From Paul Whitlock at Church of the Palms:
Luke 3:10-11 reads, "And the crowds asked him, 'What then should we do?' In reply he said to them, 'Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.'"
Question: Does this apply to hand-sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, TP, laundry soap, eggs, paper towels, flour, white sugar, and all the other things that the stores are running out of?
Because of the unprecedented and rapidly changing situation with COVID-19, the Beatitudes Campus is following the recommendations of the Arizona Department of Health Services and the CDC as well as their professional association, LeadingAge. They are restricting access to the campus for all visitors except health care workers and staff and conducting screening of all approved individuals before they can step on campus.
Prior to church two Sundays ago, Church of the Palms had a "swiping party " where folks came in and did a deep sanitizing of the sanctuary prior to worship. They jokingly offered to hand out TP to all first-time visitors and offer a four-pack to all who join! Keep your sense of humor.
Most of our churches are live streaming or using other video options for worship. See the SWC live stream page or your own church website for worship options.
Oro Valley UCC is also trying a Zoom coffee hour! Folks can dial in and out over a couple-hour window, chat, eat at home, and visit!
Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque is holding a mid-week "check-in" over Zoom for anyone to sign in and share concerns or ideas. The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita and Oro Valley UCC are holding mid-week Zoom "Coffee Conversations." Rincon is holding its weekly book group via Zoom. Connections matter.
Taos UCC is putting folks into Triads—3 households who commit to calling one another at least once a week to visit, pray together, and hear any problems or concerns. They are also asking folks to drop food donations to the parking lot of the local school to give to families in need.
First Congregational in Albuquerque is creating neighborhood groups, asking one person in each group to be a “caller” and check in with each person in the group weekly. They want to know how everyone is doing and what support might be needed.
Sharing is the only antidote to greed and panic. If anyone has extra supplies of life’s staples, bring them by Church of the Palms and they will distribute them to folks who need the basic necessities of life.
The Board of Directors of First Christian Church in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is thrilled to announce that at a properly called Congregational Meeting on Sunday, March 15, 2020, the Congregation of FCCLC unanimously elected Rev. Bethany Meier as their new Pastor. The SWC welcomes Rev. Bethany and her wife, Kelsee Evans, and we cannot wait until you join us!
First Congregational of Albuquerque is renovating its basement as an apartment for temporary, emergency housing (less than 30 days per family). They learned from the director of the ABQ Asylum Seekers Council that a church in Michigan is willing to fund the entire renovation (up to $12,000). In exchange, they will offer the space for Asylum families when it is not needed for sanctuary.
The Rev. Howard Houldsworth passed away last Monday, March 9, 2020, in Chillicothe, OH, where he had been living for the last ten or more years. He was in his 90s. He was the pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque from the early ‘80s until the early ‘90s.
It is with incredible sadness that Pastor Rock Fremont and Ernie Gregg of Church of the Painted Hills bid an early and unexpected farewell to their exchange student Basil. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, many countries have called their students back. Basil will be leaving for his home in Switzerland.
The Little Free Library on the south front lawn of Scottsdale UCC will have some non-perishable food items available in it by Sunday afternoon. If folks are in need please check the items out. If you can contribute food, please leave donations near the front door of the church.
Prayer for a Pandemic
(The author is Cameron Bellm, a blogger who lives in Seattle, Washington. )
May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country,
Let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.