Yuma UCC members are volunteering at the Yuma Community Food Bank for the 2nd winter. Most people don't know that in the winter, 95% of the lettuce in the U.S. comes from Yuma County and nearby Imperial County, CA. A lot of lettuce is sent from YCFB to other food banks in Arizona during the winter months.
A Prayer for an Inauguration
God of all nations,
give our leaders your justice,
your compassion for the poor,
and your passion for peace.
Give us the same. Amen.
Talitha Arnold – from Psalm 72
New Hope UCC of Phoenix and Ebenezer Church Phoenix are excited to kick off the first Gospel Brunch Jam Session of 2025!!!🙌🏽🍛 In addition to delicious food, there will be an Open Mic for Gospel musicians and singers!🎤 RSVPing is strongly recommended as certain menu items are RSVP only! RSVP by January 13th! We look forward to seeing you there! Text (480)485-8773 to RSVP.
As part of the Social Justice Ministries group at Church of the Palms (which addresses homelessness. LGBTQ+ issues, refugees, Neighbors in Need, Criminal Justice Reform, Palestinian Human Rights, and care for creation), they are launching a new ministry of “Action through Advocacy”. Through this new ministry, they plan to play an active role in educating g and helping shape policies and legislation which either help or harm those for whom they work so hard to serve.
On December 9th, the Women’s Fellowship from Desert Garden hosted a Pancake Breakfast and presentation by Mary Kelly from A New Leaf. Mary spoke with the group of 32 men and women about their transitional housing facility in Surprise: “West Valley Housing Assistance Center (WVHAC)”. Proceeds from the breakfast and concessions from the Christmas Cheer play made it possible to present $750 worth of gift cards to WVHAC to supplement the Christmas gifts the families received.
On January 20, the annual commemoration of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy will coincide with the inauguration of President Donald Trump’s second term. With this symbolic overlap, the United Church of Christ and a coalition of interfaith partners are hosting a national Interfaith Service and Moral Mass Meeting to address this critical moment. It is an invitation for people of faith and moral conviction to rise together and respond to deep injustices that exist within the nation. Read more and register.
A special prayer request from First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque: Please pray for Ruben Garcia, Director of Annunciation House in El Paso, serving migrants for over 40 years. The Texas Attorney General’s case against Annunciation House, attempting to force Annunciation House to turn over all their records about the migrants they have served, goes to trial Jan. 14-16. This case is on appeal from the El Paso district state court, where the judge ruled against the state attorney general. When Ruben visited First Church during the sanctuary event on August 2, he said that he was preparing to go to prison rather than comply with the state attorney general’s demands.
The year kicks off at Black Mountain UCC on January 15, 9:00 AM, with a Cut and Tie gathering sponsored by the Missions Team. They will be cutting and tying fleece scarves to take to JUSTA Center and can keep people busy who can cut, who can tie ends, and who can keep everyone motivated and cheerful as they work!
The United Church of Christ Insurance Board is offering a webinar on Sanctuary: Legal Considerations of Faith Communities featuring UCC General Counsel Heather Kimmel. It takes place January 16 at 2 p.m. ET. This webinar will help to answer questions congregations may have about what is to come in 2025 with a change in administration in Washington, D.C. Registration is open now and is limited. A recording will be available after the event
Position Available: Development and External Affairs Manager, Justa Center. Position Summary: This will be the strategic leader for all Justa Center fundraising activities. The Manager will oversee major gift fundraising, donor cultivation and stewardship, grant writing and reporting, and database management. This role is part of the Justa Center leadership team and is a new position. Info/application
The worshiping community at The Church of the Red Rocks proudly invites you to a Celebration of Installation of our new pastor: the Rev. Dr. Guillermo Márquez-Sterling. January 19th at 2:30 pm. Reception to follow. A biographical reflection on Pastor Mårquez-Sterling's journey to this moment is on the website. Please click here to read.....
Writing from El Salvador, from Pastor Randy of The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita. I don't know if it was just a coincidence---but last Sunday as you were all sitting in worship at the Good Shepherd, Norma and I were sitting out on the Terrace with family enjoying a gorgeous El Salvadoran morning - when things started to shake, rattle and roll. I looked at one of the brick columns and it was swaying back and forth. The trees were shaking like it was harvest time in the pecan groves, and a flat dull roar echoed across the valley. It ended up being a 6.2 earthquake with its epicenter just 30 miles away along the Coast. Miraculously, there has been no reported damage or injuries from the earthquake, which is a blessing. But it has made me think about the coincidence that the Good Shepherd was in the middle of worship: was ellie preaching a boisterous sermon or maybe the choir really got in a groove that shook the world? Maybe I need to wear a crash helmet to church next week?
This Wednesday, a group of 12 artists from Yucca will be at Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque from 1-5pm to create a mural in their parking lot. We can’t wait to see a photo!