Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque is helping a first year teacher (and granddaughter of a church member) supply her class with needed items to help her get up to speed. School supplies, snacks, board and card games, art supplies, and warm clothes are all on the list.
Because of the generosity of First Church Phoenix members and friends, 10 Dreamers, attending four Phoenix Union high schools, will earn college credits this school year through a dual credit program offered by Maricopa County community colleges. First Church made the decision some years ago to offer tuition scholarships for dual credit classes through their Immigration Scholarship Fund. The out-of-state cost (currently the cost for Dreamers) for a 3-credit class is $903, three times as much as the same class costs in-state students. Three of their recipients this year are taking a 3-credit English or math class, two are taking a 4-credit science class, and four are taking a 5-credit math class, which would cost $1,505.
Shawn Dromgoole lives in the same house he grew up in in Nashville. As a child, he felt safe walking the neighborhood. All of that began to change when white people moved into the neighborhood. The twenty-nine year old began to be targeted because his skin is black. When Ahmaud Arbery was murdered, Shawn was terrified to go outside. He worried if something happened to him who would take care of his mother. When he shared his fears on social media, many of his neighbors asked if they could walk with him. 75 people showed up the first time. The following week 1,000 people walked with him. Since then “Walk With Shawn” has become a nationwide ministry where people walk with Shawn in support of the belief that everyone should be able to walk anywhere without fear. This past weekend, Shawn walked, talked, and worshipped at First Congregational and Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque.
Members of The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita who lost someone special in the last year, had their names included in the Roll Call of the Dearly Departed yesterday during worship. In addition, a picture or a memento could be placed on the Dia De Los Muertos Altar.
Similar “Tables of Remembrance” were on display at Cases Adobes, Oro Valley UCC, First Phoenix, and Shepherd of the Hills for pictures/tokens of family/friends/pets lost this past year.
Church of the Red Rocks is setting up an ofrenda tonight to honor those loved ones who have passed away as is tradition in Latin American countries. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, takes place on Nov. 1 and 2. It is a holiday mainly celebrated by Mexico and other Latin American countries. One of the most important traditions of this holiday is the preparation of ofrendas (altars) to honor loved ones who have passed away as they make their journey to Earth. There are a lot of aspects to these elaborate altars, the most common symbolizing the four main elements: water, fire, earth and wind
Casas Adobes is starting a support group for widows and widowers- something often talked about and needed.
As a thank you to their church community (The Good Shepherd), the community at large, and their funders, the Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center is holding an Open House on Friday evening November 18 from 3-7 p.m., There will be self-guided tours, music, free food trucks, and activities for children (or grandchildren!). There will be a very short program at 5:30. Follow this link to the flyer and mark your calendars. sahuaritafoodbank.org