The First Church Phoenix Immigration Task Force members delivered tuition checks to three Maricopa Community Colleges on behalf of Dreamers attending five different Phoenix Union high schools. These checks cover the costs of dual credit classes for a unique group of PUHSD students who came to Arizona as young children with their undocumented parents. Because of Prop 300, passed in 2006 by Arizona voters, they are required to pay out-of-state tuition at community colleges and state universities in Arizona. The costs are prohibitive. While their American citizen classmates pay about $300 for a 3-credit community college class, Dreamers pay three times as much, or $1000.
Pastor Michael at Casas Adobes is putting together a hiking group of interested members and friends. At some point in the hiking journey, all would pause for a guided prayer / meditation / contemplation. This is an opportunity for movement in the beauty of nature, building relationships, and connecting with the Spirit.
The Ministry of Mission and Outreach at Casas Adobes recently learned that their collective donation of over $100,000 to Our Family Services Eviction Prevention Program helped the people in 64 households in Tucson stay in their homes! The lives of the people in 64 households changed because of the compassion and generosity of the Casas Adobes congregation!
COVID and its effects have been devastating to the Native communities of Northern Arizona during 2020, continuing through 2021. Walking in Beauty has maintained a consistent delivery of donated necessities and basic supplies to the tribes. This Christmas, by working together as a community of various faith and community groups, The Arizona Faith Network will help provide boxes of carefully curated non-perishable Christmas Dinner staples to 450 families. Boxes will be collected from the Phoenix area by Knight Transportation and delivered to central locations on the reservations in Mid-December. Community organizations will be responsible for publicizing, collecting, and storing boxes until that date. If you or your faith community is interested in helping out, please call Carla Miller at 480-334-9945
Oro Valley UCC has been collecting loose change to support the Wreaths Across America initiative. On November 7, the donations will be counted and the funds will be used to buy wreaths for veterans' graves in Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery. On December 18, ceremonies to place the wreaths will be held the same day and time in cemeteries all across the country.
Congregational Church of the Valley members have been supporting the Healthy Packs program for Scottsdale Community Schools since 2017. Healthy Packs was founded by former CCOV youth director, Judy Stall. Teachers, community specialists, counselors, nurses and other school staff at participating elementary and K-8 schools identify the children in need of weekend food. Healthy Packs provides bags of nonperishable nutritious food for each child to take home and eat on the weekend when school meals are not available. On Fridays, the Healthy Packs are discreetly placed in the children’s backpacks by their teachers.
Church of the Painted Hills has almost reached its goal of $22,000 to replace the church’s roof. Only a little over $3000 to go!
Rincon’s Congregational Life committee plans, in honor of Pride Month (October), to repaint the church’s eye catching “Rainbow” Doors. Due to time, the sun, the wind, and the rain, they could use a refresher. On Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. a group will be painting and then from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. everyone is invited to enjoy some live music by their own Rich Smith, supported by other talented musicians and vocalists.
Are you interested in helping refugee children but aren't sure where to begin? The "Let's Read, Neighbor" program might be for you! Volunteers meet and read with newly arrived refugee children at least once per week. Meetings usually occur in the child's home. The goal is to improve the children's English skills while also exposing them to American culture. You don't need to know Arabic; all you need is a willingness to help. If you want more information, please contact Kathryn Andrews from Desert Palm UCC: at kathrynandrews47@gmail.com, or you can apply to join the program by contacting the program's director, Melek Akgul-Lee, at melekakgul@gmail.com
RISE SHINE BREAD is a group of University Presbyterian (UPC) and other East Valley church and community members that provide home-baked bread to the food insecure in Tempe. In November they will be providing bread to IHELP at UPC on all four Friday evenings. Can you help? You can donate, bake, or collect/deliver! Do so (and tell your friends) at riseshinebread.org or contact Andrea White at (480) 580-3021 or info@riseshinebread.org. If you are interested in learning more, here is a link to a video you can view! https://youtu.be/Go5llLLjTuw.
Día de los Muertos: Ofrenda. First Church Phoenix is Honoring those who have gone before us by asking folks to bring photos of relatives, ancestors, friends, and extinct species. These pictures will be Displayed for 3 Sundays in the Sanctuary: Oct 24, Oct 31, Nov 7.
