Back Bay Mission’s Shari Prestemon Social Justice Internship

The application process for Back Bay Mission’s Shari Prestemon Social Justice Internship is open!
This internship provides a unique opportunity to members of the United Church of Christ between the ages of 19 and 35. During this 10-week summer internship, participants will:

  • Work directly with Mission staff in each of our program areas. This includes our emergency assistance, housing rehabilitation, volunteer, and supportive housing programs, as well as the Micah Day Center.
  • Meet with leaders in the Biloxi community, including staff at other nonprofit organizations in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the surrounding area.
  • Have the opportunity to focus on specific ministry areas of special interest to them.
  • This internship will nurture participants’ passion for social justice and develop their appreciation for the church’s role in seeking social justice.

We recognize the value of our interns and the financial burdens that can come with taking on an internship. The Mission covers the cost of travel to and from Biloxi and interns stay in Mission housing (the Cottage) with other long-term volunteers. In addition, we provide a generous stipend of $250 per week.

Interested people can learn more about the Shari Prestemon Social Justice Internship and download the application on our website.

They can also read about the experiences of previous interns on our website.
 

Statement of Concern from Church of the Good Shepherd

We the Council Members of the Church of the Good Shepherd, United Church of Christ in Albuquerque, New Mexico, hereby state our concern about the growth of racism and intolerance toward the Muslim community. Recent rhetoric by Donald Trump and other presidential candidates has exploited the fears and ignorance of many of our citizens, including those in Albuquerque. Mr. Trump has suggested that our nation issue special identification cards for Muslim-Americans, that there be a national registry of Muslims, that mosques be closed and Muslims be prohibited from entering the United States. Such measures are unconstitutional and morally reprehensible. While many public officials and news commentators have spoken out against these ideas, it is imperative that we, as a faith community also make our opinions known.

We are reminded of the words of German pastor and theologian, Martin Neimoller who wrote of a previous era of intolerance:


“First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Finally, they came for me and there was no one left to speak out.”

We support Muslims and people of God everywhere who reject terrorism and work instead for peace. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in faith who are Islamic and pledge to do all in our power to protect them from discriminatory laws, acts of violence, intimidation and social isolation. We call upon all in Albuquerque and New Mexico to do the same.

Church Council
Church of the Good Shepherd, United Church of Christ
Albuquerque, New Mexico
December 14, 2015

News from the Churches

Tucson Marshallese Ministries

Pastor Mack Aikwij is in need of a vehicle.  Any donations would be greatly appreciated. Please email Carlson Takiah at ctakiah@hotmail.com for information or to make a donation.

 

Silver City, UCC

Silver City UCC will host a special Open House, on 12/27/15 from 2-4 pm at the Silver City Women's Club.  This event is to commemorate our time with our spiritual leader, Rev. Tyler Connoley, our founding pastor, to say goodbye, or perhaps aloha...til we meet again.

  

Let us come together in celebration of the man who said yes when his community called him to step into leadership. Let us celebrate how we have all grown and been blessed by the process of building Silver City UCC with him.  

  

The Good Shepherd UCC, Sahuarita

The Good Shepherd UCC is hosting the 12th Annual Border Issues Fair & Concert, 
Friday & Saturday, January 15 & 16, 2016.  The concert features Lance Canales and the Flood, Friday, January 15, at 7 PM.  Tickets are $20, and for ticket availability, call 520-625-1375.  The Border Issues Fair will take place on Saturday, January 16, 8 AM-12:30 PM; attend for a $10 donation.

 

The Good Shepherd UCC, Sahuarita, will also host a weekend seminar with the noted Biblical scholar and writer John Dominic Crossan, Feb. 19-20, 2016.  The theme for the seminar is "The Power of Parable: How Parables by Jesus became Parables about Jesus."  Click here for registration info.

 

First Congregational Church, Albuquerque

Family Promise presented a plaque to First Congregational UCC that says: "Thank you for hosting Family Promise of ABQ for 12 years. Together, we sheltered 273 families and 1200 individuals (412 parents and 788 children). You have changed their future!"

