Introduction
Dear Members and Friends,
On Friday, August 15 at 7:00pm, we lead the prayer vigil in the sanctuary of Southside Presbyterian for the all those who have helped craft and sustain sanctuary for Rosa Imelda Robles Loreto. In addition to our Santa Rita Choral (who sang beautifully) and our members and friends who drove up to participate, our sisters and brothers from Tucson UU Church and the Mountain Vista UU congregation joined an interfaith community for the vigil. You can read the Green Valley News article covering our participation HERE.
Additionally, we drafted a letter of public support offered during the vigil (see below). I was proud not just to read it aloud at the vigil, but to affirm that in only four days we were able to get 50 signatures from our members and friends. You can see both the letter and signatures below. Along with our letter of support, I presented Southside Presbyterian with letters from the Rev. Peter Morales, President of the UUA, and the Rev. Ken Brown, District Executive of the PSWD (view them HERE).
You may be wondering, and rightly so, what's next? What's next regarding Sanctuary? What's next for us on Immigration issues? What's next for our social justice outreach? If these are questions on your mind, I'll be compiling answers and posting them on a new page of this site: What's Next? I'll also make it possible for you to ask questions and offer your opinion on these very topics.
In faith,
Matthew
On Friday, August 15 at 7:00pm, we lead the prayer vigil in the sanctuary of Southside Presbyterian for the all those who have helped craft and sustain sanctuary for Rosa Imelda Robles Loreto. In addition to our Santa Rita Choral (who sang beautifully) and our members and friends who drove up to participate, our sisters and brothers from Tucson UU Church and the Mountain Vista UU congregation joined an interfaith community for the vigil. You can read the Green Valley News article covering our participation HERE.
Additionally, we drafted a letter of public support offered during the vigil (see below). I was proud not just to read it aloud at the vigil, but to affirm that in only four days we were able to get 50 signatures from our members and friends. You can see both the letter and signatures below. Along with our letter of support, I presented Southside Presbyterian with letters from the Rev. Peter Morales, President of the UUA, and the Rev. Ken Brown, District Executive of the PSWD (view them HERE).
You may be wondering, and rightly so, what's next? What's next regarding Sanctuary? What's next for us on Immigration issues? What's next for our social justice outreach? If these are questions on your mind, I'll be compiling answers and posting them on a new page of this site: What's Next? I'll also make it possible for you to ask questions and offer your opinion on these very topics.
In faith,
Matthew
Letter of Support
We, the members and friends of the Green Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Amado, AZ, stand on the side of love with Rosa Imelda Robles Loreto and her family. We call upon President Obama, Secretary Jeh Johnson of the Department of Homeland Security, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to immediately cancel her deportation order.
We stand with Southside Presbyterian Church as they give sanctuary to Rosa and her family. They are our brothers and sisters in the simple belief that families must not be torn asunder by poorly conceived and unfairly executed immigration policy. Mothers and fathers who actively participate in our communities, who have sought out the same opportunities and contributed back to our society and culture should not fear being separated by their families, but welcomed into our country.
We stand on the side of love. As immigrant families are terrorized and destroyed we stand with those who believe that Sanctuary, as a demonstration of love, is a small but essential response. In the face of immoral policy and enforcement, we will support communities that seek to protect families just as we stand beside those who care for children, women and men who suffer from injustice.
We honor the courage of Rosa, her husband, Geraldo, and their two sons. We hold in gratitude and love all who sit in vigil, stand in unity and offer support for this family, Southside faith community, and the many people who have joined together despite their differences. The work of sanctuary connects with justice action movements across the community, the state of Arizona, our nation and the world. May Rosa and her family be blessed with good health and secure in their knowledge they are not alone, they are loved.
I stand on the side of Love leading to Justice,
We stand with Southside Presbyterian Church as they give sanctuary to Rosa and her family. They are our brothers and sisters in the simple belief that families must not be torn asunder by poorly conceived and unfairly executed immigration policy. Mothers and fathers who actively participate in our communities, who have sought out the same opportunities and contributed back to our society and culture should not fear being separated by their families, but welcomed into our country.
