Book Clubs: Many of our churches sponsor book clubs with both fiction and non-fiction selections. Here are just a few that you might like to add to your own reading lists!
Church of the Red Rocks is reading "Pause to Rewind" by A. Alexander.
Desert Garden is reading "From Sand and Ash" by Amy Harmon.
Rincon is reading "River Horse" by William Least Heat Moon.
Church of the Beatitudes is reading "Lab Girl" by Hope Jahren, "The Stranger in my Genes" by Bill Griffeth, and "The Road to Character" by David Brooks.
Souper Bowl is one of those fun fund raisers that bring out the creativity of many of our churches. Churches can design the event in a variety of ways and then choose a charity of their choice to support. Here are just a few examples from around the conference.
Desert Palm members throw money into bowls representing all the various teams, the the most money collected deciding the DP Bowl winner. This is followed by a soup and bread lunch. All funds are donated to the Heifer Project.
Casas Adobes has a salsa contest and a waffle lunch. Donations go to ICS, Interfaith Community Services.
Desert Garden collects cans of soup all January and then donates them to the local food bank.
Church of the Painted Hills youth will promote and organize a food drive for ICS through monetary donations so that the youth can shop for the food items. Following the church service on February 4th, the youth will thank the congregation for their donations by helping to serve SOUP during fellowship time! They wear their favorite jerseys to church that Sunday, too.
Other items:
Scottsdale UCC is holding a White Privilege Workshop Series for their members during Lent using the UCC adult curriculum White Privilege: Let's Talk- A Resource for Transformational Dialogue.
Church of the Beatitudes is starting a 3-month renovation project of upgrading HVAC and electrical systems, removing asbestos, demolishing a building, and moving the library. Please be patient!