The East Valley Refugee Network of faith communities continues to use its combined strengths to assist refugees and asylum seekers where it can and keep its members informed. Desert Palm and Scottsdale UCC are members of this group of churches that is sponsoring the following special event:
The Florence Project is the only organization in Arizona that provides free legal and social services to detained men, women, and unaccompanied children in immigration custody facing removal proceedings. Two of their attorneys will speak to interested persons on March 5th, 7pm, at Desert Palm UCC, 1230 E Guadalupe, Tempe, AZ 85283. Please come hear about this amazing nonprofit, learn about the current laws and regulations governing the asylum process, and hear about a potential new way to serve. You can RSVP to Holly at hhbillsmom@gmail.com or just show up.
Jayne Hubbard, pastor of Black Mountain UCC, will be coaching Desert Garden UCC through its search process for a new settled pastor. Thank you, Jayne, for your wisdom and counsel to our sister church in Sun City West!
Congregational Church of the Valley is proud to announce that the next concert in the Extraordinary Evening of Music series has been scheduled for Sunday, March 1 at 7PM. Please join them for this very special evening of Baroque music featuring 7 musicians of the Phoenix Symphony. The program will include works by J. S. Bach, including Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 and Partita No. 2 for solo violin, sonatas for solo harpsichord by Domenico Scarlatti, and a concerto by Georg Philipp Telemann.
Presale tickets may be purchased online for just $25 by clicking here or by calling 480-451-4565. Tickets will also be available at the door for $30. The concert is being presented at the Congregational Church of the Valley, 12001 E Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale.
The Green Justice Lenten Book Group at First Congregational Church in Albuquerque is sending a big thank you to the many people who signed their petition supporting strong methane regulations in New Mexico. They recommend you read Climate Church, Climate World (How People of Faith Must Work for Change) by former UCC Massachusetts conference minister Jim Antal during Lent. This book takes people on a journey to more fully understand what is at stake, go through grieving, and then discern a path of action.
Parker Palmer, educator and author of ten books, numerous poems and essays, will join Carrie Newcomer, prolific singer and songwriter for a program they call, "Hope in Hard Times" at The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita. Are you needing to experience hope? Are you finding that you are describing our global and national problems as "hard times?" Join us for the Progressive Theology Seminar, Feb 21-22 where you will find both encouragement and support as well as a challenge to continue onward towards creating a just world for all. It's time to register for this event. Go to our church web page, thegoodshepherducc.org where you will find a link for registration. You will be able to both register and pay at this site. If you would not prefer to pay online, you can register by printing the registration form, and turning it in along with your check to the church office.
On March 1st, The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita will celebrate the Ordination of Rebecca McElfresh at 3:00 pm with a reception to follow. Come witness!
Church of the Beatitudes is encouraging its members to participate in the "One Book, One Church" program during Lent when the whole church will read the same book and meet in several available study groups to discuss. The book is Open Borders: the Science and Ethics of Immigration by Bryan Caplan and Zachary Weinersmith.
Beginning in late 2018 and through August, 2019, over 1500 asylum seekers were provided respite at Rincon UCC. In December Rincon Congregation made the decision to discontinue operating a shelter on our campus and to distribute all remaining funds and all other donated assets to organizations continuing to care for the migrant community. Casa Alitas and Kino Border Initiative each received monetary donations and several organizations, including Casa Alitas and Kino Border Initiative, accepted carloads of clothing, blankets, hygiene items, car seats etc. Rincon has begun a temporary new program, “Soup for Casa Alitas,” which is making soup for the migrant welcome center.