 

First Congregational Church is participating in the Youth Group Epiphany Project. Albuquerque Public Schools currently has over 3,000 students who are homeless. There are many families in the community that don't have a lot of the things that most students have. First Congregational's Youth Group is creating "Jet Kits" for Jefferson Middle School students. They will be putting together the Jet Kits in early January at an Epiphany Party with the youth groups from Monte Vista Christian and the Mennonite Churches. Items for the Jet Kits may include hygiene items, socks, chapstick, hair ties, and hand sanitizer.

 

First Congregational UCC, Phoenix

Join First Congregation United Church of Christ for our new monthly "First at First" event sponsored by the Southwest Conference!  Fridays in Phoenix are a great opportunity to check out all the amazing artists, musicians, and vendors in the Valley of the Sun! We're collaborating with community artists, musicians, and vendors to put on our very own version of "First Friday" at First Church!  This event is FREE and open to ALL!

 

First Congregational is also hosting a special showing a film from PBS that will help viewers understand the autism spectrum and individuals living with autism and their perspective and search for love, "Autism in Love," on January 7th at 6:00 pm.  It is a beautiful movie and First Congregational is partnering with ASU Project Humanities.  The showing is also sponsored by SW Conference Widening the Welcome Team. 

 

Four adults at different places on the autism  spectrum open up their personal lives as they navigate dating and romantic  relationships. Eye-opening, first-person portrayals show that despite many  challenges faced by those with autism, love can find a way. Join us for  this special preview of the PBS documentary followed by a panel discussion.
View the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXYv1lLZ6fU


Click here for the flyer.

 

First Christian Church, Las Cruces

First Christian Church in Las Cruces is participating in the Carry the Future campaign to collect soft baby carriers (like ErgoBaby and Baby Bjorn) for Syrian refugees. They're collecting through December 20th. 

  

If you'd like to participate, send slightly-used or new baby carriers to First Christian so they can be sent where they need to go. You can also give money to the cause.

  

You can learn more about the First Christian project here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/649619768512416/

  

You can learn more about Carry the Future here: https://www.facebook.com/carrythefuture

 

Church of the Painted Hills, Tucson  

Church of the Painted Hills shared this story:  The Marshall Islands Are Disappearing

This is the title of the article that appeared in the December 2nd New York Times. For us at CPH and for our sister congregation, Marshallese Ministries, this disappearance brings Climate Change close to home. Click here for the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/12/02/world/The-Marshall-Islands-Are-Disappearing.html?emc=edit_th_20151202&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=64766076&_r=0

 

Shadow Rock, Phoenix

Shadow Rock is collecting ELECTRONICS RECYCLING, working with ARIZONA StRUT, collecting "not needed any longer" electronics.

A donation of used electronics will...
1) Create more space in your home
2) Help young people learn a trade
3) Help schools get needed equipment and
4) SAVE OUR LANDFILLS

Arizona StRUT is a 501 3 c (non-profit) organization. Visit their web site at www.azstrut.orgfor more information about their mission and the work they do.

Church of the Painted Hills - Sarah King, Chair of the AZ Faith Network Earth Care Commission will speak this Sunday, November 22nd

From Church of the Painted Hills:

"Sarah King spoke to our congregation in April of 2014.  She celebrated the sacred dimension of the natural world and encouraged us to protect the environment for future generations.  Her personal style, passion for the environment, and reflections about her granddaughter were well received!  So, the CPH mission focus group asked that we invite Sarah back in 2015.

Sarah is Chair of the Arizona Faith Network Earth Care Commission and board member of Arizona Interfaith Power and Light.  She also chairs the Earth Care Subgroup for the Desert Southwest Conference, United Methodist Church Board of Church and Society.  Ms. King earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Illinois College in 1973 and a Master’s in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago in 1976.

Sarah King has worked as a counselor and social worker, freelance writer and steel drum music teacher.  A passionate earth care advocate, Sarah has also volunteered for over 30 years with various faith-based and secular environmental groups, devoting many hours to educating faith groups and members of the general public about environmental issues.  In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, biking and playing the tenor pan in her steel drum band.  Sarah is married and resides in Flagstaff, Arizona with her husband and dog.

Sarah will meet with people after church who are interested in forming a CPH partnership with Arizona Interfaith Power and Light.

Welcome back to CPH Sarah!"

