Our heartfelt prayers and condolences are extended to Rev Tom Martinez of Desert Palm UCC upon the death of his mother, Judy Kent, in Florida this week. Tom said "She was surrounded by love and I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to introduce her to Catalina and the kids."
The newly ordained Rev. Rhonda Newby-Torres with Transitional Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Toni Hawkins and Associate Conference Minister, Dr. Barb Doerrer-Peacock. Congratulations!
ABQ FaithWorks envisions all people safely housed and integrated into healthy communities of their choice. One everyday decision can help make a difference in the everyday lives of asylum seekers and those experiencing homelessness. ABQ FaithWorks calls 365 compassionate souls to give $1/day ($30/month) to the Every Day Campaign to provide crucial support and resources to those in need. For more information, contact Abbey Reed at 505-225-2752.
Feedback from the experimental “Communion and Contemplation” services in August at Casas Adobes was highly positive, and so the services will be offered bi-monthly for the remainder of the year. This 30-minute service prior to the regular Sunday worship time provides an opportunity to be immersed in some reflective music, prayer, silence, and a spiritual practice contemplating the Sunday scriptures and themes, and then close with receiving communion. This worship opportunity may serve as a quiet preparation time for the 9:30 am worship in the sanctuary or may serve as a primary worship experience in community on a Sunday morning.
Part of the work performed by The Legacy Fund Administrative Team at Casas Adobes includes making available the “My Wishes Book” to the congregation. This folder provides important information for planning and preparing for end-of-life tasks, including funeral wishes. Once completed, these forms are given to the church office for safekeeping until they are needed.
Join the Arizona Faith Network and Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona on October 10th, World Day Against the Death Penalty, for a gathering that brings together advocates and faith leaders to unite against the death penalty. During this event, at 6pm at First Church UCC Phoenix, we will discuss the topic of abolition of the death penalty in Arizona, engage in prayers for our state and the federal death penalty in our nation, and pray for the global end of capital punishment. Together, we will discover sources of hope, and share meaningful discussion about how our state can break cycles of violence. This gathering promises to be a place of empowerment, tranquility, and spiritual reflection.
Members of Church of the Red Rocks learned a bit more about their intern Logan. Logan is in his senior year at Northern Arizona University studying Choral Education. He has received many accolades as a performer, including, as a recipient of the Young Artist Scholarship from The Prescott Chorale, as a performer in the Western ACDA conference, and as a soloist and choir member in several world premieres.
Pastor Randy from The Good Shepherd UCC and his wife Norma are headed to Italy to visit Global Ministry Partners. They will participate in an immigration conference put on by the Waldensian Church in Italy, spend two days in Rome, two days in Rosarno, Calabria to visit a migrant farm labor project, and then 6 days on the island of Lampedusa where they will observe and help out with migrant relief work that the church is involved in. Lampedusa has been in the news this week as they are being inundated with migrants arriving from Africa and the Middle East. They will return with many stories and a current report on the immigration issues in Europe and how they compare to the challenges here in the US/Mexico borderlands.
Members of Oro Valley UCC are asked to submit small bios that are than published in the weekly newsletter. This week they got to know a bit more about Pastor Drew’s wife Jade.
CPR Classes Near Me, which rents space from Rincon UCC, offers CPR, first, AED and other training on Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm and Saturday mornings at 10 am. See their website cprclassesnearme.com or call 520-462-7574 for more information and pricing.
Rincon will hold an outdoor Family Day Worship Service on Oct 15th on the Fellowship Hall patio. It will be an inclusive celebration of families, those formed by blood, by marriage, and by choice. Families also include pets and other living creatures that receive our love, attention and care. The congregation is encouraged to bring photos of family members who are not able to be present for the celebration. The service will include a pet blessing and treat bags with a "blessing to go" will be offered at the end of service that can be shared with pet friends and neighbors. The Creation Care team will have a display table of books about our indigenous neighbors, their historical sites here in Arizona, children's books, and more. The Congregational Life team will offer cookie packs "to go" and the Justice and Witness team will be serving fair trade Just Coffee, with bags of the coffee to purchase for home brewing.
Members of Black Mountain wrote notes of encouragement to church member Nelson, a first year student at ASU.