Beginning Sunday, Nov. 1, Rev. Roberta Finkelstein and a team of church members will offer a series of opportunities to discuss our Unitarian Universalist response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which began after the shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012 and gathered new force following the police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014.

The Unitarian Universalist Association website calls Black Lives Matter “a movement and a stance in response to this reality: the United States was built on a legacy of slavery, racism, and oppression that continues to take new, ever-changing forms. To say that ‘black lives matter’ doesn't mean that black lives are more important than other lives, or that all lives don't matter. The systemic devaluing of Black lives calls us to bear witness, even as we acknowledge that oppression takes many intersecting forms.”

Here’s an outline of the series:

Faithful Dialogue:
Sunday, Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m. Room 25. Faithful Dialogue. See description in Adult Education listings. (If you cannot join this discussion, you will find Sen. Warren’s speech on YouTube. Click here.)

Sermon: “Fighting Injustice”
Sunday, Nov. 8, 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship. “Fighting Injustice,” third in a sermon cycle by Rev. Finkelstein exploring First Unitarian Church’s mission.

Sermon Talk-back
Sunday, Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. Faithful Dialogue. Talk-back on Rev. Finkelstein’s Nov. 8 sermon. See description in Adult Education listings. Brunner Chapel.

Workshop: “Being White in the Black Lives Matter Movement”
Sunday, Dec. 6, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m., Room 25. First of a four-session workshop – “Being White in the Black Lives Matter Movement” – led by Rev. Finkelstein and a volunteer team. This workshop was developed by Rev. Kate Lore, social justice minister at the First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon. Subsequent sessions will follow on Dec. 13, Jan. 17, and Jan. 24.

Register
Free registration for the workshop series “Being White in the Black Lives Matter Movement” will be available online in mid-November—or call the church office to reserve your place. Participation is not limited to those who think of themselves or identify as white, but participants should commit to attending at least three of the four sessions: Dec. 6 & 13 and Jan. 17 & 24.

Child Care
Child care will be available for all four workshops for persons who register and request it at least two weeks in advance. Check the boxes on the online registration form or tell the church office the dates and number of children for whom you will need child care.

Get Involved
If you would like to help organize or support any of these events, contact Judy Govatos (302-984-0559) or Jeff Lott (302-690-5489).