Social Concerns Committee

Murray’s Socal Concerns Committee was created as an offshoot of our continued involvement with Social Concerns. Members are needed to build and strengthen Murray Church’s commitment to social action, locally, regionally, and globally. We welcome new members to our committee to discuss and devise ways for us to live out our Unitarian Universalist values What social issues need Murray’s action? Join Social Concerns Committee to be part of the solution.

  • Anti-racism: Black Lives Matter
  • Climate Justicce
  • Protecting voter rights
  • LGBTQ+ rights
  • Food insecurity
  • Book Group
  • Staying Connected: a support group for people who for health reasons are not able to attend in-person church services.

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world

Desmond Tutu

Green Sanctuary logo

We are a Green Sanctuary

Murray Unitarian Universalist Church is a Green Sanctuary accredited by the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The Green Sanctuary Program provides a path for congregational study, reflection, and action in response to environmental challenges. It provides a structure for congregations to examine their current environmental impacts and move towards more sustainable practices in ways grounded in Unitarian Universalism.

In May 2017, we submitted a proposal, with 12 projects in four focus areas: Worship and Celebration, Religious Education, Sustainable Living, and Environmental Justice. Once our projects were completed, we submitted our evaluation and were awarded accreditation in June 2020.

Recent Climate Actions by Our Team

Our team meets on the second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. via zoom. Anyone is welcome to join us. Use the contact form below if you have any questions or would like to be part of the team.

Find out how we are taking action

We have a page called Take Action where our members and friends share the actions that they take, large or small, that are intentionally done to help lessen their impact on the Earth.

Green Heating and Cooling for Our Homes

A virtual event hosted by the Murray UU Church Climate Action committee

An Introduction to Heat Pumps, Tuesday, May 31, 7 p.m.

An introduction to heat pumps, with Jim Nail, from HeatSmart Alliance, a volunteer organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient heat pumps in Massachusetts’ homes and buildings. “Heat pumps” may sound like an exotic new technology, but they are already widely used in Europe, Asia, and increasingly the United States. And here in Massachusetts, they are the preferred form of heating and cooling to help the state fight climate change — and for homeowners burning oil, propane, or using electric resistance heaters to save money.

That said, replacing an existing heating/cooling system or water heater can be a time-consuming and confusing process, especially if you aren’t familiar with heat pumps. Jim will bring you up to speed on what heat pumps are, why they are the best choice, the incentives available through MassSave to lower their cost, and the steps to take to upgrade your home to them. In addition, he will describe the HeatSmart Alliance whose volunteer coaches can guide homeowners through this process.

Massachusetts Climate Solutions, a Virtual Legislative Climate Justice Forum

On January 25, 2022. Our Murray Climate Action Team co-hosted this event, in collaboration with Attleboro’s State Representative Jim Hawkins and our UU Mass Action advocacy program. Four state legislators were on the panel, including Representative Jim Hawkins, Senator Paul Feeney, Representative Adam Scanlon, and Representative Joan Meschino, who authored one of the bills that we reviewed. We educated the community about legislative solutions for climate change and environmental justice, via a platform of six bills that are supported by a large coalition of organizations: Mass Power Forward.

Murray Climate Change Café

This was via zoom on Nov. 8, 2021. Co-led by Robi Rose, Barbara Clark, and Judy DePue. Climate Cafés are safe spaces for people to get together to talk and act on climate change, to share our concerns and our hopes, along with options for action and sharing of actions others are already taking.

Field Trip

We went to the “Revive the Roots” farm in Smithfield, RI to learn about their use of regenerative agriculture practices on September 27, 2021.

Have a question? or want to be part of the Climate Action team?

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Church News and Updates

Sunday, March 17

Sunday, March 17

Led by the Stewardship Committee Materialize Your Values What would this community look like without Murray? On this Stewardship Sunday, we will explore making our values matter and what our personal bank statements say about our life statement....

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Holistic Fair 2024

Holistic Fair 2024

Saturday, April 6 from 10 to 4 Energize your mind, body, and spirit with the Murray Holistic Fair Admission is $5. Free parking. Light snacks and water are available for sale Shop at our 2nd annual Holistic Fair for spiritual tools and hand-made...

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Sunday, March 10

Sunday, March 10

Neutral Pulpit Sunday Led by the Religious Services Committee. This Sunday's sermon is titled The Answer Is? As we consider who we have been, who we are, and who we are constantly becoming, where can we turn for guidance and inspiration as we...

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