International News from the UUA (iNews)
Contents: I. ICUU's "The Global Chalice"
The newsletter is available for download here.
II. Tents of Hope
You can purchase, construct and/or share a tent. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is providing informational and advocacy resources to accompany the Tents of Hope project which are available for download here. They include tips on how tostart this project and educational materials to share with your community. You can also order campaign materials for your event at no charge. In November, you can accompany or ship your tent to Washington, D.C., for a gathering of tents on the National Mall. The national gathering will last from November 7-9th and will include workshops, vigils, and worship. Afterwards, many of the tents will be shipped to Darfuri refugee camps to be used as shelters for homes, schools, and community centers.
If erecting a Tent for Hope is not a good fit for your congregation, the UUSC is offering
a simple action that everyone can do - advocacy postcards! The postcards urge the U.S. Congress to provide oversight to ensure that the UN peacekeepers in Darfur are trained to respond to the dangers of rape and violence that Aisha and all Darfuri women face. The postcards are uniquely shaped like tents, and you can order them here. The postcards will come with an action packet explaining all you need to know to get your cards into the hands of key policy-makers. . For more information, visit www.uusc.org/tentsofhope.
III. IARF Meeting in Belfast
Read a report from both meetings here.
IV. Faith Without Borders
V. "Water Ceremony/Communion" Resource
The UUA's Faith Without Borders program invites and assists UU congregations design and raise the visibility of their international engagement - their Sixth Principle ministry. Congregations that celebrate an annual water ceremeny/communion in early September as an Ingathering/Homecoming ritual can include international themes in a variety of ways. Please make use of new Water Ceremony/Communion planning materials from the International Resources Office.
VI. "UN Sunday" Resources
Join with UU congregations in North America to support the UU voice at the United Nations and the 2008 UN Sunday theme: Human Rights: Dignity and Justice for Us All.
A similar UN Sunday resource designed with the "Faith Without Borders" framework is also available here. Please make use of either or both of these offerings.
VII. ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Reading for August 2008
All ICUU-affiliated groups have been asked to submit brief chalice lightings for the project. Every month, a reading will be distributed to Unitarian and Universalist congregations around the world. We ask each congregation to use the reading for at least one worship service in the designated month, identifying it as the "Global Chalice Lighting" for that month and naming the group which submitted it. Readings will be circulated in English and, where different, in their original language. It is hoped that the ICUU Global Chalice Lighting Project will enhance the worship experience in our congregations and raise awareness of the international dimensions of our religious movement. This Global Chalice Lighting, in Swahili and English, is to be used during August 2008.
Swahili
English
-Alice Magara
VIII. Events
IX. Inspired Faith - Effective Action blog As part of the UUA's Advocacy and Witness Staff group, the International Resources office contributes to the Inspired Faith - Effect Action blog. Visit the blog for postings on a wide variety of issues. Or, subscribe to an rss feed of international-related posts.
X. International Engagement database The IRO maintains a database of the many varieties of international engagement that UU congregations are involved with. To date we have records from approximately 150 congregations in the database. Is your congregation one of them? If so, we'd love to update your entry. If not, we'd love to include information about your congregation's international engagement. Contact Nicole McConvery to check/update your congregation's status in the database. Or, if you'd like to be in contact with other congregations who are involved with international programs that are similar to yours, let us know and we'll provide you with a report.
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UUA Office of International Resources Email News and Updates |
"The Global Chalice," the ICUU Newsletter, has just released its July 2008 edition. Highlights include a story on the Canadian Unitarian Council's Annual Conference and Meeting in Ottawa, Canada. 
The Tents of Hope project gives communities the opportunity to respond
to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan by creating tents that are both unique works of art
and ongoing focal points within communities. Through the tents, communities
are learning about, assisting and establishing relationships with the people of Sudan.
Belfast was host to two related conferences 24-26 July, 2008. On July 24 the European Liberal Protestant Network (ELPN) met in the church sanctuary. From July 25-26 the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) convened for a conference entitled "Religion in the Public Space." 
Introduced at General Assembly, the "Faith Without Borders" program invites congregations to integrate a commitment to faithful global citizenship into many aspects of congregational life. Participants in the program will receive resources, consultation and celebration from the International Resources Office. For more information, 
The UU United Nations Office has created excellent materials for congregations to celebrate UN Sunday on October 26, 2008. They are available 
The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists announces the 59th in its monthly series of global chalice lighting readings. Congregations worldwide are invited to participate.