The "No Papers No Fear" bus riders left New Orleans today, after a terrific victory demonstration on Canal Street following the Immigration hearing for Joaquin Navarro-Hernandez, who was freed by the judge after chiding ICE over a lack of evidence and dishonesty in its case against him.

These brave modern-day freedom riders stayed at the Center for Ethical Living for 4 nights.  While in New Orleans, they were showered with delicious food provided by:  Alice Abel Kemp, the Center's own kitchen queen Amina, Jyaphia Christos-Rodgers, the New Orleans Food Co-Op, the Worker Center for Racial Justice, the Congreso de Jornaleros (Congress of Day Laborers), other members and friends of First Church, CCUU, and NSUU, and a new local partner The Community Kitchen (not to be confused with the kitchen that FUUNO will soon open and operate with the NO-AIDS Task Force).  

Members and friends of the three UU churches, joined with members of Interfaith Worker Justice Religious Leaders Group, STAND, members and organizers of the Worker Center for Racial Justice and the Congreso de Jornaleros, local law clinics, and social justice activists for a giant rally at First Church on Wednesday night, August 8, where much moving testimony was heard about the treatment of undocumented people in New Orleans and in Arizona.  A somewhat smaller but equally enthusiastic and diverse crowd came together on Friday morning for the Immigration hearing.

What a wonderful experience for the UUs of Greater New Orleans, to be a part of history for this momentous occasion.  I am SO PROUD of how we all rose to the occasion!  The UUA has taken note in its reporting on the Standing on the Side of Love Campaign, and our part of the story has also been noted by Telemundo, the national Spanish-language network, as well as by local television and print reporters.

All told, the No Papers No Fear riders declared that the New Orleans stopover had the very best food, very best accommodations, and very best hospitality, and thanked us all from their hearts for our support and care.  Pat yourselves on the back for a job well done!

The Ministers' Discretionary Fund is still accepting donations for those who wish to contribute to expenses related to the No Papers No Fear stay in New Orleans, and thanks to those who have already contributed.

Our minister has been selected by the UUA to serve on a small active board that advises the Executive Director of the UUA Holdeen India Program, which works with the poorest of India's people, without regard to gender, caste, or religion.  Rev. Melanie was chosen on the basis of her anti-racism and anti-oppression work, as well as her experience with Holdeen partners from her sabbatical trip to India in 1998.  The board meets at least twice a year, and the UUA will pay Rev. Melanie's travel expenses.  The meetings will not require her to miss any Sundays she is scheduled to be in the First Church pulpit.  Rev. Melanie is honored to have been chosen to serve our denomination in this way.  Please talk to her if you would like to know more about the UUA Holdeen India Program.

The UUA Board of Trustees meeting was held in New Orleans this year.  After returning home, Rev. Peter Morales wrote a blog post about his third visit to the city post-Katrina:

"The healing is not yet finished. However, it may be easier for an outsider who comes every couple of years or so to see progress more clearly. The story of our congregations in the New Orleans area is a story of resilience. Along the way they have engaged in important social justice work in the community. Our brothers and sisters in New Orleans deserve our admiration and continued support."

Read the full article.

Here are some upcoming events that may be of interest to you:

Saturday, November 19, 2011, 9am
Christmas Trees Arrive!
Work up an appetite for your upcoming Thanksgiving Dinner by helping to unload, measure, and inventory the Christmas Trees for our big sale. The trees arrive this Saturday, and help is needed. Contact the church office at 504.866.9010 or office@firstuuno.org to put your name on the list of those who will be able to help. Remember also to sign up for one or more shifts of selling trees, starting the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Saturday, November 19, 2011, 1-3 pm @ First Church
6th Session of "Resistance & Transformation" Adult Education Class:  "Religious Freedom on the Margins of Empire"
This session will be co-facilitated by Rev. Melanie, Deanna Vandiver, and Bonnie Schmidt. Our focus will be on the development of congregationalism, and on the question, "Is religious freedom a social justice issue?" You don't have to have attended any other sessions to come to this one. Materials will be available to help folks "catch up" on previous sessions.  (Please note the change in location for the next 5 sessions!) Learn More.

Sunday Worship, November 20, 2011 @ 10:30am
Thanksgiving Bread Communion Service
Join us for our annual celebration of diversity and gratitude, with every household in the church bringing bread of their culture or heritage or family background to share. This year we are also remembering those less fortunate than ourselves, by bringing non-perishable food items for the church's Food Pantry. If you are able, please remember to bring some kind of bread to share in the service, and something for the Pantry (examples: canned meats, milk, soup. & vegetables, pasta, cereals, rice, nonfat dry milk, peanut butter, jelly, honey, cooking oil, etc.). We would also be glad to have grocery certificates to be able to distribute to those in need, if you are able.

November 20, 2011 @ 12pm (after the service)
Important Congregational Town Meeting

Monday November 21st, 7pm
Movies at Max's - title TBA

When:  Dinner: 6:30 PM with Movie Viewing to begin at 7:30 PM.  Please RSVP to Max if you plan to join the group dining in: oeschgerm@yahoo.com.
Where:  3915 St. Charles Ave., Unit 613  (New Orleans)
Questions?  Call Max at(504) 895-5185 or 220-2616. 

Tuesday November 22, 6:30-7:45 pm
Feeling Ultimate Life & Love (FULL) Group

Thursday, November 24th, Thanksgiving Day
On the day when the people of our country will mark Thanksgiving, families and friends gather to count their blessings over delicious meals. In our church there may be those who do not have family nearby and who have not yet been invited to savor Thanksgiving with others. There may also be those in our church who enjoy enough bounty to invite one or two others to share with them. Please contact the church office if you need a place to go for Thanksgiving dinner, or if you have a place at your table for a friend from the church.

A message from the UU Fellowship in Napa, CA:

This is the sixth year that our little congregation has depended upon the kindness of strangers to move closer to our goal of moving from rented space to a home of our own. We are doing this by conducting “Wine Country Excursions,” inviting UUs from across the nation to stay in our homes and tour the Napa Valley, tasting wines, enjoying beautiful scenery, art and history. The proceeds from this enterprise go to the building fund.  For more information, please visit our website.