Rev. Drew Terry and Oro Valley UCC members joined with former interim pastor, Rev. Dr. Alberta Wallace, on Friday, June 19, for a special online celebration and prayer service for Juneteenth, the traditional date for the end of slavery in America. They joined together in song, prayer, and reading to celebrate the date and mark this moment in our history.
Pastor Tony and ellie hutchison, Church of the Beatitudes' Member in Discernment, gather with members for an hour of provocative dialogue and discussion about each week's sermon every Tuesday evening. Pastor Tony answers questions and reacts to comments, thoughts and insights as the group digs a little deeper.
Black Mountain UCC, to assist the Council in its decision regarding opening of in-person worship, sent a survey to its members with questions around community data, on-site protocols, and comfort with a health survey and temperature checks.
The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita held a drive-through "petition signature gathering" to help get AZ citizens’ initiatives on the November ballot. Signature gathering has been severely hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was organized with safety in mind: signers remained in their cars; social distancing was maintained as much as possible; facemasks were required for both organizers and participants; and, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, and single-use pens were used.
First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque asked "Have you been wishing you could join the protestors for Black Lives Matter, but don't want to get sick and/or contribute to the spread of coronavirus?" Their response was to invite members, on Juneteenth, to walk clockwise around the block on which the church is located, single file, 6 feet apart, at the time of day which worked best for them, and carry their own sign. Folks were asked to take a selfie and send it to the church, wave to the people driving by, and be a witness for God's love, justice, and inclusion.
Shadow Rock UCC will begin two small group gatherings as a new way to be together, Alternating Weeks: One group for popular culture discussions (movies, books, etc) One group for anti-racism formation which will include a book study.
Even though the church is "closed," Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque has continued to house families from Family Promise. Families have been at the church since March, although some have found housing. Family Promise is covering cleaning costs and half the utilities.
June is Gay Pride Month and Church of the Palms is having its own Gay Pride Parade! That's right, keeping their physical distance, they will be cruising the parking lot in cars, trucks, or whatever moves! Folks are invited to decorate their vehicle and come to The Palms on Sunday, June 28 at 11:00 a.m. for a parade. There will be popsicles aplenty!
One of Scottsdale UCC's daily prayers:
O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to all the world: hear me. I am one of your many children. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever to behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made, my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise, so that I may know the things you have taught my people, the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength, O Great Spirit, not to be superior to others but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself. Make me ever ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes so that when life fades as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.
Tom White Cloud
Ojibway