The mission of the Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley (UUCV) is to transform lives and care for the world. UUCV’s Social Justice Committee strives to energize and motivate all who attend UUCV to live our mission by providing a variety of opportunities both inside and outside our walls. From marching in rallies to distributing food for the hungry; from standing with the LGBTQI+ community to cleaning up state parks and local neighborhoods; from building relationships with other faith communities to making calls and signing petitions supporting local and state initiatives; from feeding Carlisle’s homeless to providing educational opportunities for girls and young women in Mozambique—there is something for everyone interested in helping us transform lives and care for the world. We collect money called Change for the World each week as part of our offering, and four times a year it is dispersed to a worthy non-profit organization in our community.
Involvement with UUCV’s social justice activities affords the opportunity to join a community of caring individuals who believe in creating steps toward positive change in the world. Some of our local community participation includes the Central Pa. Pride Festival, United Way’s Day of Caring, Martin Luther King Celebration, Project SHARE’s Farm Stand, National Public Lands Day and organizing a quarterly meal for the local C.A.R.E.S. Homeless Shelter. We have hosted documentaries of timely topics and occasional book discussions. We send postcards to our state government officials regarding legislation important to the well-being of people throughout Pennsylvania. We offer opportunities to stay informed about state and local government, to learn about candidates running for local and state offices, and to sign petitions.
We welcome everyone to join us. However, you don’t have to be a member of the Social Justice Committee to show up to help with any activities. Ours is a true team effort and the bigger the team, the larger impact we can have. UUCV is an important community, both to its congregation and to the region. To maintain our viability, we rely upon the generosity of our members and friends. Please continue to offer your time, talents, and treasure in support of the church and its work.
The Social Justice committee meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 on ZOOM. Contact the church office if you are interested in participating.
On Sunday, January 15, 2023, UUCV voted to adopt the 8th Principle.
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
Since adding the eighth principle we have committed to educating ourselves about oppressed peoples through a weekly Justice Moment during our worship services.
CARES MEALS
Each quarter we provide a meal to our Carlisle CARES Community.
See our main link for each quarterly menu and how to donate.
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Change for the World
All change collected on Sundays during offering will be donated to organizations or groups providing needed services that are in keeping with UUCV’s mission and the UU principles. Special consideration will be given to local groups for whom a donation of $500 – $700 dollars might be crucial.
UUJUSTICEPA, our resource for connecting with our State Legislature
Our 2nd, 5th, and 6th Principles call us to be champions for justice, equity, and compassion in human relationships, the use of the democratic process in our congregations and in society at large, while striving for world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. We are a justice-seeking people!
Did you know that UU’s in Pennsylvania have an organization that
- watches over the business of our state legislature?
- communicates issues of concern in our state and our state government to us via a website?
- organizes postcarding and calling to our representatives when issues and potential actions seem to be unjust?
- organizes advocacy days at the Capitol on issues like gun violence, reproductive justice, economic justice, good government, protecting our environment, LGBTQ+ issues and criminal justice reform?
Go to
uujusticepa.org/ and check out the latest newsletter and actions. Under the Resources tab, by typing in your street address, you can find your state representative and state senator along with their contact information.
Let’s live into our Principles and use this wonderful resource and their staff to stay informed and to advocate for social justice in line with our faith.
2023 – 2024 Social Justice Activities
- Carlisle Community CARES Meals – provide a dish or contribute quarterly
- UUJustice PA Events – attend a committee meeting or sponsored events
- Volunteer Thursdays at the Project Share Farm Stand
- Monthly Social Justice Committee Meetings
- Mitten and Hat Collection
- Occasional Social Justice discussions and films at Adult Religious Education
- Summer Faith Nights sponsored by Carlisle Area Religious Council – interact with other Faith Groups in our area
- Quarterly Moving Circles Friendship Dinners Visit https://www.movingcircles.org/ for more information
- Carlisle Bridge Builders Toiletries Drive
- Give a short educational presentation during our Justice Moments
- PRIDE Festivals – Be a silent witness
- Harrisburg, July 29, 2024 11a – 6p
- New Cumberland, July 20, 2024 Time TBD
- Carlisle Date and Time TBD
- United Way Day of Caring
- National Public Lands Day
- MLK Commemoration Activities
- Project Share Black Culture Festivities
