Since the beginning of this year, First Church Phoenix volunteers have helped welcome 21,017 asylum seekers passing through the Phoenix Welcome Center to their sponsor families in states throughout the country. These immigrants come from 64 different countries and speak 39 different primary languages. And First Church also thanks friends from Desert Palm UCC in Tempe — Rich, Pat and Don, who faithfully spend every Friday morning sorting donations and helping clients choose clothing in the Ropa Room, and to Becky, who helps out in the kitchen.
The response to the UCC’s emergency appeal for Ukraine has been unprecedented. Some 3,700 donors have given more than $1 million to the effort, launched days after Russia attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24. The $1,073,208 in gifts as of April 5 may be the church’s largest international relief effort ever.
Join Arizona Faith Network (Theological Dialogue Commission) on Wednesday, May 4th at 5pm via Zoom in a connection of enrichment as we build understanding between people of different faiths and beliefs. Know the basic tenants and teachings of Buddhism. Our key speakers are Gen Kelsang Tabkay, Ron Russell, Ed Casper, Genevieve Tregor and Vasu Bandhu.
In celebration of Earth Month, Arizona Interfaith Power and Light invites you to an evening of Tree Tales. Trees figure globally in all kinds of stories: myths, legends, folktales, family histories, and personal experiences. Where there are trees, there are tales. Tap into your ancient roots and listen to the tales of the trees.
When: Saturday, April 30th at 7 PM on Zoom
Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Next Sunday, First Congregational in Prescott will observe “Holy Humor Sunday.” Many American churches are resurrecting an old Easter custom begun by the Greeks in the early centuries of Christianity-"Holy Humor Sunday" celebrations of Jesus' resurrection on the Sunday after Easter. For centuries in Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant countries, the week following Easter Sunday, including "Bright Sunday" (the Sunday after Easter), was observed by the faithful as "days of joy and laughter" with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. The custom was rooted in the musings of early church theologians (like Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom) that God played a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. "Risus paschalis - the Easter laugh," the early theologians called it.