Woo-hoo! Desert Palm UCC-Tempe voted to be a WISE congregation!

(Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, Engaging with people living with mental health challenges)

Leaders of our conference ministry and other faith communities will join members of Casas Adobes UCC on Sunday, February 16th, at 3pm, for the installation of the Rev. Michael Bush as their senior minister. The Installation Service will feature a sermon by the Rev. Susan Princehouse. Rev. Princehouse was a member of Rev. Bush's church in Mercer Island, Washington, when she discerned a call to ordained ministry. Leaving her job as a lawyer for the District Attorney's office, she went through seminary and was ordained while Rev. Bush was still her pastor. He preached at her ordination service. Now, almost 20 years later, she will preach at his Installation Service. Rev. Princehouse now lives in Surprise, AZ.

The Granite Mountain Bel Canto Singers presents The Music of Romance on Sunday February 9, 2020 at 3:00 PM at First Congregational Church, Prescott. The $15 suggested donation at the door will benefit the Community Cupboard Food Bank. Music celebrating LOVE and ROMANCE... old favorites by Stephen Foster such as "Beautiful Dreamer", "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair", and "O Susanna", light madrigals and love songs.

Pastor Jayne Hubbard of Black Mountain UCC took part in this past weekend's Point in Time count of the homeless population in AZ. The group had supplies to hand out as well as information and resources to connect them to any help they may be able to receive in order to get out of homelessness.

On Ash Wednesday, February 26th, Pastor John Anguilo of Casas Adobes UCC will again be dispensing “ashes to go” from the church parking lot from 9:30 to 11:30 am. If you are on the go and would like Lenten ashes, you can “drive thru” as part of your day’s errands. If you prefer to start Lent with a worship service, Pastor John will have two Ash Wednesday services later in the day at noon and 6pm

Since 2007 The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita has been able to give out roughly 1600 loans to the working poor in 80 countries. When the people pay their loans back, that money can then be re-loaned to another worthy soul. The re-payment rate is over 99%. This has resulted in them being able to give $154,000 in loans. If you wish to contribute funds to this project to be used for loans and donations, please make a check out to Good Shepherd with Micro-Loan Project in the memo line. Any questions contact Roger Kleckner at 520-870-9951

First Church Phoenix and Shadow Rock are hosting Dr Miguel De la Torre on Feb 15th from 10am - 3pm at First Church. Tickets are $10. Dr De la Torre is currently the Professor of Social Ethics and Latino Studies at Iliff School of Theology. His topic is “Rejecting the White Jesus: Badass Christianity”.

Returning to the Nelson Hall stage at Church of the Beatitudes on Feb 16th is the jazzy vibes of Union 32 Quintet with musicians Dr. Brett Reed, vibes; Keith Kelly, winds; Adam Roberts, saxes; Ben Hedquist, bass; Ryan Anthony, drums. Concert starts at 6 pm with a $5 donation at the door suggested. Don't miss it!

Interim Pastor Len Silvester’s 4-session Bible Study series on “What Paul REALLY Said About Women” begins Thursday, Feb. 6th, at 10 a.m. at Desert Garden UCC in Fellowship Hall. Come along for a rollicking ride as we “dive” below the surface of some familiar, if mis-translated, texts.

St Paul’s UCC in Rio Rancho NM is participating in FeedNMKids by preparing 1-gallon ziplock snack packs that hungry school kids can take home on Fridays and eat over the weekend. 120 packs were filled in January and they plan to do the same monthly.

Scottsdale UCC and the Arizona Faith Network are sponsoring a discussion of the movie "Just Mercy" on Sunday 2/9/29 at 4:00 PM. People who still need to see the movie "Just Mercy" can go to the 1:25 showing on Sunday 2/9 at Harkins Camelview. Since the movie is about 2 hours long, everyone who would like to discuss the film can meet at SCUCC at 4 pm.

Thanks to the generosity of the United Church of Santa Fe congregation, the Compassionate Christmas Gift program underwrote these contributions to local and worldwide agencies in December:

Santa Fe Shelters for the Homeless (St. Elizabeth, Casa Familia, Interfaith Shelter, Youth Shelters): $1,500 ($375 each)
New Mexico Immigrant Law Center: $1,500
New Mexico Immigrant Law Center: $1,500
Church World Service: $520
Solace Crisis Center: $975
Iraqi Refugee Women’s Empowerment: $1,290