good fun & food at a reasonable price! We’ll meet at the restaurant located at 182 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park. Please rsvp by Thurs, Feb 20, to Gordon Sauer at [email protected].
“What is Love Calling You to Do?”
“What is love calling you to do?” is the question asked of us by Side With Love, the advocacy arm of the UUA. We are part of very large coalition of organizations and individuals working for social justice. Side With Love campaigns fall under four major divisions:
- Climate Justice (Create Climate Justice)
- Democracy (UU the Vote)
- LGBTQIA+ & Gender Justice (Uplift)
- Decriminalization/Ending Detention (Love Resists)
- Even though there are four divisions, it is recognized that all social justice is intersectional.
To find out more about Side With Love go to sidewithlove.org There one can find programs, resources, trainings, and blogs. The UUA, through Side With Love Action, supports the work done on the state and congregational level by providing a “clearing house” where groups can advertise and share their events and projects. UU Faith Action NJ represents our state as part of the Side With Love coalition.
30 DAYS OF LOVE 2025: INHABITING OUR FREEDOM DREAMS
Each year Side With Love has 30 days of programming to bring all UUs together as a loving community. The family friendly programming consists of various videos, readings, and activities. You can choose when and how you want to participate. This year the program runs January 20-February 14, 2025. This year’s weekly themes are:
- Week One: “We are home”
From the the immigrant justice coalition lead by United We Dream - Week Two: “Trans people are divine”
From the creators of the Black Trans Prayer Book - Week Three: “Water Is Life”
From the Standing Rock protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline - Week Four: “There are Black People in the Future”
From artist Alisha B. Wormsley
Each week’s resources will include:
- A Side With Love message to provide political education and context for each weekly theme with lessons and inspiration to move through these times.
- A journal practice to reflect and dream to chart a course with clarity and care.
- A creative/art practice to ground in the beauty and abundance of imagination.
- A body practice to ground us in resilience and renewal.
- A family-friendly, multigenerational activity that builds community as we take action for justice.
GAAMC Welcomes the New Year
Jan 6: 6 pm: GAAMC Celebrates the New Year: Come to GAAMC to kick off the new year! There will be videos to watch, tasty goodies to enjoy, and stories to exchange. We’ll be exploring the history of New Year’s & resolutions and will be discussing our plans for 2025.
Refreshments are served, and a small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you’re welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie!
Jan 13: 6pm: End of Life funeral planning: Narvise Brown with the Lincoln Heritage Funeral Advantage Program will be discussing the importance of planning for end-of-life expenses. She will also provide us with information about the Funeral Consumer Guardian Society –a funeral planning support service that does planning to ensure a person final wishes have been honored.
Refreshments are served, and a small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship.
Jan 20: 6pm: Martin Luther King Day : In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we will discuss how and why people respond as they do to people of another cultural group. Then, we will see the award winning documentary, “Black History: Lost, Stolen, or Strayed. Next, we will read and discuss the “I Have a Dream” speech and how and why it is so meaningful.
Refreshments are served, and a small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you’re welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie!
Jan 27: 6pm: The Florham Park Diner: Enjoy good fun & food at a reasonable price! We’ll meet at the restaurant located at 182 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park. Please rsvp by Thurs, Jan 23, , to Gordon Sauer at [email protected].
December Fun With GAAMC
Dec 2 : 6 pm The Joys of December: What brings you joy during December? After all, this IS “The most wonderful time of the year!” Is it the sparkle of holiday lights everywhere, the gathering of family and friends in festive celebrations, the promise of snow and the emergence of warm, seasonal sweaters, perhaps even the “ugly” ones? Come to GAAMC to kick off the season and share some holiday cheer with like-minded folks. There will be videos to watch, tasty goodies to enjoy, and stories to exchange. This is just the beginning of a month of songs, poems, and movies to enhance your “Joys of December!”
Refreshments are served, and a small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you’re welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie!
