Justice Sunday 2005
On Justice Sunday -- March 13, 2005 -- UU congregations nationwide will stand together for justice.

Your congregation can make a difference on an important and pressing human rights issue. By joining the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to celebrate Justice Sunday, members of your congregation -- including youth and young adults -- will be empowered to take action for justice.

Last year, the congregations that participated in Justice Sunday worked hard to promote social justice in the world by generating petitions that have helped remind our government of the importance of holding corporations accountable in our continuing fight to defend human rights. By urging our government to protect the Alien Tort Claims Act, Justice Sunday participants helped defend the human rights of the people of Burma who have suffered under an oppressive military regime which has been aided and abetted by U.S. corporations.

To learn more about current issues being addressed, visit our website at www.uusc.org or call 800.388.3920.

Rachel M. Binderman
Associate for Member Development
volunteerservices@uusc.org
http://www.uusc.org

When we each stand up together, we can defend human rights throughout the world.

That's "The Power of You & You."
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FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
Jo Ann Porterfield    02/02
Nell Armstrong    02/06
Maya Spier        02/12
Kathy Lansford    02/17
Susan Nichols        02/20

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NOTEWORTHY
FEBRUARY DATES

1- birth of African American poet and writer, Langston Hughes (1902), an important figure of the Harlem Renaissance



 

2- Foreign slave trade outlawed in the United States; Candlemas

To Wiccans, this day is known as Brigantia, Oimelc, Brigid, Brigit, or Imbolc.  It marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring--a day when newborn lambs begin to nurse and buried dormant seeds begin to stir within the earth.  The pagan Irish called it Brigit after the goddess of smithcraft, healing, and poetry while the Norse and Saxons referred to her as Birgit, the lusty, spring-loving consort of Ullr, the god of winter.

The Christian celebration of Candlemas comes from two separate events including the presentation of the Christ Child in the temple and the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  It is 40 days after the celebration of the birth of Christ which, under the Law of Moses, was the first time after conception a mother could enter the temple.  (Leviticus 12:6-7)  As with many  Christian holidays, it was fashioned after Pagan holidays and rituals to convert and unite common people from Pagan worship to Christianity.

4 - birth of Rosa Parks, civil rights pioneer

5 - birth of Hank Aaron (1934), all-time home run leader in Major League Baseball and outspoken critic of racism in professional sports

8 - Hisatuh (Treacherous Little Winter Left Moon - Native American); Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) The observance of this date probably started in prehistoric times.  The few days of this celebration are thought to represent the additional days added to the lunar calendar each year to make it coincide with the solar calendar.  Because these days were outside of ordinary time, all laws, customs, and rules were considered void.  To a certain extent this tradition continues with wild partying , masked identities, and grotesque processions.  New Orleans is famous for its Mardi Gras or Carnival celebrations.

9 - Chinese New Year (this year is the Year of the Rooster);
Ash Wednesday (40 days before Easter and, not coincidentally, 40 days prior to the first full moon after the vernal equinox) is the first day of Lent - season for preparation and penitence - and is signified by the application of an ash cross placed on the forehead by the priest to the penitent.  The priest says, "Remember, O man, that thou art dust and unto dust shalt thou return."  Ashes are preserved from the previous year's Palm Sunday in which palm leaves are burned:  Roman Cathlolic/Christian

10 - Al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year, is the first day of the month of Muharram. It marks the Hijra (or Hegira) in 622 CE when the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina, and set up the first Islamic state, a community in which spiritual and earthly life were completely integrated. It was a community inspired by the conecept of God, and totally obedient to what the Prophet said God wanted; a group of people bound together by faith.  By breaking the link with his own tribe, the Prophet demonstrated that tribal and family loyalties were insignificant compared to the bonds of Islam.

This Muslim community grew steadily over time, unifying the                         continued ... see Islam page 4
 

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