From Church of the Beatitudes

Bishop's Pantry

We have seen an increased number of our neighbors needing assistance. The stock on our shelves is dwindling, and we are asking you for donations. Just drop off your peanut butter, canned vegetables, cereal, pasta and sauce, canned fruit to the Church office. We thank you for your generosity in continuing this ministry.

Annual Halloween Harvest Festival & Food Truck Roundup

Saturday, October 24 at 4 PM

Love Halloween? Love food trucks? Enjoy both at this creepy and fun event. This year in conjunction with our Harvest Festival, we will host our big Fall Food Truck Roundup. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors!  Community Life Ministry, Karen Kradle, and the staff would like to give a huge thank you to all those that donated candy for the Harvest Festival.

News From The Churches

Shadow Rock, Phoenix
FABRIC RECYCLE DRIVE begins October 18th
Clean out your closets! Shadow Rock Preschool is holding their semi-annual Soft Goods Recycle Drive! Bring fabric of ANY kind in ANY condition on Sunday, October 18th, through Thursday the 22nd. We really mean ANY condition - rips, tears, stains are all ok! Any donations that are not resellable will be broken down to their fibers, cleaned, and recycled. The preschool is paid per pound collected, so they appreciate your contributions.

Scottsdale Congregational Church
Scottsdale UCC is looking for donations for I HAVE A NAME project--an exhibit of photographs by Jon Linton of the homeless on the streets of Phoenix. They are looking to collect $500 to frame the photos and stories in this exhibit. Jon will then give the exhibit to Scottsdale UCC and they would agree to let the exhibit travel around to other UCC churches that would be interested in displaying it as part of their Justice ministry to the homeless. 
 
For more information about the artist and this project, click on www.ihaveaname.org. If you would like to contribute to this project, please contact Susan Unmacht, 480-747-7614.

Desert Garden, Sun City
This year Desert Garden Church reaches two milestones in its service to the greater West Valley community:  35 years as an established United Church of Christ Congregation and
the 25th anniversary of the installation of our Rogers organ.
  
These milestones will be celebrated at Desert Garden Church on Sunday, October 25, 2015.  We invite all members past and present, friends and visitors to share in a morning of festive music and sharing of community outreach.

Casas Adobes Congregational Church, Tucson
Casas Adobes is hosting the Third Annual Morris B. Ewing Memorial Golf Outing on October 30th at SaddleBrooke Ranch Golf Club.  A portion of revenue from the event supports the Youth Fund of the Southwest Conference United Church of Christ.  Click here for additional details and here for the flyer.

Church of the Beatitudes, Phoenix
Please join us on Sunday, January 24th, when Dr. Harvey Cox, Hollis Research Professor at Harvard Divinity School, will be preaching the 9     am worship service at Church of the Beatitudes. Dr. Cox is a permeant theologian and scholar on the interaction of religion, culture and politics. Some of his many written works include When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Decisions Today, The Future of Faith, and Religion in the Secular City. Click here to watch Dr. Cox discuss his text "The Future of Faith." 

United Church of Angel Fire, NM
The Firewood Angels cut, stack and deliver firewood to needy folks in the Moreno Valley. Preparations for Firewood Angels begin during the summer. This year three different groups of helpers from the Lutheran Church helped UCAF members to move massive quantities of logs from a donor in Hidden Lake. This amounted to about $3500 that needy folks did not have to spend. With all the help, we were able to supply the firewood needs of all our clients throughout the winter. This summer the Firewood Angels have cut, split and stacked 32 cords of wood and are well ahead of the game! Preparations are now underway to deliver wood to the needy before the first snow falls.

Rincon Congregational Church, Tucson
Rincon is hosting an event-filled weekend promoting Sacred Conversations On Race: Exploring Whiteness, October 23-25. Click here for details.

Join us for a special movie event, the groundbreaking documentary about the epidemic of rape in the military, "The Invisible War," November 20th at Rincon. Click here for the flyer!

The Good Shepherd UCC, Sahuarita
The Good Shepherd United Church of Christ in Sahuarita  will welcome Dr. Larry L. Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, NYC  and Nautilus Book Award for 2014 for Earth-honoring Faith, on November 20th and 21st.  He will be joining us for a CREATION JUSTICE WEEKEND.
For more information, click here.

