Shepherd of the Hills is thrilled to host the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ on April 26-27, welcoming siblings from across Arizona, New Mexico, and El Paso, TX.
Rev. DOCTOR Sarah TevisTownes passed her DMin defense! Yay! Doctor of Ministry quest complete! You can read more about her project at disorganizedreligion.fun. Rev Dr Sarah is at Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque. There is also more at the following:
(Tiktok + digital ministry + theology + decoloniality and much more!)
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTENC3s/
Thank you to First Church Phoenix for this information. The United Church of Christ has supported reproductive justice issues since the 1960’s. As a human rights issue, reproductive justice promotes the rights of people to bear children they want to have, to not bear children, to raise the children they do have in safe and healthy environments, and express their sexuality without oppression.
View a history of UCC engagement on the fight for reproductive justice!
Here is a compilation of statements and General Synod resolutions on freedom of choice, family planning and reproductive health.
Download a handout used at the National Youth Event (July 2012) in a workshop on why the UCC is pro-choice which also includes some information on reproductive justice.
As noted last week, A Celebration of Life for Donna Gentry will be held on Saturday, April 27 at Scottsdale UCC at 11:30 am with a reception to follow. There will be a pre-service tribute video beginning at 11:10 am. Donna was a decades long member at Scottsdale UCC, 4425 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale, AZ, and a loyal and frequent volunteer at the Southwest Conference To read the full obituary, leave a message for the family, or to access the ZOOM link for the hybrid service, please follow this link:
Obituary information for Donna Marie Gentry (messingermortuary.com)
The Spring Wine-Tasting Potluck event at Congregational Church of the Valley drew over 30 tasters and raised over $700 for the Healthy Packs program through Scottsdale Community Partners. This program provides kid-friendly, nutritious food to students in Scottsdale public schools who have limited access to food on weekends. https://scottsdalecommunitypartners.org/program/healthy-packs/
The congregants of Church of Beatitudes participated in a Used Clothing and Hygiene Drive during the Lenten season. We were able to give Nourish PHX 713 lbs of used clothing, 78 lbs of hygiene items and a lovely monetary gift.
Desert Garden UCC applied for and received a $4000 Empowerment Grant through the Global H.O.P.E Migration and Immigration services of the UCC. These are matching grants to help refugees improve career opportunities or start their own business. Nasiba is a refugee from Afghanistan who went through the refugee program with Lutheran Social Services. She wants to start her own business buying handmade items from Afghan women in Afghanistan and then reselling those items here. Both she and Desert Garden contributed funds which were then matched by Migration and Immigration Services. Here is a pic and story about one of her “suppliers.”
Rahima is an elderly woman who supports eight family members through her craftwork. The electric sewing machine that Rahima is currently using was bought a year ago by Nasiba to help Rahima. She was suffering from shoulder and neck pain from using a manual sewing machine, but now it is very comfortable for her to do her work.
Be a donor! Sign up to donate blood at redcrossblood.org.
Church of the Painted Hills UCC is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, May 2, 11 am - 4 pm.
Join with women from Shepherd of the Hills for this year’s Interfaith Women’s Tea on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the Scottsdale Marriot at McDowell Mountains. Connect with women from diverse faith traditions in a spirit of peace and fellowship. Tickets are $55, and you may register here.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet Azra Hussain, founder of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona, in fostering unity and understanding among different communities. Azra Hussain, a true bridgebuilder and founder of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona (ISBA), has been hosting these interfaith women’s teas annually for many years. It is especially timely to have women from many different faith traditions gathering in peace and fellowship during these times.
Feel free to invite others who may be interested, and reach out to Nancy Splain at 480-226-9920 with questions or more information and potential carpooling arrangements.
