“Quarantine, Schmorentine, the Church is Not Closed; We Are Deployed” –Church of the Palms UCC
As I read through the 60+ newsletters that come to me each week, this quote perfectly describes what I see happening around the SWC. Even though I select items that I hope will be interesting, informative, or inspiring, what I see everywhere is the church being the church. Food is being served or collected or cooked, books are read and discussed, diapers collected, school supplies provided, children and adults educated, CROP Walks walked, highways cleaned, protests chanted, refugees housed, maintenance done, and all those other myriad church functions performed. I have a son in the Army reserves and he was on deployment last year. Still working hard and doing his duty- just from a different location. It's an image that resonates in these Covid times. –Holly
Each day, women leave Perryville Prison after having served their time, often without clothes to reenter society. There is an urgent need for clothing of all sizes: shorts, pants, tops, and business attire for job interviews. No undergarments, sleepwear or shoes, please. Church of the Palms is coordinating help. Donations can be boxed or bagged (no hangers). For more info, call Jane Zukowski at 623-584-8225.
Oro Valley UCC's parking lot drive-by peanut butter tower project was a huge success. The ICS Food Bank Van collected 498 pounds of food. Part of that was 218 jars of peanut butter--exceeding the original goal of 175 jars!
The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita will continue its anti-racism book studies with a focus on the ways in which we can be better allies in the struggle for racial justice. Books chosen are:
The Third Reconstruction by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber III
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ljeoma Oluo
How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X Kendi
One Person, No Vote by Carol Anderson
United Church of Sun City is pleased to announce that Alan Paulson has accepted their offer to become Minister of Music! Alan brings over 40 years of successful music director experience in Christian Churches, public schools, performance choirs and community colleges. At ASU, Alan earned his Masters in Choral Music Conducting and continues expanding his “trade” by taking courses to maintain his certifications.
First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque held a "Black Lives Matter" Sunday School Sit-In yesterday. Folks gathered in the church parking lot where there were sign making stations available as well as a huge "Black Lives Matter" banner to paint. (Social distancing, masks and parents/guardians were required).
Director of Outfoxed, Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price, and Making A Killing: Guns Greed and the NRA, now Robert Greenwald has crafted a short, powerful documentary about the growing threat of voter suppression to our 2020 election.
Deeply personal accounts from voters of color across the state of Georgia reveal deliberate, widespread voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election. Once again during 2020 primaries, polling place closures, voter purges, missing absentee ballots, extreme wait times, and voter ID issues were in full effect and are on-going across the country. All of this disproportionately affects Black Americans and other minorities, preventing them from casting their ballots.
On Sunday, Sept 27th at 4pm, sponsored by Scottsdale UCC
READ MORE ABOUT THE FILM'S EXCELLENT REVIEWS.
Interested in joining the screening? RSVP to ALICE HERE for the Zoom Link.
First Congregational UCC in Prescott will record a virtual worship service in celebration of the church's 140th anniversary, with guest speaker The Rev. Dr. William Lyons, UCC Southwest Conference Minister. The virtual worship service will be available to view on Sunday morning, the 27th. Also at 10am on Sunday September 27, there will be an in-person modified worship/fellowship service to be held in the church parking lot with people wearing masks and practicing safe distancing. Bring your umbrella for shade! The church building will also be open for you to tour. Historical items will be placed on tables in Perkins Hall for you to see.