With a full heart, Pastor Rock writes to let you know that Shepherd of the Hills Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Donald Heinrich (August 18, 1922 - July 18, 2020), has died. In addition to serving at Shepherd of the Hills, Rev. Heinrich also served as the interim pastor at Shadow Rock for a period in the early 90's. They remember fondly his love of Peanuts cartoons and the clever ways he found to work them into his sermons. With gratitude for his years of ministry, please hold the family in prayer in this time.

Cellist Jack Smucker and violinist Sasha Smucker offer an outdoor recital at United Church of Santa Fe to benefit Communities in Schools on Tuesday, July 28 at 7pm. It’s part of their summer “Give Bach” commitment to make music and “give Bach” to Santa Fe kids. Spots are limited, so sign up now (unitedchurchsf@gmail.com). They are also doing benefit “driveway recitals” if you want a private performance. More info at their “Give Bach” website: yodersmucker.wixsite.com/givebach.

It’s been a long road, and the COVID crisis added an extra hurdle, but the Sahuarita Food Bank and Community Resource Center (SFB-CRC), a mission of The Good Shepherd UCC, after two and half years of planning and fundraising, plan to break ground in September for a new 13,800 square foot building that will grant them the incredible opportunity to do so much more. There will be a larger and more convenient shopping area, and space for partner agencies to offer their services to participants. A much larger kitchen will make it easier to process and package bulk food offerings, and there will be three times as much food storage space.

During these times of isolation and virtual worship services, the ability to express one’s faith through the singing of Hymns together has been so missed. So, Desert Palm is going to have a hymn sing!!!!!! It will take some creative work, but the Chancel Choir, other musicians, and director Marc Gaston will make it work with a blending of singers and accompanists.

Eric Whitacre, composer and veteran virtual choir producer, premiered his latest piece, Sing Gently, this past Sunday. Black Mountain UCC member, Lissi Weiss, was one of the 17,572 singers from 129 different countries who participated. Tune your devices to youtube to listen to this glorious piece that certainly encourages the world to retrieve its purpose,the divinity of its mission, to reflect and glorify the love of God.

Listen to Virtual Choir 6

SOAR Webinars: SOAR is a positive approach to strategic thinking, leading, and planning. SOAR stands for Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results.

Free and open to all, two virtual webinars through the Southwest Conference will be presented by Dr. Jacqueline M. Stavros (Professor, College of Business and IT, Lawrence Technological University):

1. SOAR - Introduction to Conversations Worth Having: Tuesday, July 28th at 3:00 to 4:00 pm Arizona time.

2. SOAR - Introduction to SOAR: Thursday, July 30th, 3:00 to 4:00 pm Arizona time

Register for one or both webinars HERE. The link to each webinar will be emailed to registrants the week prior to the events.

On Sunday, First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque welcomed sixteen new members by zoom including one from San Antonio, Texas! That is something that would never have happened before the pandemic!

As the weeks have turned to months of sheltering in place at home, here's a way you can still stay spiritually connected and engaged. Join others at Church of the Beatitudes as they journal their way through the pandemic. Journaling is a way for you to constructively express your feelings/emotions and thoughts, while also tracking your daily activities and the people with whom you come into contact. Two to three times a week you will receive emails from a member of the Spiritual Team or ellie hutchison with a prompt for your journaling. The emails will include reminders and information such as – prayers, words of encouragement, poetry, links to articles or podcasts, etc.

To participate, send an email to

COVID-19@beatitudeschurch.org

and in the subject line type, “SUBSCRIBE”.

The Good Shepherd Congregation in Sahuarita worshiped with Rincon UCC in Tucson yesterday morning. Earlier in the summer, Rincon directed their congregation to worship with The Good Shepherd and they had a very good experience.

Oro Valley UCC is seeking Spanish Lay Readers. Since their Worship Services are now viewed online by Spanish speakers, they would like to include Scripture Readings in Spanish for their online Services.

The Encanto Youth are developing their next fundraiser: A 2021 calendar featuring the Dogs of Encanto Community Church. Members are invited to e-mail photos of each of their adorable canine companions, together with his or her birthdates. From those submissions, the youth will select pictures for inclusion in the 2021 calendar.

by John Lewis

Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change (public library):

Anchor the eternity of love in your own soul and embed this planet with goodness. Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates. Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don’t be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice. And if you follow your truth down the road to peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see, then the poetry of all the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is finally at peace with itself.