Opportunities to connect and get engaged…

At Beacon, we put our values into action in our local communities, statewide, across the country and even globally. We affirm that spiritual transformation and social justice are deeply interwoven. Our social justice ministry focuses on several issues including LGBTQI+ rights, environmental justice, democracy defense, and reproductive justice. We also support a food pantry in Plainfield as well as a long partnership with Chancellor Ave School in Irvington, NJ. In 2020, we created Neighborhood Beacon, which organizes local responses to food insecurity by coordinating with a food pantry and town small food businesses to provide increased access for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. We host the day program for Summit Warm Hearts, a program of the Summit Interfaith Council for individuals experiencing food and housing insecurity.

Our community partnerships are a primary way in which we practice our faith as Unitarian Universalists. Here in Summit, we value our partnership with the Summit Interfaith Council. Beyond Summit, we are a regional congregation that sits at the corner of three counties. We have interfaith and community partnerships that guide our justice engagement including with Faith in NJ, Union County Interfaith Coordinating Committee, and Side with Love.

There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer, whether you have ten minutes or a whole day. You can be a part of shining a light of hope and love.

In 2019, we began a supporting organization of Beacon called Beacon Hope and Equity Center. Beacon Hope was founded to decolonize wealth, thereby deepening our commitments to anti-racism and anti-oppression. We give out micro grants twice a year to individuals experiencing urgent crisis connected to systemic poverty and racism. Learn more here.

We want to amplify our call to the Beacon community to consider taking on a leadership role in our social justice ministry.  Are you a great project coordinator?  Do you regularly follow legislation or policy?  Can you help motivate and turn folks out for virtual phone banking and in-person gatherings?  Do you like to deepen partnership?  There are many ways to share your gifts.  Consider joining us and applying for one of our leadership roles.  Please email Rev. Robin at robin@summitbeacon.org if you want to be engaged.

Pictured below: Our Defend Democracy Team getting out the vote in Pennsylvania; Rev. Robin and Owl in DC for Poor People’s Campaign; Vigil for Nex Benedict and the LGBTQI community; welcoming dinner for two refugees from Guatemala; fundraiser for Beacon Hope; and Climate March 2023.