United Church of Santa Fe has an ongoing column in its newsletter where folks reflect on their favorite hymn. Here's this month's selection by Jacquelyn Helin, Music Director/Pianist. "The power of hymns to communicate so much within simple 4-bar phrases is one of the great gifts of our faith. One of my favorite hymns is Ralph Vaughan Williams’ setting of William How’s text of For All the Saints. It first appeared in the 1906 English Hymnal and has been called one of the finest hymn tunes of the 20th century. Every time we sing it, I feel connected to all who have gone before us – including in a personal way to my grandparents and parents who lived and died in the Christian faith. I feel part of the ongoing Christian communities I have known over my lifetime and part of the church over centuries, to all those committed to walking in Christ’s way. This hymn, so rousing in its musical setting, can pick us up and inspire us when we need it most: “Ringed by this cloud of witnesses divine, we feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet in your love our faithful lives entwine. Alleluia! Alleluia!” These words never fail to move me, often bring me to tears, and above all, connect me to the community of saints of which we are all a part. "
Church of the Palms collected women's clothing for the inmates at Perryville Prison specifically for ladies who are released upon having served their time. Everything donated was quickly used and tremendously appreciated. There is an urgent need for plus-size ladies’ clothing. Anyone having any donations of such items or questions about donations, call Jane Zukowski at 623-584-8225.
Black Mountain UCC is starting a “book” group for non-fiction readers. They will not read books together but instead share the insights and questions they are learning from books , essays and courses they are reading and listening to on any and all subjects. They anticipate lively discussions that get everyone's brains and souls fired up!
Many churches have book groups- The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita is planning a Movie Discussion Group at the end of the month. Folks will watch the movie "Just Mercy" on their choice of streaming platforms and join for discussion on Zoom.
On Wednesday, July 22, First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque will bless the Sanctuary/Asylum Seeker Apartment in its basement at 6 pm via Zoom. It has been an incredible transformation! Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan donated several thousand dollars to this project. Rabbi Jen Kaluzny will join the call and provide a blessing for the Mezzuzah. First Church is grateful for this interfaith collaboration and delighted to celebrate the renovation as they prepare to welcome their first guests.
In response to a Social Justice Alert, the Ministry Leadership Team at First Congregational in Albuquerque submitted a public comment opposing a new rule proposed by the Trump Administration that would eviscerate the rights of people to seek asylum in the United States. It would be a death blow to the entire system and functionally close the door to refugees worldwide fleeing persecution and violence. See our comment here. The MLT is grateful to John Maddaus for drafting the statement.
Shadow Rock Campus is a designated voting location for Maricopa County, so anyone, regardless of their home address, may vote in person or drop off a mail-in ballot. Voting will be in Smith Hall from 9:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. July 22-August 3 with the exception of Sundays 7/26 and 8/2 when the voting will be closed.
Thank you Pauline from Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque for making us laugh this week!
RIP Medical Debt. Despite the global pandemic, First Church Phoenix has been able to raise nearly $6,000.00, but this is short of their goal of $15,000. Each dollar raised retires $100/medical debt. $22.06 in donated funds is the average amount needed to retire the debt of one Arizona family. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected us all. If you find that you are still employed and working from home, please consider donating what you would have spent on gas or coffee. Not dining out often, if at all? Consider donating what you would have spent on dinner or a night out. Relieving one’s medical debt will ease some of the burden and anxiety of our times. Please give if you are able. Every little bit helps! Click the button below to donate.
The COVID crisis has led many grantors to expand and/or focus their granting programs on organizations that provide for basic needs such as food,” announced Sahuarita Food Bank- Community Resource Center CRC Board President Penny Pestle. (SFB-CRC is a mission of The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita). 130 more students will receive weekend nutrition BackPacks from SFB-CRC this upcoming school year, thanks to financial assistance from Wells Fargo, Desert Diamond Casinos, and the Kroger Foundation. SFB-CRC serves up to 600 students in eight or nine area schools, providing them with nutritious food packages when they’re missing meals at school. SFB-CRC was nominated by Why Hunger to receive help for summer food for children and families through Albertson’s and Safeway’s Nourishing Neighbors Community Relief Fund. Operations also received a big boost from Arizona Milk Producers & Dairy Council, who awarded matching funds for 300 gallons of milk each week in May and June, and the Matching Milk Money Program donated a commercial refrigerator to meet the food bank’s increased storage needs during this pandemic.
The summer tradition of “Ask the Minister Anything” is coming up next Sunday at Desert Palm UCC. This is a service in which folks can ask whatever question they want. It might be something they've always wondered about, such as why God seems so vengeful in the Old Testament, and so forgiving in the New. One year Pastor Tom was asked about the tension between working toward long term goals, and the urgency of now. The general spirit of the service is one of dialogue. The idea is to not ask for pontification from on high, but rather enter into a time of dialogue around questions that we will ideally live our way into.
Working in Solidarity with the African American Community answers these questions and more. Save the dates: 10:00 to 11:30 am AND 1:00 to 3:00 pm on Saturdays, August 1, 8, 15, and 22.
Click HERE to register in advance for this webinar.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Now that you’ve been awakened to the violence against African Americans, what do you do?
Why is there such misunderstanding and mistrust between black & white folks in this country?
Didn’t the election of President Obama prove that racism is no longer a significant problem?
Is racism really the issue? Isn’t it more of an economic issue?
What can I as an individual do to promote racial justice?
What if I say and do the wrong thing?
Do I have white privilege.