Two years ago, the United Church of Santa Fe was asked to be a part of a five-year nationwide study of 300 congregations focused on the long- term impact of the pandemic on their life and ministry. Sponsored by the Lilly Foundation and the Hartford Institute, the EPIC (“Exploring the Impact of the Pandemic on Congregations”) program has also included a survey of 1,700 clergy of a variety of backgrounds and across denominations, from evangelical to progressive. As they look to the church’s future, the EPIC study will help understand church’s challenges and opportunities.
The voting membership of First Church Phoenix has made an important decision: they approved to formally initiate the search for a new church home, engage Colliers Commercial brokerage for a replacement property, and to prepare their current property for sale. This process will not be quick but the decision is made and a plan in place.
If you, like me, are a kind of numbers geek, this might be of special interest. The newly released National UCC Statistical Profile highlights the strengths of small UCC churches and much more. Read
Planning is underway at Casas Adobes to start a small dialogue group for men and those who identify as male. The focus of the group is to provide a safe and accepting environment to explore and talk about what is most meaningful in their lives and what it means to be a man. They will encourage men to share their stories to truly listen to each other. They will not try to solve each other’s problems, but to join in each other’s journeys in a supportive and brotherly way. They are inviting men who are willing to be honest, vulnerable and open to the spirit within.
Pima County Justice for All is a county-wide 2024 ballot initiative that strives to provide legal representation for all indigent families in Pima County who are going through deportation proceedings. Without legal representation, the likelihood of being deported is very high. The Compassion on the Border group at Casas Adobes supports this endeavor by providing information and by collecting petition signatures.
“Pray Preach Prophesy Protest” An ideal T-shirt from the National UCC for UCC clergy to specifically wear at public demonstrations. We pray for a just world for all, preach God's word, prophesy a better day to come, and protest with attention on God's movement. Because our faith is not new; our thinking is. Order
At their Town Hall meeting on Sunday, First Congregational in Albuquerque learned about the potential for solar power at their church. The presentation was very thorough and informative… they were surprised to learn of 25 faith communities in their area who have solar power. With a government rebate of $26,000 and loan payments that are less than their current power bill, this is now a viable option.
The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita has some beautiful new artwork in their sanctuary. It was designed by Sister Lika from La Casa de la Misericordia, a UCC-supported migrant shelter in Nogales, MX. Some of it was painted by migrants waiting for asylum in Nogales, Mexico and the rest was painted by participants at Common Ground on the Border. The art depicts in six different scenes—the violence that forces migrants to leave their homes—the courage it takes to make the journey—that bridges are more effective than walls—the walls come down—and when that happens peace and justice will reign. Folks should also check out the beautiful mural that was painted on the backdrop to the stage on the back patio. It is a very joyful, colorful piece with folks from around the world walking together.
Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque will take a “field trip” to First Congregational on Feb. 4th to attend the service at First Congregational Albuquerque, where Yvonne Delk will be preaching. The service starts at 10:30 and will also be accessible on Zoom. COGS choir will also join with the First Congregational choir to sing during the service.
Shepherd of the Hills again collects citrus for St Mary’s Food Bank!
A BANNED BOOK GROUP IS FORMING at Scottsdale UCC to explore the recent challenges to book reading. The American Library Association reports that challenges to our freedom to read what we choose have more than doubled. In 2021 the challenges numbered 729, while 2,571 titles were targeted for censorship in 2022. Books have been in the crossfire of political battles before. At present, the focus is on race, gender identity, sexuality and a new analysis of the history of our country. Want to read and discuss some BANNED BOOKS? First meeting 2/5 at 5:30.
As a sign of covenant and unity, Encanto Community UCC, First Church Phoenix UCC, and New Hope UCC will hold joint services for Ash Wednesday (held at First Church) and Maundy Thursday (at Encanto). These three Phoenix churches will share a soup supper prior to the Maundy Thursday service.
From Rincon UCC- On Friday, February 16th from 7pm - 8:30pm via Zoom, guest speaker Rev. Tyler Connoley (they/them), Conference Minister, Central Pacific Conference, will speak on Creating Belonging. Rev Tyler (previously part of the Southwest Conference. We miss you, Tyler!) will share about their conference’s work engaging in land history and responsibility. This is an ongoing conversation about decentering whiteness and examining how we contribute to racism in a plethora of often unintended ways.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88453469322?pwd=aEI5TXhkeFRPRGtlS1FJa2ZnVFhhdz09
Meeting ID: 884 5346 9322 Passcode: 00771
Thank you Church of the Palms for this great quote from Gandalf!