Rebel & Divine OWL Retreat
A young adult fall retreat will be held November 6-8, 2015, at Chapel Rock Camp in Prescott, AZ.  This is an opportunity for young adults to explore their values around sexuality using the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program.

First Congregational Church, Phoenix
Join the inaugural "First at First" event on the First Friday in November at First Congregation United Church of Christ. The event will run from 6-10 PM and focus on the Southwest Conference. There will be live entertainment, market vendors, and ways to connect with other churches in the conference!  We are still looking for artists and vendors.  If you are interested, please email nelson@phoenixucc.org.  We invite your congregation to send a delegation to set up a table and talk about your church for the other attendees!

For more information, contact Nelson Kristoffer Mendoza at 602.509.5581 mobile or email nelsonkristoffer@outlook.com.

Sacred Space, Tucson
Sacred Space executive director Teresa Cowan Jones will co-present Capturing the Stories of a Compassionate City and Community at the 2015 Parliament of the World's Religions, the oldest, the largest, and the most inclusive gathering of people of all faith and traditions.

Click here to read more.

First Samoan Congregational Christian Church, Phoenix
​Sina Ahsoon, secretary of First Samoan Congregational Christian Church in AZ, recently attended a meeting of the Church Building and Loan Fund (CBLF), a part of our national setting that works with building loans to new and young congregations.  Sina spoke to other new church representatives about how CBLF not only granted them a loan to purchase their building, but, when they ran into difficulties, worked with them to save their building.

Lee's Message

As I travel and meet with church councils, search and call committees, clergy and laity in our Southwest Conference ministry settings, I experience and feel excitement, strength, and love for the United Church of Christ.  We not only say we welcome those who are not welcome elsewhere, we actually do welcome all no matter who or where they are on life's journeys. I am so proud of be a part of who and what we are in a world where inclusion, on almost every level, is rare.
  
It is into this setting we welcome the Rev. Dr. Bill Lyons as our Designated Conference Minister who will begin his ministry among us on January 1, 2016.  I can't wait for all of you to meet him and to get to know him.  He brings years of pastoral experience, wisdom, humor, creativity, theological perspectives for today's church, and an authentic passion for social justice.
  
I continue to be honored to be your Acting Conference Minister during this transition time.  My last day will be December 31st.  I commute between Albuquerque and Phoenix and find it an easier task than I thought it might  be.  Our technology age makes this possible of course.  Please do not hesitate to contact the Conference office to let anyone of us on staff  know how we can best serve you and your ministry setting.
  
Blessings, 
Lee

The Rev. Dr. William M. Lyons is our Designated Conference Minister

September 23, 2015

Dear Colleagues and Churches of the SWC,

It is with a great deal of enthusiasm that I inform you that the SWC Executive Board has unanimously selected the Rev. Dr. William M. Lyons as our Designated Conference Minister.  Dr. Lyons is scheduled to be in place to begin his ministry with us on January 1, 2016.

Bill, his preferred name, comes to us with 30 years of pastoral experience. He is currently the pastor of St. John’s U.C.C. in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for the past 11 years.  He was ordained in the U.C.C. on October 13, 1985.  A more extensive bio will be in tomorrow’s In the Loop newsletter.

While he will officially be on board in January, Bill will be present in the SWC for two significant meetings:  the Mission Planning Meeting (October 24) and the Clergy Retreat (November 9 – 11).  It is my hope that his presence at these two pivotal meetings will encourage the attendance of those eligible.

I would be remiss not to thank both the Search Committee and the Executive Board for their intense and diligent work during this search process.  Special thanks is extended to Dana Bender, the Chair of the Search Committee;  to Holly Herman, the SWC Office Manager;  and to the Rev. Dr. Lee Albertson, the SWC Acting Conference Minister.

I also want to thank each of you in advance for your continued support for our Southwest Conference and the United Church of Christ.  As we step into the future, let us do so in the belief that God is already there waiting to greet us in Jesus’ Name.

Shalom,

George A. Ault
SWC Moderator

From Rincon UCC

Friends,

We are grieved to hear that Pastor Wendell Langrine of Marshallese Ministries died on Sunday July 26th at 11am of a massive stroke. He died in a hospital in the Marshall Islands.

