Thank yous go to Shadow Rock, First Church Phoenix, Rincon, and Casas Adobes for emergency housing of released asylum seekers this week. Thank you to all the churches that pitched in with help, supplies, and myriad other tasks. (A special thank you to University Presbyterian in Tempe, who hearing of the request for help, also collected two car loads of supplies,)

Encanto will sponsor a Pet Blessing Booth at the Strut your Mutt Festival on Oct 20th at Cesar Chavez Park in Laveen. The festival raises money for the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and includes a 5k dog walk.

Shepherd of the Hills is hosting “A Taste of Syria” On Oct 21st from 11-1. Syrian refugees will have sweets, Turkish coffee, and crafts for sale. All proceeds go to the refugee families. Children activities also available.

Composer and United Church of Santa Fe Choral Director Bradley Ellingboe has written “Star Song”, which will be performed on Oct 28th at 2pm at the church. “I wrote ‘Star Song’ as a way to wrestle with the idea that everything vibrates.....sound, light, atoms. What if we could hear it?” Texts in the piece include Walt Whitman poetry, Hildegard of Bingen’s visions, and an Algonquian prayer.

First Congregational of Albuquerque will hold its Gratitude dinner and auction on Oct 20th. Folks can bid online for auction items prior to the event at firstUCCabq.org

First Congregational Albuquerque is collecting funds in October for DIG DEEP, an organization that provides clean running water on the Navajo Nation to homes without access to water or sewer lines.

Church of the Painted Hills is holding a “Non-Dinner” where guests do NOT have to attend, cook, move chairs, clean up, wash dishes, or drive after dark. Non-attendees can set their own price for the meal by donating a check to the pastor’s Discretionary Fund.