Church News
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreOn a vibrant and heartwarming day at Solstice Senior Living in Sun City West, residents and community members gathered to celebrate Pride and honor the incredible journey of our LGBTQIA+ elders. This third annual Pride event was particularly special, as it featured speakers from our very own United Church of Christ (UCC) congregations, including representatives from Desert Garden, Scottsdale Congregational, and First Church Phoenix as well as Rev. Christine Dance from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix. Church members from Desert Garden were also present.
The event was a testament to the enduring spirit and resilience of our LGBTQIA+ seniors, who have paved the way for the freedoms we enjoy today. Pastor Bill Utke from Desert Garden UCC, Christopher Schouten from First Church Phoenix, Rev. Christine Dance, and other community leaders shared messages of faith, acceptance, and love. They reminded us of the importance of bringing today's true gospel of love to a generation that has experienced weaponized faith.
We must never forget our LGBTQIA+ elders and the sacrifices they made to create a more inclusive world. Their stories and experiences are invaluable, and it is our duty to honor and celebrate them, ensuring they feel the love and acceptance they deserve.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreFirst Congregational UCC of Albuquerque will host a book discussion group reading and discussing Sacred Self Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves by Chanequa Walker-Barnes on Thursday evenings beginning July 25 at 7-8pm Mountain Time (6-7pm Arizona time) via Zoom. This book is one of two books selected by the national UCC for an All Church Read. The book is structured as a seven-week guide to create habits tending to the mind, body, and spirit.
We’ll read the first week’s section for July 25. We will be meeting weekly through September 5. Attendance at all discussions is encouraged but not required.
Read MoreFrom the Church of the Palms:
If you are interested in a historical view of the development of Christian nationalism, it would be worth your while to watch he documentary Bad Faith. This feature length film explores the rise of Christian nationalism in the United States. It uses archival news clips, to present a narrative describing the secretive political machinery that has long sought to weaken and destroy American democracy and install an authoritarian vision of the United States. The film was released just this March 2024 and has a running time of less than a half hour. It is available on Amazon Prime and YouTube for 99 cents, as well as other streaming platforms.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreFirst Congregational Albuquerque celebrated Juneteenth with a display of advertisements placed in newspapers by former enslaved individuals in search of loved ones torn away from them during slavery. There was also a display of the photograph and a biographical sketch of Opal Lee, the ninety-seven-year-old grandmother of Juneteenth and the three other Black recipients of the 2024 Medal of Freedom.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read More
From Shepherd of the Hills UCC:
We are excited to announce our book study group featuring "What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman" by Lerita Coleman Brown. This book explores the profound spiritual insights of Howard Thurman, guided by the thoughtful reflections of Lerita Coleman Brown.
Our sessions are held via Zoom on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM. Whether you are a long-time member or new to our community, we invite you to join us for a time of deep reflection, engaging discussion, and spiritual growth.
Zoom Link to Join: Join the Discussion via Zoom
Come and be part of this inspiring exploration as we seek to understand what makes us come alive through the wisdom of Howard Thurman. We look forward to seeing you there!
What’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read More
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a simple thing. But for our unhoused neighbors, a sandwich perhaps brings some daily comfort to life on the street, even during the dangerous heat of summer.
This year, First Church Phoenix is partnering with Grace Lutheran to not only offer daily lunch food but a Heat Respite Cooling Center in their part of the city seven days a week.
Last summer, Maricopa County recorded 645 heat-related deaths, a 52 percent increase over the previous year. Nearly half of the deaths were unhoused people. We experienced record heat, with the longest consecutive number of days with temperatures at 110 degrees or above. This summer could be very similar, as we are seeing weather extremes throughout the country, due, at least in part, to climate change. Concerns are great for our unhoused neighbors.
Learn more about what First Church Phoenix is doing this summer.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read More
Desert Heritage Church is pleased to invite you to the Ecclesiastical Council (EC) for Carlos Sosa, scheduled for Sunday, May 19, 2024. This important event will be held at Desert Heritage Church and will also be accessible via Zoom to accommodate members from both New Mexico & El Paso (4 PM) and Arizona (3 PM).
During this EC, you will be able to hear Carlos’s presentation and further examine the candidate. Carlos has also completed his Marks Portfolio, an integral part of his formation process. The Marks Portfolio is a thoughtful compilation that reflects Carlos’s personal, professional, and spiritual growth. This presentation is not just a milestone in his journey but also an opportunity for our community to engage with and support his developmental achievements.
For those who wish to familiarize themselves with Carlos's work prior to the council, a link to his portfolio is provided here. (Please Click Here)
We encourage all SWC members to join and participate in this significant event. Whether in person or online, your presence will greatly support Carlos during this pivotal phase of his ecclesiastical journey.
Blessings,
Carlos’ Local Church Committee
Desert Heritage Church
http://transitionalpastorcarlossosa.weebly.com/
Read MoreWhat’s happening at YOUR church? Tell us about it! Just write up an article and submit it to Wende by Thursday at noon to have it included in the following Monday’s Loop.
Holly Herman reads your church newsletters and other materials and compiles the highlights to keep us up-to-date on the amazing work happening at the Southwest Conference churches and beyond. (Thanks, Holly!)
Tag us on Facebook and Instagram so we can share your posts! We’re @swcucc.
Read More
