First Congregational in Albuquerque is delighted to welcome Ryan Tate as their new Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries. Welcome to the Southwest Conference, Ryan!
Laura Minnick, Diane Webb, and Cindy Pickard from Shepherd of the Hills enjoyed a wonderful evening of service with the Sisters at the Gift of Mary Shelter in Downtown Phoenix - a home for the displaced, available to 30 men/women/children. They serve meals there every third Monday of the month. There are many opportunities to engage, from shopping for groceries or helping prepare meals on Saturday to delivering and serving.
Lois Gray, a member of St Paul’s UCC in Rio Rancho, NM plays on a senior women’s softball team! She will be playing at Tingley Field across from the zoo entrance on 10th St SE in Albuquerque on Monday evenings for the next 3 weeks. Her team is called Spring Fling and sport royal blue shirts.
Many of you know Sandy Sorensen, a stalwart defender of justice and advocacy for the UCC for 32 years. Sandy is retiring this week and this is a great recap of her legacy. Please take a minute to read and celebrate this amazing woman.
Scottsdale UCC invites you to reimagine a classic fable and explore the most pressing issues of our time with the award-winning documentary, The Ants and the Grasshopper. Go on a journey with two Malawi women as they witness to US farmers and organizers about the global impact of climate change on food production. Anita Chitaya will take you through her enthralling story of resilience and change as the film explores the intersections of gender, race, advocacy, and agriculture. With 10 years in the making, this documentary will transform the way you view your place in the world. Join the Creation Justice community on March 28, 2023 for an online screening of this unique and moving documentary, followed by a Q&A session with its filmmaker, Raj Patel.
First Congregational in Albuquerque is thrilled to be hosting the folk music, social justice duo Emma’s Revolution in concert, in their sanctuary, on Friday, April 21 at 7:00 PM! If you’ve never heard of these wonderful women, please click here to learn more. The concert will be a benefit for First’s Immigration Justice efforts, supporting Bryan and David (asylum seekers housed at First), and also Frank Rodgers’ work with several families seeking asylum. You can purchase tickets here. Tickets also available for purchase at church.
Also, the concert will be livestreamed on Zoom, which is a nice option for people who don’t live in Albuquerque.
Lastly, the band will also be performing at the Unitarian church is Las Cruces at 7 PM on April 19, and the information for that is at the same link as for this event.
From Shadow Rock- transgender people (especially trans youth) are the target of 100+ bills in state legislatures across the country. Our values of inclusion and justice invite our response. You can use this link to let local lawmakers know how you feel.
If you feel like you're still learning about gender issues (including sex assigned at birth, gender identity, gender roles, and gender expression), you're in good company! Language and practice around gender is changing quickly. This article might help you fill in some gaps in your knowledge. If you have questions about gender and sexuality, reach out to Karen by email
TIES TO MEXICO is a new activity for Black Mountain UCC. Fleece and flannel fabric is fringed and tied (no sewing!) into blankets, for refugees awaiting asylum at a Resource Center and shelter in Sonoyta, Mexico. These finished projects have many purposes; babies, children, comfort, lap robes, shawls, pillows, etc. Dr. Tina will carry them monthly to the border.
First Congregational in Prescott is hosting a training course for folks to become certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). The training will be led by New Life CPR. This is useful training for everyone! The Heartsaver CPR AED course trains participants to give CPR, and use an AED in a safe, timely, and effective manner. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). The training will be held in Perkins Hall after the church service on Sunday, April 16th and it should last approximately 2.5 hours. The church will cover the cost of the training and also provide pizza to trainees. If you are interested, RSVP to Morgan Greenwald as soon as you are able at Morgan.Greenwald@gmail.com or 570-660-2227.
Several United Church of Santa Fe youth (Sasha and Jack Smucker, Jaden and Luke Rand, Nathan Kingston) are playing in various groups with the Santa Fe Youth Symphony the weekend of April 29 and 30. Check out the website (sfysa.org/2023-spring-concerts.html) to learn about which groups are playing when. You’ll hear mariachi, jazz, and classical music throughout the weekend.