THE TORCH: News & Updates

September 30 | 2022

Promises, Promises...!

It is possible that your editor promised fewer missives, but there's some much to share, so here goes! See below for updates from our partners at:

Notre Dame
Neighbor to Neighbor
Religions for Peace USA
Open World

... and the first entry in the Burning Bush series for 2022 (at the bottom so you have to read your way there!)

We also thank those who participated in important partner events, including the CROP Walk and the St. Margaret's House Storytelling event this past week; both were great successes!

Happy Friday, Jummah Mubarak, Shabbat Shalom and G'mar chatima tova, and have a great weekend!

Indiana 2022 General Election

The last day to register to vote, in order to cast a ballot this November 8, is October 11, 2022.

Check your registration OR REGISTER online here:

https://indianavoters.in.gov/

Neighbor to Neighbor Film Event:

Weds Oct 5/6:30 p.m. at St. Mary's College

Neighbor to Neighbor, close partner to URC and many in the local field of refugee resettlement and immigrant welcome, will host a screening of Utica: The Last Refuge, on Weds Oct 5 at St. Mary's. Join this event (no charge) and stay for the discussion afterwards; click below for info and to RSVP.

Utica: The Last Refuge

Screening of the film festival documentary Utica: The Last Refuge that tells the story of Utica, NY, and the refugees that are helping save their city. Stay for a Q&A after with Neighbor to Neighbor.

Forum 2022-23

Globally, conflict and violence are on the rise according to the United Nations, which has warned that peace is more under threat around the world than it has been since World War II.

Afghan Adjustment Act: RECAP

URC's observance of the UN Day of Peace included info on the Afghan Adjustment Act; to view/hear the info (it's about 25 minutes long), click on the link below; the info is located here.

Listen Here

OPEN WORLD VISIT FROM ROMANIA: Nov 11-19, 2023

Last week noted that URC will host a group from Romania for a 2022

Open World Leadership Center visit. Details are still forthcoming but:

The group of six delegates will focus on fundraising and the Ukrainian War crisis response;
URC is looking for 3-4 'host households' to provide a private bedroom(s) for 1-2 delegates each, roughly Nov 11-19;
There will be visits with local philanthropists and fundraisers through the week.

URC has hosted three prior delegations: 2018 (Georgia); 2019 (Ukraine) and 2020 (Azerbaijan); each visit was a great success!

All delegates are required to be fully vaccinated and follow COVID protocols.

To find out more, please contact us by email: jpinter@urcsjc.org

A direct and compelling headline

Two Events from Religions for Peace USA

October 13: Sikh Wisdom

October 27: Christian Nationalism

RFPUSA will offer two October Events via Zoom

Thursday, October 13 1-2 p.m. ET

The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life

Thursday, October 27 2-3 p.m. ET

Christian Nationalism and Ongoing Threat to Democracy in US

Go to:

www.rfpusa.org

to register

CONVERGING WISDOM CONFERENCE

NOTRE DAME; Oct 2-4

The graphic below is a little hard to read in detail, but a link is here:

CONVERGING WISDOM CONFERENCE INFO

URC BURNING BUSH: FIRST LOOK

Every year, the burning bush plants and the beautiful maple tree that stand on our buildings south side provide an extraordinary display of the coming of Fall (and that which follows...). Here's this morning's intentionally "hard-to-tell where the colors change is" version, but your editor notes that upper leaves are beginning the inevitable change. Stay tuned for exciting* developments.

And may your October get off to a good start.

The Editor

* work with me here...