We stand on the side of love. As immigrant families are terrorized and destroyed we stand with those who believe that Sanctuary, as a demonstration of love, is a small but essential response. In the face of immoral policy and enforcement, we will support communities that seek to protect families just as we stand beside those who care for children, women and men who suffer from injustice.
We honor the courage of Rosa, her husband, Geraldo, and their two sons. We hold in gratitude and love all who sit in vigil, stand in unity and offer support for this family, Southside faith community, and the many people who have joined together despite their differences. The work of sanctuary connects with justice action movements across the community, the state of Arizona, our nation and the world. May Rosa and her family be blessed with good health and secure in their knowledge they are not alone, they are loved.
I stand on the side of Love leading to Justice,
Nancy M. Spear
Bud Spear Mary Lou James Dorothy McKenna Caryl Hanson Barbara Lemmon Sonia Collins Loretta Carmickel Barbara "Babs" Campbell Anne C. Rendon Ginny Hardt Tim Domagalski Susan Kirk Rose Kephart Ted Farone Shirley R. Cameron Gudie Cole Marilyn Taylor Paul A. Taylor Carrie Feind Rita Hinkle Claire Coon Jeanne R. Casey Karin L. Newby Jaime Brusstar Marla Daugherty Con Nadeau Juliana Sandahl Grayson J. Crary Patricia Greenig Carol Hoy Jim Hoy Aleda Burkholder Charles Burkholder Jean Brooks Calvin Eland Eloise Eland Marion Carlisle Richard Wortman Walter Gerzevitz |
Ann Rangos, Congregation President
Charles Findeisen, Vice President Nancy Murphy, Board Secretary Diane Farone, Board Treasurer Judy Harmer, Board Member Barbara Brusstar, Board Member Janie Pogan, Office Manager Leslie Carter, Music Director Rev. Lisa McDaniel-Hutchings, Community Minister in Affiliation Rev. Matthew Crary, Developmental Minister |
Congregational Contributions
.A few things....line 2, second paragraph..."simple," not "simply?"
Line 6, same paragraph..."torn from."
Excellent response, letter
So happy you're doing this
- Nancy
I will always stand with those who care, not those who hate,
Those who stand for women and children who suffer
And those who suffer injustice,
Anywhere
- Ann
I join with my fellow Amado UUs
in supporting you as you seek justice
in becoming a U.S. citizen
Dorothy
In face of the horrors that are being presently committed based on ethnic, cultural and religious differences and the intentional destruction of family units it becomes a moral issue for our congregation to show the world in a very small way that we shall protect families whose existence as as a family is being threatened by our unfair and inadequate immigration laws.
A sanctuary and a show of love are essential contributions
to those who need our help.
Sonia
In whole-hearted support!
Rose
As people who are concerned about Social Justice,
we must support the Southside Presbyterian church.
Claire
Be strong, be safe and be well Amigos!
Jaime
I wish the family peace, good health, and happiness.
Pat
National boundaries are not important when it comes to all of standing together to help all our brothers and sisters in their search for a better life.
Bud
Line 6, same paragraph..."torn from."
Excellent response, letter
So happy you're doing this
- Nancy
I will always stand with those who care, not those who hate,
Those who stand for women and children who suffer
And those who suffer injustice,
Anywhere
- Ann
I join with my fellow Amado UUs
in supporting you as you seek justice
in becoming a U.S. citizen
Dorothy
In face of the horrors that are being presently committed based on ethnic, cultural and religious differences and the intentional destruction of family units it becomes a moral issue for our congregation to show the world in a very small way that we shall protect families whose existence as as a family is being threatened by our unfair and inadequate immigration laws.
A sanctuary and a show of love are essential contributions
to those who need our help.
Sonia
In whole-hearted support!
Rose
As people who are concerned about Social Justice,
we must support the Southside Presbyterian church.
Claire
Be strong, be safe and be well Amigos!
Jaime
I wish the family peace, good health, and happiness.
Pat
National boundaries are not important when it comes to all of standing together to help all our brothers and sisters in their search for a better life.
Bud