Our Jottings curator, Holly Herman, is on vacation this week, but here are a few of the many things worth noting from the church newsletters that Wende read this week:

Our amazing Annual Meeting Coordinator, Karen Richter (also Director of Spiritual Formation at Shadow Rock), has shared some news that makes us so happy for her but rather sad for us! She has accepted an offer to serve Unitarian Universalist Church of Surprise as their contract minister. The contract is for one year, but the board and she are both hoping that it will be a permanent position. Her last Sunday at Shadow Rock will be August 27. We wish her the very best and are filled with gratitude for her amazing work to put together our Annual Meetings for the past four years. Thank you, Karen!

Encanto Community Church offers conversational English and Spanish classes during or after the fellowship hour on Sundays after worship for both non-English speakers and non-Spanish speakers.

Also: Congrats to Rev. Dr. Gloria Smith, Pastor of Encanto, on her 30th ordination anniversary!

A “Homeless Jesus” sculpture is coming to the Church of the Palms UCC in Sun City, AZ, and so is artist Timothy Schmalz for its dedication on November 18 at 11 am. The Palms has commissioned this seven-foot bronze sculpture to be placed on the church campus as religious public art, a visual translation of Matthew 25 in which Jesus tells his disciples, “As you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me.”

First Church UCC Phoenix will feature some of the best jazz artists in the Valley during its weekly concert series on Wednesdays in August. "Jazz in the Sanctuary” will run from Aug. 2 through Aug. 30. All concerts will begin at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary at First Church, located at 1407 N. 2nd St., in downtown Phoenix.

First Church is known for its music and for its support of the local art scene. “Jazz in the Sanctuary” will feature its own First Church band along with special guests.