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Two weeks ago, 36-year-old Peruvian immigrant Ingrid Encalada Latorre gave birth to her daughter in the recreation room of the UU Church of Boulder, Colorado. Latorre would have faced deportation—and separation from her three U.S.-citizen children—if she left the sanctuary provided by the congregation. Interim minister the Rev. Eric Posa said, “We talk about the joy of new life at the church, but I’ve got to say, in my career . . . it’s never been as literally true about new life being added to the church as happened here.” (The Daily Beast, September 30)
Serving the common good
The Rev. Jake Morrill wants everyone to know that he got his flu shot—so that they’ll get theirs, too. Morrill said, “In times or weeks where there’s a lot of polarization and division, putting out an invitation for how people can serve the common good no matter how you vote, how you pray, who you love, everybody can get a flu shot and help their neighbors in that way.” (WVLT, September 26)
More news from the congregations
Generations came together in Rochester, New York, to march for meaningful responses to climate change—including Sheila Schuh from First Unitarian Church of Rochester. Schuh said that her hope comes from collective power: “I don’t have hope in some higher power coming down to save us. I believe it’s you and I, coming to this march and showing up.” (Campus Times, September 29)
The gardens of the UU Congregation of Blacksburg, Virginia, are a certified wildlife habitat. Volunteer groundskeeper George Lally said, “We may have half a dozen ground hogs. We’ve discouraged them from burrowing under our main building, but otherwise they’re free to live anywhere. I’m also pretty sure we have deer sleeping here; they feed under our apple tree and graze in a nearby field surrounding a radio tower.” (The Roanoke Times, September 29)