A PLACE CALLED HOME
A Musical Plea for All Creation
Saturday, April 12 – 4:00 pm – The Lensic
Co-sponsored by United Church and Coro Lux. Tickets here.
The day before Palm Sunday, the United Church of Santa Fe is doing something we’ve never done before – sponsor a concert at the Lensic Theater! “A Place Called Home,” by Bradley Ellingboe and Tony Silvestri is a musical plea for all creation. The Lensic performance features the combined choirs of United Church and Coro Lux, four professional soloists and a small orchestra,
The concert will be preceded by a 2:30 pm panel discussion with Diné/Navajo Environmentalist Mary Hasbah Roessel, Environmental Ethicist Larry Rasmussen, Poet Tony Silvestri, composer Brad Ellingboe, and Rev. Talitha Arnold.
Desert Garden is accepting applications for its annual house watcher program. House watchers, on a weekly basis, visually inspect the outside of the customer’s home and sweep sidewalks when necessary. Inside, the home inspection includes inspecting for water leaks, running water in sinks and baths and flushing toilets. The price for this service is $55/month. Funds generated are used for Church projects and charitable contributions. More info? Contact Bob Trella, program coordinator, at 623-606-7065 or bob.trella218@gmail.com
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UCC GMP Karen Georgia Thompson writes about knowing the difference between partisan politics and being engaged in politics in her latest blog for On My Mind Today.
Church of Beatitudes just completed their annual Used Clothing Drive. They collected 413 lbs of great treasures for The Salvation Army. All items will be sold through their Thrift Stores and the proceeds will be used to assist the individuals that are participating in the Drug and Alcohol Programs that the Salvation Army provides through their Adult Rehabilitation Center.
Desert Heritage Spring Fling is coming up!
Meeting the Moment: Understanding and Addressing Older Adult Homelessness, Wednesday, April 9, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Temple Solel, 6805 E McDonald Dr, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253. Marc Dones, the policy director of the Benioff Homelessness and Homeless Initiative, will be discussing the deepening national and local crises of older adults experiencing homelessness. The event is organized by Phoenix-based Justa Center. The mission of Justa Center is to provide services to older adults experiencing homelessness and remove barriers to permanent housing, with support to remain housed. Older adults are the fastest-growing group of people experiencing homelessness, and new data helps us better understand why. This presentation will explore what research tells us about the unique challenges older adults face — from health and mobility issues to limited incomes and a lack of affordable housing — and how those factors increase their risk of long-term homelessness. We will also highlight examples of communities working together across different systems — like housing, healthcare, and aging services — to create better support for older adults and help more people find stable housing. Please join us at 7 PM on April 9th at Temple Solel for light hors d’oeuvres followed by an enlightening conversation. REGISTRATION
First Church Phoenix and Encanto Community Church will share a Maundy Thursday service and meal together. Everyone welcome! A necessary stopover from Palm Sunday to Easter.
United Church of Sun City, Church of the Palms, Desert Garden UCC, and Sun City Christian Church will also have a joint service on Maundy Thursday, at 5 pm.
First Congregational in Albuquerque is excited to welcome a family into their newly refurbished basement apartment. Yolismar, Ronni, and baby Christopher (just turned one) moved in last week! Welcome home!
Pastor Guillermo from Church of the Red Rocks will participate in a discussion of environmental issues.
Last Saturday morning, seventeen folks from the Good Shepherd in Sahuarita headed to Antigua, Guatemala to visit their long-time partner organization, PROBIGUA. The church has taken groups there every other year for more than 25 years. They look forward to seeing old friends, studying Spanish, participating in some great Processions and connecting with the amazing culture.
In a world where certain words are being removed from government sites, Pastor Paul from Church of the Palms intends to use them often and with intentionality. He recently had the following words explained to him as if life is a library.
Diversity is when everyone gets different types of books.
Equality is when everyone gets the same book.
Equity is when everyone gets the book right for them.
Acceptance is understanding that everyone reads different types of books.
Belonging is when you can read any book that you want without the fear of being judged.
Justice is fighting to make sure everyone has access to books.
Okay, now apply this library lesson to life and to our society. Insert the above words with intentionality into conversations you have at the grocery store, with neighbors, and in your family.