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Peace and Justice Action Team

First Churches Peace and Justice Action Team (PJAT) is the voluntary group and formal entity that serves the congregation by hosting, sponsoring, implementing, educating and celebrating faith-inspired social justice and peace activism.  Meeting regularly, we create the opportunity for congregants, community partners, lay leaders and community members to participate in and support various peace, justice, social activist activities.  

 

Our values are informed by our commitment and embodiment of faith: The PJAT:  

  • Amplifies social activism, peace and justice

  • Articulates and shares social justice opportunities with our congregation and community

  • Catalyzes and facilitates ongoing social activism  

  • Collaborates with diverse faith communities and community partners

  • Crafts and facilitates courageous spaces to do our social justice work

  • Embodies our faith and believes in a loving, justice-seeking God

  • Hosts, sponsors and supports social activism that can be sustained and has impact    

  • Is both agile and grounded in our work

  • Makes the distinction between intention and impact and recognize that we are all on a learning journey in how we practice and embody social justice

  • Practices deep listening, openness and radical hospitality

  • Responds with swiftness and flexibility to pressing and ongoing contemporary challenges

  • Supports and engages in the continued resiliency and sustainability of social activism within the congregation and our communities

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To get in touch with PJAT, please email peaceandjustice@firstchurches.org

Upcoming Peace and Justice* Events

6/14/25

10:30 AM

Northampton City Hall
210 Main St
Northampton, MA 01060

NO KINGS Northampton

NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.

Register:

https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/792916/

6/14/25

2:00 PM

Pulaski Park
(Rain Location: Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence)

Father's Day Concert for the Children of Gaza

All proceeds from the concert go to the Sumud School on Gaza, supported for many years by a local Northampton family, the Mousebeck's, owners of Interlink book Store in Thorne's. The Sumud School works to make sure children in Gaza still have access to education despite the horrific conditions they are living through.

Register:

6/18/25

12:30 PM

First Churches Front Steps

Faithful Witness Wednesdays

All are invited to join us out in front of First Churches for Faithful Witness Wednesdays, every Wednesday starting on April 2 from 12:30-1:30 out on our front steps. Faithful Wednesdays is an interfaith non-partisan movement calling on concerned citizens to gather weekly to call on Congress to exercise greater moral courage in upholding its Article 1 powers and preventing executive overreach. It is a vigil - literally a time to keep watch and keep awake - rather than a protest.

Register:

6/25/25

12:30 PM

First Churches Front Steps

Faithful Witness Wednesdays

All are invited to join us out in front of First Churches for Faithful Witness Wednesdays, every Wednesday starting on April 2 from 12:30-1:30 out on our front steps. Faithful Wednesdays is an interfaith non-partisan movement calling on concerned citizens to gather weekly to call on Congress to exercise greater moral courage in upholding its Article 1 powers and preventing executive overreach. It is a vigil - literally a time to keep watch and keep awake - rather than a protest.

Register:

6/29/25

11:15 AM

First Churches

PJAT Meeting

Agenda TBD

Register:

*Not all events are hosted by the First Churches Peace and Justice Action Team, but all are in line with its goals and mission

General Resources for Action

The following advocacy resources have been compiled by PJAT, to be publically available to anyone in our community. They have been sorted by issue area, and are regularly updated. 

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Protecting Democracy, Resisting Authoritarianism:

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Immigrant and Refugee Rights:

Environmental Justice:

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Humanitarian Aid Abroad

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Transgender Rights and Safety:

  • Trans Relocation Support Western MA, an organization which provides assistance for transgender individuals and families who need to relocate from areas of the country that are passing anti-trans legislation : https://trswmass.com/

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Federal Budget:

 

Keeping Hope Alive:

First Churches of Northampton

Contact Us

General inquiries only.

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Phone: 1-413-584-9392

Email: admin@firstchurches.org

Office Hours M-F, 9am-3pm

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129 Main Street

Northampton, MA 01060

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