Dec 9: 6pm: Poetry Night: GAAMC member, Phil Millstein, will conduct a poetry presentation. It will begin with an explanation of how to read a poem using different lenses of interpretation and continue with an explanation of literary devices and how they impart meaning. A number of poems have been selected because they are either relevant to the lgbtq+ community and/or to today’s zeitgeist.
Refreshments are served, and a small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you’re welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie!
Dec 16: 6pm: Holiday Music: Music connects us with our emotions, dreams and aspirations. This time of year, favorite Holiday and Winter music brings back the magic of memories. Sherri is our guide through GAAMC Members’ favorites from yesterday and today. Be sure to send a link or a song (or a few) to Sherr’s attention at [email protected] by December 7 for inclusion in the program.
Refreshments are served, and a small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you’re welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie!
Dec 23 : 6pm: GAAMC Celebrates the Holidays. Dinner at the Florham Park Diner: Enjoy good fun & food at a reasonable price! We’ll meet at the restaurant located at 182 Ridgedale Ave in Florham Park. Please rsvp by Thurs, Dec 19 , to Gordon Sauer at [email protected].
Dec30: 6pm: Movie “Bedrooms & Hallways”: Leo and Darren are two gay London flatmates living in London, each single and trying to pursue romantic happiness. But Leo, just turning 30 and uncertain about his future, is convinced by a straight friend to join his men’s encounter group to get his mind off of romance. But Leo wasn’t expecting one of the straight members to be a sexy Irish guy. But is the guy really straight? And is Leo really gay? Directed by lesbian filmmaker Rose Troche, whose previous film was Go Fish, this lighthearted and sassy movie suggests that sometimes sexuality isn’t always binary.
Refreshments are served, and a small donation is asked to contribute to our use of the Fellowship. And you’re welcome to join a small group at a local diner afterward to continue the camaraderie!
Here’s the film’s trailer:
First Friday for December 2024
Are you ready to join the fight to keep New Jersey a safe and progressive state? Check out UU Faith Action’s First Friday Action Hour on – or after – December 6 at noon. Takes 20 – 45 minutes. No obligation. No donation request. Easy actions with prewritten letters and scripts. Participate as you wish when you wish. EACH VOICE COUNTS JUST AS EACH VOTE COUNTED. Add your voice. This month’s actions do not become active until the first Friday of this month.
Going Forward with UU Faith Action NJ
Considering the recent election results, UUFANJ will, with the help of our individual congregations and ally organizations, be developing plans of action to minimize – if not neutralize – the impact of the policies expected of the incoming administration. Some of the ideas being considered:
- Organizing a rapid response team for rallies and protests, especially in Trenton
- Creating a candidate forum and/or questionnaire for the upcoming gubernatorial election to gauge where they stand on key issues.
- Supporting efforts to fast track the Immigrant Trust Act for passage by the end of December to hamper ICE. (Topic being addressed at the next 1st Friday on December 6.)
- Increasing support for Pink Haven by donating time and funds to help relocate Transgender individuals and families seeking refuge in NJ.
- Expanding the influence of our 1st Friday Action Hour program by increasing participation with the possibility of expanding it through different days or increasing its frequency.
OTHER NEWS:
Giving Tuesday is on December 3 this year. Please consider making a donation to UUFANJ to enable us to work through these unsettling times. 25% of each donation will go to Pink Haven. The annual gala is being planned for early February. More to come. UUFANJ welcomes your comments, suggestions and questions. Contact Judie Romano at [email protected].
Fellowship Reproductive Justice Team
We were pleased by the enthusiasm shown by our members for the work being done by the UUFANJ Reproductive Task Force during our mini social justice fair. As there was interest expressed in forming our own in-house team, we are planning to do so. This team, although functioning independently, would be part of a coalition of other organizations working to protect the reproductive rights of all people. If you are interested in helping to lay the groundwork for this new team, contact Judie Romano at [email protected]