Since graduating from ASU with an MFA in printmaking, Deborah Hodder’s work has transitioned from drawings to prints to clay and from figurative to abstract. She is now the featured artist on display in the Church of the Beatitudes gallery. Per the artist, “Flowers are used to symbolize the universe at multiple levels. Blooming petals and seed pistils depict the cycle of birth, propagation, death, and renewal observed both on Earth and in the cosmos. The colorful geometric patterns give the viewer a bird-and-bee's-eye view of the blossom and underscore the interdependence of living things.”
Pastor Tom at Desert Palm will try and connect the dots between our ancient tradition and the challenges we are facing in our particular moment in history. To help in this urgent work, he will be offering a Monday night book group using How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith by Mariann Edgar Budde (“Buddy”). The study will kick off Monday, March 17th at 7PM, meeting weekly for 8 weeks.
Arizona Interfaith Power and Light (AZIPL) has prepared Love-Earth postcards to deliver to US Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly. Shepherd of the Hills will have these postcards available for the next couple weeks to give folks the opportunity to send a brief message to each senator about loving the Earth, protecting the climate, or protecting your beloveds on Earth - family, trees, animals, cacti, whatever…
Rincon’s Spiritual Life and Worship group presents the following banned graphic novels for its March display:
Blankets, a “coming of age” autobiography by Craig Thompson
Flamer- a semi-autobiographical novel by Mike Curato
Class Act- written by Jerry Craft
Gender Queer- A graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe
Hey Kiddo- A memoir by Jarrett Krosoczka
Fun Home- This graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel
This week the National Office of the UCC featured Common Ground on the Border, held in January at The Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita, in their UCC Digest. They have a nice article as well as two videos that folks might want to view. You can find it all right here.
Follow-Up Training: Know Your Rights & Urgent Immigration Updates
Wednesday, March 12, 6:30 - 8:00 pm MST via Zoom
With ongoing changes to immigration policies, it is more important than ever for our communities to be informed and prepared. Join clergy, faith leaders, and community advocates for this second essential rapid response training, designed to empower individuals and families facing increasingly strict immigration enforcement and provide updates on legal and advocacy efforts to challenge current policies.
This training will include:
✅ Know Your Rights – Key legal protections for individuals and families facing immigration enforcement.
✅ Legal & Advocacy Updates – The latest statewide and federal immigration policies and how we can take action.
Faith communities play a vital role in protecting and advocating for immigrant rights. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen our collective commitment and learn how to respond with compassion and action.
This training is hosted by: Corazón AZ, Arizona Interfaith Network (Valley Interfaith Project, Pima County Interfaith, Northern Arizona Interfaith), and Arizona Faith Network.
If you are interested in tracking bills that faith-based environmental organizations are tracking, you can check out this legislative tracker from the NM Interfaith Power and Light here.
The 2025 UCC Yearbook and Directory helps keep you connected to the UCC, with data such as:
Statistics for each local church
All local church mailing addresses, phone numbers and websites
A directory of national ministries and other UCC national bodies
A directory of various institutions related to the UCC
New Hope UCC, Encanto Community Church, and Church of the Beatitudes will combine their Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 5 at Church of the Beatitudes.
Desert Garden UCC, United Church of Sun City, and The Church of the Palms UCC will also join together with and at Sun City Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for a combined Ash Wednesday service at 5:00 pm.