Thanks to Mark Clark (Rincon) for passing along this article on ways to prevent loneliness while social distancing. A highly-encouraged read!
The NEW ORGAN is being installed this week at Church of the Palms with the hope that the installation will be complete within the week and it will be ready to go when folks are able to safely return and assemble in the sanctuary for worship. The old organ was sold to a college organ student.
Hop in your car, Sunday, April 5, from 8:30 to 9:30 am for a Palm Sunday drive-through experience. Cruise through the parking lot of Beatitudes Church and receive a palm frond, Easter gift bag for the kids, and communion.
To ensure that lower-income students don’t go hungry over the weekends while schools are closed, The Sahuarita Food Bank, a mission of The Good Shepherd UCC, provides weekend nutrition BackPacks to Sahuarita and Continental School students. The school districts are distributing meals during the week to students.
Desert Palm held a Drop Off Day to collect towels for refugee shelters in Mexico and food donations for IHELP.
Churches across the conference are adapting to the current safety protocols while still being the church. For instance:
Rincon offers shopping assistance to those who need it
Black Mountain is asking folks to donate 40 items (representing days in Lent, of course), either food or $40 in cash, to the local food bank
Oro Valley is holding Zoom Bible studies weekly
St Paul's, Desert Palm, Church of the Palms, and Church of the Red Rocks, along with others are holding weekly prayer times
Oro Valley is holding daily prayer time and Scottsdale is sending a daily prayer via email.
Zoom Happy Hours or Coffee Conversations are scheduled at Church of the Good Shepherd, Church of the Beatitudes, Shepherd of the Hills, and Oro Valley
Church of the Good Shepherd is starting a support group for healthcare workers and first responders
Call trees, neighborhood groups, care groups and "shepherds" are formed at First Christian (Las Cruces), Scottsdale, Rincon, First Church Albuquerque, and many others
Communion is being served at First Christian and Scottsdale with folks providing their own elements
Check the websites or Facebook pages of your UCC church for specific details and stay connected.
For your information:
Local Grocery Store Senior Shopping Hours: (subject to change)
1. Walmart: 6-7 AM on Tuesdays
2. Costco: 8-9 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays
3. Safeway and Albertsons: 7-9 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays
4. Publix: 7-8 AM Tuesdays and Wednesdays
5. Bashas, AJ's, and Food City: 5-6 AM on Wednesdays
6. Giant: 6-7 AM on Fridays
7. Whole Foods: 7-8 AM every day
8. Frys: 6-7AM Monday through Thursday