Pastor Wendell was beloved by his congregation that meets at Church of the Painted Hills in Tucson and will be greatly missed. His sudden death was a shock to his family and everyone who knew him. At the time of his death, Pastor Wendell was forty-five years old and in good physical condition. Pastor Wendell had been a minister for ten years. Wendell is survived by his wife, Marciana and two children, Esa and Tara. 

Please keep the family, extended family, and congregation in prayer at this time. There will be a memorial service for Pastor Wendell in Tucson sometime in August. Stay tuned for details. Condolences may be sent to Church of the Painted Hills, office@cphucc.org, 3295 W Speedway Blvd. Tucson AZ 85745.

From Faith United Community Church UCC - Dewey, AZ

Download Flyer [PDF]

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE 2015‐2016
(SUPPORTING OVER 600 CHILDREN)

** Most Needed

[] Sturdy Pocket Folders
[] Single Subject Notebooks
[] 3 or 5 Subject Notebooks (w/ Pocket Dividers)
[] Wide/College Ruled Paper **
[] Graph Paper
[] 1.5” and 3” Binders **
[] Divider Tabs (8 set) **
[] Divider Tabs (5 set) **
[] # 2 Pencils (10‐12 ct) **
[] Pink Erasers (Large) **
[] Pencil Sharpener w/ Lid
[] Pencil Box (Plastic)/Pouch
[] Red/Blue/Black Ink Pens
[] 24 ct. Crayons
[] Colored Pencils **
[] 8 ct. Washable Markers
[] Highlighters
[] Glue Sticks ** (Disappearing Purple)
[] Bottle White Glue
[] Scissors (blunt tip/plastic handles)
[] Flexible Ruler
[] 3x5 & 4x6 Index Cards
[] 4 GB Flash Drive
[] Backpack (no wheels) **

School supplies may be dropped off at:
U.S. Bank – 1260 Gail Gardner Way Ste. 125, Prescott, AZ
U.S. Bank – 3030 Arizona 69, Prescott, AZ
Adult Center of Prescott ‐1280 Rosser Street, Ste. B, Prescott, AZ
Yavapai County Food Bank – 8866 E. Long Mesa Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ

Thank you in advance for your generous donation!

From Rincon UCC

Welcome to Our New Assistant Minister!

We are happy to announce that Pamela Denzer, a seminarian at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and former Tucson middle school teacher has been offered and accepted the position of Assistant Minister at Rincon.

Pam will provide staff support for the Faith Development and Justice and Witness Ministry Teams, as well as some preaching, teaching, fellowship and service opportunities at Rincon and beyond. She’s excited to return to Tucson and feels strongly called to Rincon as she prepares for graduation and ordination in 2016.

From Church of The Beatitudes UCC

Attention! School Supplies

Faith in Action is sponsoring a drive for start-up supplies for Maryland School. Look for a Maryland School poster in the Narthex on Sunday mornings for the next month or so. You'll find a tree with attached leaves. Each leaf will indicate a request for school supplies for the beginning of the school year. If you wish to help, please take a leaf, purchase the supply indicated, and return it to a box under the tree within the next month.

- A big thanks from Faith in Action!

From Desert Palm UCC

Summer Food Drive - ‘Feed the Crowd’ for our Food Bank

Our Scripture selections for this Sunday, July 26, include John 6:1-21, the story about a boy bringing to Jesus two loaves and five fishes that turn into enough food to provide for the large crowd who had gathered to hear Jesus on that day. You are invited to share with others in the same way this Sunday, by supporting our ‘Feed the Crowd’ Food Drive for United Food Bank. Please bring non-perishable food goods, and let’s fill both our food barrels in one day and help with the summer shortage of food at the food banks. The Spiritual Life, and Community/World, Ministry Teams thank you for your generosity!

John Dorhauer's Book "Beyond Resistance" Has Been Published!

"Beyond Resistance is a template for those devoted to the the idea that faith should be just, generous and inspire commitment to the common good. The rise of postmodernity and its influence on the expression of faith are not the cause of religion's perceived diminishment in capacity, relevance, and impact. To the contrary ..."

Click here to read more, and order your copy!