Rev. Rock Fremont from Shepherd of the Hills was installed as Secretary for Churches Uniting in Christ. He looks forward to serving with these marvelous human beings on the CUIC executive board under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Jean Hawxhurst and Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath.
Beginning this month, First Church Phoenix is partnering with the Arizona Faith Network in affiliation with the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County as part of the Regional Heat Relief Network. Their Fellowship Hall is open as a Cooling Center, Monday & Thursday, 2-5PM; and Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, 2-7PM. The Heat Relief Network is a voluntary partnership made up of service providers, faith-based groups, local governments, and businesses. The goal is to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths among vulnerable populations.
After 53 days, 500 miles, and over a million footsteps, Rev. Ken McIntosh and his wife Marsha finished the Camino and arrived in Santiago de Compostela. They got their official pilgrim certificates and saw the botufuma swinging in the pilgrim service at the cathedral. Ken was the former pastor of First Congregational UCC in Flagstaff.
On Sunday, June 25, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., at Central United Methodist Church
1875 N Central Ave, Phoenix AZ 85004, join Arizona Faith Network for an afternoon of community service packing heat relief bags for community members and cooling centers to hand out to those in need of heat relief. You can donate funds for AFN to purchase items or purchase heat relief items listed on the RSVP form linked below and bring them to the packing night. RSVP FORM (includes additional details)
Earlier this week, Rev. Bill Utke from Desert Garden UCC was invited to speak at a Pride Month event at Solstice Senior Living in Sun City West. Bill shared the inclusion journey the congregation has been on as they seek to welcome and affirm people for who they are.
Through June 25th Oro Valley UCC will be collecting materials to create Period Packs to join the conference in supporting period poverty. What is period poverty? In the United States, some people cannot afford menstrual hygiene products such as pads, tampons, and other items that promote healthy practices. This inability to purchase hygiene products is known as period poverty, affecting over 22 million individuals. People in homeless and domestic abuse shelters and prisons, and those who rely on food banks are at increased risk for lack of access to these essential products.
Shadow Rock UCC is once gain preparing for its tradition of Sabbath. This year, their Sabbath homework is a simple question: “What's next for you?” In August, folks will have several opportunities to share their answers and ponderings. Shadow Rock’s Sabbath begins June 25 and ends on July 31.
As part of The Good Shepherd UCC’s (in Sahuarita) Spark Studio “Stories from the Border” writing project, folks are invited to share any personal border story that illuminates the historic times we are living in. To help write these stories, two members are offering 2-day coaching sessions. If you have a story that you might like to share, contact Carol St. John at tusaints@gmail.com or Gail Frank at gailbarbara@mac.com.
The Long Goodbye. Even grief is a gift — a reminder of how special the office of General Minister and President of the UCC is to Rev. John Dorhauer. Listen to John’s final podcast before his term ends later this summer. John was the Southwest Conference’s Conference Minister prior to Bill Lyons. After taking a couple months off, John will start on October 2nd as the newly called pastor of First Congregational UCC in DeKalb IL.
“I have often said that when they write the history of the UCC, no one will be impressed with our size, but no one will doubt our impact.” - Rev. John Dorhauer, outgoing UCC General Minister and President