Desert Garden UCC made a gift of $1000 to the Hawai’i Fires Relief. The Hawai’i Conference is still gratefully accepting donations HERE.
United Church of Santa Fe partners with Reunity Resources which saves water, land, and fossil fuel by recycling food waste into rich compost. Folks can pick up free bags at church, fill them, and bring them back to church for delivery. Several other churches also have started a compost project.
In January 2021, Casas Adobes UCC was invited and encouraged by SW Conference leadership to join with other UCC congregations in support of the ministry of Casa de la Misericordia (La Casa) in Nogales, Mexico. As part of the commitment to that support effort Casas Adobes provides financial donations, offers tours of the facility in Nogales, and engages in active representation on the Cruzando Fronteras steering committee which oversees the financial and material needs of La Casa. Susan Sommerfeld, who serves on the Cruzando Fronteras steering committee, was instrumental in writing a $30,000 grant proposal to benefit La Casa. The proposal was recently submitted to the Committee for Social Justice, Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ and that proposal has now been awarded!
Encanto Community Church is celebrating the return of the annual Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction on Sunday September 17th. The cost is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children under 12. During the dinner the Silent auction items will be on display for people to inspect and bid on.
The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson will be installed as General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ on Friday, October 20 at 5 p.m. (ET). Thompson was nominated for the position by the UCC Board at its March meeting, and she was elected at General Synod 34 on July 3. Thompson took office Aug. 1. The ceremony will take place at Lakewood Congregational Church in Lakewood, Ohio, and will be livestreamed for those who can’t attend in person.
Prior to this call, Thompson served in the National Setting of the UCC for 14 years: two years as minister for racial justice, eight years as minister for ecumenical and interfaith relations, and four years as the Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries, beginning in 2019.
Her passion for justice and equity moved her work on behalf of the UCC into a global context, affording the opportunity to participate globally in efforts to reduce the marginalization experienced by African descendant peoples and other communities globally. More information can be found on the installation event page.
The Barbie and Oppenheimer movies opened the same day this summer and internet social media dubbed it “Barbenheimer.” This phenomenon generated some interesting discussion points at Casas Adobes around history, God and culture; becoming the Ponderings topic for September. Always online at 10:00 am on Wednesdays, so you can stay in your “Dream House” or “Mojo Dojo Casa House” to participate.
The Feet-n-More Shower Trailer of Church of the Palms has partnered with two heat relief centers this summer- First Church UCC in Phoenix and Larkspur Christian Church in Glendale.over 200 heat relief centers are scattered throughout the Valley with the goal of preventing hear related illnesses and deaths among vulnerable populations. Feet-n-More takes the trailer twice a month to,the heat relief centers- providing 25-30 showers at each location in addition to clean clothes, socks, toiletries, and water. There is a new banner in the church hall marking 2500 showers given since the ministry began two and a half years ago.
Wear these t-shirts to denounce hate and show your love and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Remind people that Matthew 22:36-40 calls us to not only love God but also our neighbor, no matter who they are.
Black Mountain UCC extends its thanks to Clearwater Creek for visiting them on the 60th anniversary of the March of Washington, and for singing two Peter, Paul and Mary songs that were sung at the original March: “If I Had a Hammer” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Black Mountain. discovered that they had many self-proclaimed hippies in the congregation, including the preacher! This was the anniversary of MLK’s famous “If I Had a Dream” speech, and the words to that speech resound in our hearts today.
Many people notice and remark about the small stuffed bear visible when Pastor Brady is in the pulpit at United Church of Sun City. The bear was given to him to share with his church during his father’s memorial service at Congregational UCC in Cromwell, Iowa. They had received the “Prayer Bear” from another Iowa church. This has sparked an idea- a “Bless a Bear to Share” campaign. Folks can donate a bear, which will be blessed and shared as part of Christmas Angel Tree Ministry, giving gifts to the children of Luke Air Force Base. A Prayer Bear will also be given to another church as was the original purpose of the Prayer Bear sitting on the pulpit.
First Congregational in Albuquerque reports that their “Non-fundraiser Fundraiser” cleared over $13,000! Each year I find this such a great event. No one has to set-up, clean-up, cook, provide stuff, etc. They set a goal, explain what it’s for, and ask for money.