March Create Climate Justice Newsletter
In last week’s Action Center Update, I shared a quote from Ruha Benjamin, who encourages us to:
"Remember to imagine and craft the worlds you cannot live without, just as you dismantle the ones you cannot live within."
As the world increasingly feels like one we cannot live within, reimagining a world where all communities thrive is an act of joyful resistance—and it’s strategic. If we don’t know where we want to go, we’ll be derailed by all sorts of distractions.
The UU Climate Justice Revival, Reimagine Together: From an Extractive Age to a New Era, offers a clear call to all UUs to reimagine our communities thriving, and we do that reimagining together. Even though every blip on the news ratchets up my anxiety, every minute spent in community nourishes my spirit and refreshes my soul for the critical work of climate justice.
Community is both a balm and a buoy in these troubling times. Fortunately, there are several opportunities for you to come together for shared learning and mutual support with UUs committed to transforming our communities through climate justice.
The monthly Green Sanctuary 2030 meetings, the Climate Justice Revival Community of Practice, and The Gathering are all great ways to connect, ground in our faith, and mobilize for action.
Image description: Rachel is standing in front of greenery with brown, slightly curly hair to her shoulders, wearing glasses and a heathered blue Create Climate Justice t-shirt.
Be well, friends,
Rachel
Rachel Myslivy, UUA Climate Justice Strategist
More Action, Less Paperwork: the new Green Sanctuary 2030 materials!
The Green Sanctuary: Mobilizing for Climate Justice materials and process have been completely revitalized to encourage:
More action, less paperwork
More congregational support, less UUA approval
More manageable processes, less burden—and so much more!
All congregations are invited to recommit to their climate justice commitments by engaging with the newly revitalized Green Sanctuary 2030 process, which includes only one requirement for annual recognition.
🔗 Watch the New Materials Release to learn about the updated GS2030 process.
We are moving away from the “one and done” accreditation model to an annual renewal process that celebrates incremental change and ongoing commitments. The goal is no longer accreditation—the goal is creating climate justice in our communities.
Upcoming Green Sanctuary 2030 Events
📅 Working with the New Green Sanctuary Materials
March 19, 2025 | 4 PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET (90 minutes)
Event graphic with a light green background and the UUCB logo, a green and yellow painted circle enclosing a tree with leafy branches beneath a sun. Green and black text reads, "Working with the New Green Sanctuary Materials. Wednesday, March 19 at 4 PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET. UU Church of Berkeley." The Side With Love and Green Sanctuary 2030 logos are below the text.
📅 Green Sanctuary 35th Anniversary & Call for Renewal
April 16, 2025 | 4 PT / 5 MT / 6 CT / 7 ET (90 minutes)
This year, we are celebrating 35 years of Green Sanctuary, starting with the revitalization of the process.
Whether your congregation was previously accredited or has never engaged, this event will celebrate and honor the work of the many organizations, individuals, and congregations that have shaped our denomination’s response to climate justice.
It will also include a healthy dose of hope, optimism, and faith—which we could all use right now!
Image description: green background with light flashes, decorated with bold, stylized cut out flowers in pink, yellow, and green. Black text reads "Green Sanctuary 35th Anniversary and Call for Renewal. Wednesday, April 16 at 4 PT / 7 ET" with the Side With Love and Green Sanctuary Logos beneath. To the right of the image is a photo of UUA President Rev. Dr Sofia Betancourt with her name and title in white below.
What’s Next After the Revival? Join the Community of Practice!
Thousands of UUs in over 380 congregations have hosted or are planning to host the UU Climate Justice Revival. Reports of its transformational impact continue to roll in, and congregations are working together to carry this momentum forward into justice ministries.
🔗 Watch a short video featuring real-life Revivaling congregations!
If you’ve done your Revival and aren’t sure where to go next, check out this handy document and sign up to join the March Community of Practice.
Revival Community of Practice
📅 March 12, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
This is a great way to connect with other Revivaling congregations for shared learning and mutual support.
Event graphic with a white background and "Climate Justice Revival" in a rainbow circle with smaller bubbles branching out that say, "Rest, Celebrate, Reflect, Synthesize, Organize," surrounding by swirling flowers and leaves. Text to the right reads, "What's Next after Our Revival? Community of Practice for Revivaling Congregations. February 12 - March 12 - April 9. 4 PT - 5 MT - 6 CT - 7 ET." The UU Climate Justice Revival logo is beneath the text.
Last month, Sheila Tarbet shared how she used mapping tools to turn community care ideas into tangible actions aligned with our four Essentials for Climate Action.
This month, Andrew Batcher will share how he organized a Revival across multiple UU congregations—a great option for expanding your Revival’s impact. A clear next move from the Revival is to bring more folks into the dialogs! Learn how Andrew facilitated multiple congregations’ engagement in one Revival, then think about how you might host a Revival with interfaith partners or other UUs in your city, state, or region!
After the initial presentation, we’ll break into small groups based on whatever you want to talk about—this is your space, so you decide what needs discussion!
🔗 Register for the What’s Next After the Revival? Revival Community of Practice.
UUMFE Earth Day Celebration (Virtual)
📅 April 22, 2025 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CT
This year’s UUMFE Earth Day Service will feature Courtney Fishback, one of the UU Climate Justice Revival Art Contest winners. Together, we will imagine a world bright with kindness, joy, and climate justice for all.
Written worship materials will be available by March 1, 2025, for congregational or group use. A donation is requested for those materials.
🔗 Register for the online service and/or worship materials here.
The Gathering: A New Monthly Virtual Event
Side With Love is launching The Gathering, a new monthly virtual event designed to provide:
Spiritual grounding – Strengthen your heart and spirit for the work ahead.
Political analysis – Understand the threats to democracy and justice.
Collective action – Organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world.
📅 Monday, March 10, 2025
⏰ 8:00 PM - 9:15 PM ET
This month’s gathering will be led by Side With Love staff Nicole Pressley and Rev. Cathy Rion Starr, featuring:
Katia Hansen on the current immigration landscape
Rev. Lane-Mairead Campbell & Rev. Eileen Casey-Campbell on showing up for trans justice in Western New York
Live music from bēheld to offer grounding and reflection
Join us to deepen your understanding, strengthen your spirit, and take meaningful action in community.
