The United Church of Christ will celebrate UCC Women’s Week, March 3-9, offering opportunities and resources for worship, reflection, and participation in global advocacy.
Each March, UCC Women’s Week marks the beginning of Women’s History Month and coincides with International Women’s Day. This year, UCC leaders are offering new perspectives, liturgy, and the opportunity to engage in broader conversations about women in society and the church.
The celebration begins on Monday, March 4 with the first of a five-day meditation based on a new reinterpretation of Psalm 19 written by UCC General Minister and President Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson. Each day from March 4th to 8th, a portion of the Psalm will be shared across Instagram and UCC’s other social media channels.
“Every day of UCC Women’s Week, we will meditate together on this living psalm dedicated to us by the Prime Minister and the President,” said Rachel Ward, Minister and Team Leader of the UCC Department of Gender and Sexuality and Justice. “This Living Psalm will come to life little by little throughout the week, and its full message will be revealed on Friday. Please journal, share your comments and thoughts, and share this article with your local church, community, and friends. please.”
The Living Psalms is a collection of psalms reinterpreted through poetry and art created by the UCC Witness and Worship Artists’ Group. Thompson’s psalm was created to coincide with UCC Women’s Week.
Annual Webinar on Embodying Women and Gender Justice
Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, March 6 to hear and learn concrete ways to work for justice for women around the world. National staff share ongoing efforts and invite us to join in our efforts to celebrate and expand our women’s advocacy work. Register here.
A new liturgy and global advocacy
Additionally, UCC congregations and clergy are invited to use the new liturgy written for this occasion. The liturgy was written by Shelley Warren, Minister for Women and Gender Justice, and Reverend Amy Johnson, Minister for Sex Education and Justice, who are part of the Gender and Sexuality Ministry of Justice team.
“As we recognize the importance of women and girls, as God has been with us, let us bring into the world God’s blessings for all humanity and share his boundless love.” Read the benediction. “Love loudly, love boldly, love everyone!”
Immediately following the end of UCC Women’s Week, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will hold a two-week session from 11 to 22 March. CSW is held annually and is the leading global organization working towards gender equality and empowerment. Female.
“UCC has participated in CSW for many years, including sending a women’s delegation to Beijing in 1995,” said Rebecca Choate, Global Ministries’ Minister of Worldwide Advocacy and Education.
Every year, representatives from United Nations member states, civil society organizations such as the UCC, and United Nations agencies gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Choate explained. “They will discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, an important global policy document on gender equality, as well as emerging issues affecting gender equality and women’s empowerment. ”
Participate in a live online event
CSW’s theme for 2024 is “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty from a gender perspective and strengthening institutions and finance.”
“Our main event focuses on period poverty, especially among people on the move,” Choate said.
Official United Nations proceedings can be watched live here. To attend civil society events such as UCC events, register here.
During CSW, Ecumenical Women of the United Nations, of which UCC is also a member, will lead daily worship at 8 a.m. and you can join via Facebook livestream. The group will also hold an orientation session on March 9 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which can be viewed live on YouTube.
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