All God’s blessings for the first new church start in the Southwest Conference in a few years. Please congratulate Rev. Myra McAdory-Taylor, Pastor of New Hope UCC of Phoenix. Share and join New Hope UCC of Phoenix on Palm Sunday for their opening worship.
The leaders of Join the Movement Toward Racial Justice are inviting individuals, congregations, Conferences and Associations to join this year’s All Church Read with the book How to Be an Antiracistby Ibram X. Kendi. “How to Be an Antiracist” compels us to read and gather for respectful community conversations, listening deeply to our neighbors and working together toward dismantling racism,” said the Rev. Velda Love, UCC minister for racial justice and JTM lead. “The book offers multiple opportunities for reeducation as a way forward toward meaningful conversations across all ethnicities, cultures, gender identities and geographical locations.”
On Sunday, March 19 at 10 am, The Church of the Palms will commission Rev. Shea Darian for her new role as director and minister of the Doing Grief Community Healing Project at the Palms. The morning also includes the dedication of the newly redesigned “Interfaith Chapel for Healing” that serves as home to the project.
Rev. Darian will be preaching and Associate Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Barb Doerrer-Peacock will be participating.
This is a friendly reminder to those in the Tucson area that Dr. Toni is hosting a meet and greet on Sunday, March 19, 2023, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Arizona time at Rincon Congregation Church UCC.
Desert Garden UCC in Sun City West, in an effort to improve the lives of refugee youth in the Phoenix area, received a grant award from the UCC’s Global Hope Initiative, through the Ministry for Refugees and Migration Services. The $2000 award, along with gifts from Desert Garden, will allowed 50 refugee youth to attend a Techie Camp where they received training on the workings of and use of a computer, and be able to keep a newly refurbished laptop after the program. This is a partnership including AZ Strut, Chicanos Por La Causa, and Desert Garden UCC.
On Thursday, March 16th at 6:30 pm, Casas Adobes will host the next Celebration of Unity and PrayerNorthwest Multi-faith service here in their sanctuary! Folks will join together as Jewish, Muslim, Baha’i and other Christian traditions in a spirit of mutual love and respect for each other and for God. This year’s theme is Turning Swords Into Plow Shares. Come join this prayerful celebration of our unity as human beings in relationship with God. Click here to see the flyer.
The Lent theme at First Congregational in Albuquerque is Seeking: Honest Questions for Deeper Faith. Butterflies have been placed in the pews with questions for folks to answer as well as some blank ones to write your own questions. These butterflies will be used to decorate the sanctuary for Easter.
Are you a current or past member or friend of Shadow Rock UCC? Here are the dates you need for all their Golden Anniversary celebrations:
April 30: Reunion of Friends
September 23: Celebration Dinner
November 18: Art Show Kickoff
The planning folks for Reunion of Friends wants your memories and hopes. Please consider filling out this form and returning it to share at the event.
Last week, members of Scottsdale UCC had the pleasure of delivering to El Buen Pastor the food donations folks had made the previous month. With Mission Funds they were also able to supplement the non-perishables with a large box of fresh fruits and vegetables. Diana Winston, Mission Team member writes. “I have called this congregation “the little church with a big heart”, and I saw firsthand how very big. On a Thursday afternoon the place was a beehive of activity. A big part of their mission involves helping newly arrive immigrants transition to where they have family or friends who can help them settle. Just that Thursday they were transporting six families to the airport as they move to the next stop on their American journey. And the families are not just from Mexico and Central America. They come from Africa, India and even Russia!”
Through member generosity, Rincon donated 183 cans of pasta sauce and 142 packages of pasta to Interfaith Community Services. ICS joined Rincon during worship yesterday and hosted coffee hour to congratulate Rincon UCC on winning the most per capita in the Lotsa Pasta drive!