First Parish in Wayland
Unitarian Universalist Church

 

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SOCIAL ACTION

First Parish in ACTION, a place to post:
* activities of individual groups and committees

* current events which might be of interest to the First Parish Wayland congregation

Social Action Council

Purpose:
The Social Action Council brings representatives from every action group together 3 or 4 times a year to discuss individual committees' activities, concerns, needs, and to consider productive ways to collaborate.

The chair is Lois Doerr with the support team of Ken Sawyer, Erin Splaine, and Parish committee liaison Beverly McDonald.
Contact Lois: lois.doerr @comcast.com.

Members are active in the following areas, and the committee welcomes First Parish Wayland's participation in these as well as new projects and areas of concern:

Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)

Each day there are more than 1,600 homeless families in Massachusetts. First Parish is engaged in planning with the newly formed Metro West IHN. Our congregation would host 3 or 4 families (maximum is 14 individuals) in our parish house for one week at a time, for a total of 3 or 4 weeks a year. While hosting, the congregation would provide meals, company, and support to the families in the evenings. Our guest will then spend their day at a day care facility (yet to be determined) where they would be assisted by and IHN employed social worker, who will help them with obtaining housing, employment, and resources.
Contact: Cally Ritter.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.metrowestihn.org

Partakers Group

Partakers is a faith-based, non-profit organization committed to advancing restorative justice, rehabilitation, and the healing transformation of both prisoners and society.

The First Parish Partaker's group is currently sponsoring a second prisoner to earn a college degree, under the auspices of Partakers Inc., through Boston University's College Behind Bars Program. Sponsoring includes funding, visiting the prisoner, writing and advocating. The committee tries to increase awareness of UUA Criminal Justice and Prison Reform issues here through church services, panel discussions, and newsletter articles.
Contact: Bobby Robinson.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.partakers.org

Friday Night Supper Program

Members of First Parish regularly volunteer to provide home-cooked meals to the homesless and hungry of Boston at the Arlington Street Church.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.fridaynightsupper.org

Turning Point

Once a month First Parish prepares a meal for 20 residents of this Framingham shelter. 2 or more people plan and cook a meal and bring it to the church. Volunteers take the meal to the shelter and help serve. You can choose to prepare the meal only, or also help serve if you wish.
Contact: Dick Hoyt

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.smoc.org

UUSC

* Fair Trade Coffee and
Chocolate Sales

* Guest at Your Table
Contact: Bobby Robinson

UU Urban Ministry Programs

UU Urban Ministry has a rich 200 year history of community involvment. Their ministry is rooted in direct experience and service with those in Boston who are struggling for decent lives. Today, eforts are concentrated in two areas: domestic violence and at-risk youth, especialy those in the Roxbury area. Programs include:

Renewal House: is a safe haven for women and their children who have experienced domestic violence
Contact: Ken Sawyer.

Crossing Bridges: is a Roxbury middle-school after-school program.
Contact: Tricia Marshall

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT UU URBAN MINISTRY VISIT www.uuum.org

Welcoming Congregation

Formed to welcome and support bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people in our congregation and in the wider world.
Contact: Roger Horine and Suzanne Tiberi