The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee advances human rights through grassroots collaborations.
Guest at Your Table
2023-2024 GAYT Theme: Pursuing Liberation
The alarming rise of fascism, authoritarianism, and nationalism in the United States and in many places around the world is putting the lives of people, and the sustainability of the planet, in critical danger. These far-right forces have co-opted the word “freedom” for their own purposes, but the concepts of liberation and freedom mean something very tangible to UUSC’s grassroots partners in communities the world over. Whether they are fighting for the right to seek safety in Mexico and the United States, convincing the UN’s International Court of Justice to address the human rights threatened by the climate crisis in the South Pacific, or replenishing the energy of human rights activists in eastern Europe by addressing burn-out, UUSC partners invite us into an expansive, regenerative space to pursue liberation.
At UUSC, we believe that the transformational solutions we need come from communities most directly impacted by injustice. Join us for this year’s Guest at Your Table program to learn what UUSC partners are doing to address immediate injustices – as well as the collective liberation they envision for the future. At this extraordinary juncture in history, we think their stories will offer inspiration and guidance on the path toward justice and liberation for all.
This Year’s “Guest” Organizations
Digital Materials Available to Download
- Sermon video: “Pursuing Liberation”
- Worship service resources
- “What is Guest at Your Table?” animated video
- Order of service insert 1: “Introducing This Year’s Guests”
- Order of service insert 2: “Projects Donations Support”
- Template for making homemade boxes
- Additional general UUSC worship materials
Materials for Collecting and Tracking Donations
Print Materials Available to Order
- Stories of Hope booklets
- Guest at Your Table poster
- Collection boxes
- Donation envelopes
Making a Gift to Guest at Your Table
Donations to Guest at Your Table help advance community-led human rights initiatives around the world. Donations of $150 or more are eligible to be matched by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, NY.
To donate online, please use this secure donation page, which can also be accessed via the shortcut uusc.org/givetoguest. To donate by mail, please make checks out to “UUSC” with “Guest” or “GAYT” in the memo field, and send to: UUSC • PO Box 808 • Newark, NJ 07101-0808.
Contact Information
If you would like to place a materials order, if you would like a personalized donation page for your congregation, or if we can be helpful with anything else related to Guest at Your Table, please contact Julian Sharp at jsharp @ uusc.org. Please allow 10 days from the time of your order for print materials to arrive.
What is Guest at Your Table?
Guest at Your Table (GAYT) is UUSC’s annual intergenerational program to raise support for and awareness about key human rights issues. Since UUSC works in more than 20 countries, with over 50 grassroots partners, there are thousands of individuals involved in and who benefit from the work that our members make possible. The program is an opportunity to celebrate grassroots partnership, support human rights, and learn about just four of these individuals—the “guests” in Guest at Your Table.
Planning a Guest at Your Table Program
By coordinating a Guest at Your Table celebration for your congregation, you help participants of all ages nurture lasting connections with UU principles, build awareness about social justice and human rights, and strengthen UUSC’s work. Thank you for joining us in this special tradition!
To register as your congregation’s Guest at Your Table coordinator, or to request materials or information, please contact Julian Sharp, Senior Associate for Congregational Support, at jsharp @ uusc.org.
A step-by-step guide for planning your congregation’s Guest at Your Table Program is available here.
Past Programs
2022-2023 Theme: Hope. Courage. Action.
Through UUSC’s Guest at Your Table program, congregations provide vital support to those who need it most, including communities impacted by forced migration, climate disasters, and other human-made crises. UUSC’s global partnerships center the voices of those who are most affected by these issues and who best understand how to solve them. Join UUSC for Guest at your Table to learn more about our amazing global partners who embody the hope, the courage, and the action needed to uphold human dignity for all and honor our connections with each other and the earth.
Digital Materials Available to Download
—Sermon video: “The Power of Every Voice”
—Reading video: “There Are Birds Here” by Jamaal May
—Story for All Ages video
—Video of featured “guest” Ineza Umuhoza Grace
—Video of featured “guest” Zsolt Szekeres
—Video of featured “guest” Ian Zdanowicz
—Video of featured “guest” Naw Wah Ku Shee
—“What is Guest at Your Table” animated video
—Order of service insert 1: “Introducing This Year’s Guests”
—Order of service insert 2: “Projects Donations Support”
—Template for making homemade boxes
—Additional general UUSC worship materials
—Worship service resources
—Religious education activity
2021-2022 Theme: Now is the Time for Courageous Change
The injustices and crises of the past year have underscored the importance of our shared goal – a world free from oppression, where all can realize their full human rights. They also have emphasized just how big a task that is.
To meet the enormous challenges of today and build a more just future, we need big ideas and bold change. We must fundamentally transform the way things are, so that we do not perpetuate systemic inequities and repeat the harms of the past.
At UUSC, we believe that the transformational solutions we need come from communities most directly impacted by injustice. Join us for this year’s Guest at Your Table program to learn what UUSC partners are doing to address immediate injustices – as well as what they envision for the future. At this extraordinary juncture in history, we think their stories will offer inspiration and guidance on the path toward justice.
Digital Materials Available to Download:
—Video introducing this year’s theme
—Videos of featured “guests” and sample video introductions
—Sample worship service
—Sermon video: “Power, Partnership, and Change”
—Story for All Ages video
—“What is Guest at Your Table” animated video
—“What are Human Rights” video for ages 5+
—Religious Education activity for ages 5-12
—Religious Education activity for ages 12+
—Order of Service Insert 1: Introducing This Year’s Guests
—Order of Service Insert 2: Projects Donations Support
—Photo collage of “guests”
—Template for making homemade boxes
—Additional general UUSC worship materials
Materials for Collecting and Tracking Donations:
Print Materials Available to Order:
—Stories of Hope booklets
—11×17” Guest at Your Table poster
—Collection boxes
—Donation envelopes
Making a Gift to Guest at Your Table
Donations to Guest at Your Table help advance community-led human rights initiatives around the world. Donations of $150 or more are eligible to be matched by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, NY.
To donate online, please use this secure donation page, which can also be accessed via the shortcut uusc.org/givetoguest. To donate by mail, please make checks out to “UUSC” with “Guest” or “GAYT” in the memo field, and send to: UUSC • PO Box 808 • Newark, NJ 07101-0808.
Contact Information
If you would like to place a materials order, if you would like a personalized donation page for your congregation, or if we can be helpful with anything else related to Guest at Your Table, please contact Laura Randall at lrandall @ uusc.org. Please allow 10 days from the time of your order for print materials to arrive.
2020-2021 Theme: The Meaning of Home
This past year, we highlighted the ways the pandemic has changed the relationship many of us have with home, as well as the importance of home to our UUSC partners, who are fighting for their homes amid violence, economic devastation, and climate change. We provided the following materials below.
Downloadable resources:
—Stories of Hope: personal stories introducing this year’s “Guests”
—Story for All Ages introducing kids to this year’s four “Guests”
—Template for making homemade boxes
—Short videos of four “Guests” with sample introductions for worship services (recommended for ages 12 and up)
—Full-length sermon video
—Written sermon text with suggested hymns and readings
—Short video of staff members introducing UUSC
—Wrap-up thank you video from UUSC
Print materials:
—Stories of Hope: booklet of four stories highlighting women leaders in human rights
—Donation envelopes
—Donation collection boxes
—11×17” Posters
