Andrew Ponder Williams is now approved for ordination in the UCC after his Ecclesiastical Council last week and is now seeking/awaiting a call that will best fit his unique talents.
Shepherd of the Hills (SOH) has begun a new partnership with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. SOH recently completed the sale of their Parish House, which also served as their Church Office. So, while they reconfigure some space on their campus for offices, staff will be working out of Prince of Peace, which is just around the corner in Arcadia. Shepherd has partnered with Prince of Peace over the years for Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as Ash Wednesday and Holy Week services, and this is just one more step on the path towards what it means to be truly ecumenical.
The Church of the Palms has a support group for those who experience occasional or chronic pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, neuropathy or other physical conditions. This is a safe place for all to come and share what they are experiencing within a supportive and loving group. Information and experiences with physicians, medications, and treatment plans are shared. Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. This group is open to anyone, not just for those attending Church of the Palms. For further information, call or text Scott Patrick at 708.813.0137, or email him at fishdog300@yahoo.
On December 16, First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque will host a gift-wrapping party on behalf of the children of FaithWorks’ asylum-seeking families. Two days later, FaithWorks is hosting a festive holiday party and dinner for all members of the asylum-seeker community, including First’s apartment residents David and Brayan. The 40-plus children in the program will all receive gifts, purchased by FaithWorks volunteers.
The Ministry of Mission and Outreach (MMO) at Casas Adobes is launching a Multiply Our Gifts campaign focused on homeless youth in Southern Arizona. A member of the congregation, being acutely aware of the devastating impact homelessness has on a youth’s life, has made an extraordinary gift of $40,000 to the church, designated to Reunion House, the only shelter in Southern Arizona for youth ages 12 – 17. The majority of the youth who have been housed at Reunion House this year identify as LGBTQ. These are primarily youth who have been kicked out of their homes after they come out. And Reunion House is sheltering more transgender identifying youth than ever before. There is a shortage in placements for foster and group homes due to COVID. Therefore, the average youth’s stay at Reunion House has increased from 21 days to 30 days this year. Trans identifying youth stay even longer as they are harder to place.
The Arizona Faith Network calls your attention to the following: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Phoenix Welcome Center for people seeking asylum urgently needs your help with donations for stocking caps and winter gloves. Refugee arrivals at the Welcome Center often arrive with only the clothes they are wearing. The Welcome Center may receive up to 250 people per day and they typically stay one to two days before they leave to join their sponsors in other parts of the country. Many asylum seekers will be traveling to cold climates, and the plan is to use this funding to purchase of gloves, stocking caps and winter scarves. Ordinarily, these are not items the Welcome Center is able to provide. Please open your hearts and give what you can to help in this effort. You can donate online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/avakhu-refugee-aid or mail a contribution to: Refugee Aid-SWHF, PO Box 1863 Scottsdale, AZ 85252. Please note “Hats & Gloves” in the memo line. If you have any questions contact Anna Keating at 602-499-1953 or annakeating@cox.net
Scottsdale UCC held a children’s craft event and Petting Zoo last week. Ten kids from SCUCC plus at least 12 from the neighborhood attended. The bunnies were a big hit! There were 3 large round tables with crafts for the kids to do while they waited their turn with the animals. One of the tables had pine cones to make into Christmas trees.
After four years of residence at Rincon, “Hospitality Guest #1.” has returned to his family home in time for the holidays. He was a wonderful member of the Rincon family, serving as Assistant Sexton and providing countless hours of support and friendship to the church. No doubt his family is overjoyed, as is the Rincon family.
Church of the Palms is not the only church sharing Christmas laughs. Here are some from The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita:
-At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What Is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.
-Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
-Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.
-The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
-Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are in- vited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.