A return to diplomacy is the only way forward. We must remind our officials of the shared humanity between our nations and find creative ways to build peace. Let us pray and fast for peace with Iran and use our collective voice as people of faith to stop the drumbeat to war.

Thank the Senate for passing S.Res. 68 and urge your representatives to pass this legislation and send it to the President’s desk.

10 a.m. on March 1, 2020 at Desert Heritage Church, 1020 N Horne Ave, Mesa, AZ 85203

Please join Desert Heritage Church as members of the church share their hand stitch on fabric panels to raise awareness of the global refugee crisis and a visual representation of the sheer volume of this astronomical figure of refugees. Their panels will be a part of a larger community art installation in Sacramento, California.

Help protect the planet: Plant a tree. United Church of Christ Environmental Justice Ministries is inviting members and congregations across the wider church to celebrate Earth Day's 50th anniversary by participating in the Three Great Loves Tree Planting Campaign.

Planting trees is something UCC'ers like to do. In 2013, the UCC planted over 141,000 trees as part of Mission 4/1 Earth. The campaign ran 50 days, from Easter Monday to Pentecost.

The UCC Our Faith, Our Vote campaign provides information and ideas to assist individuals and congregations in developing nonpartisan and meaningful ways to engage the political and electoral process. The Our Faith, Our Vote resources can empower UCC members to engage in voter registration, issue education and voter mobilization. We must equip ourselves and our communities to make informed, thoughtful decisions about who will lead us into the future. The Our Faith, Our Vote campaign is one way to do just that, and we hope you will join this effort in 2020.

In 2020, people are still working towards dismantling structural, systemic, and individual racism. The work of addressing racism is intersectional, and stems from historical unjust business practices, and policies and laws impacting every aspect of our lives. We have an opportunity during the 2020 election to pay close attention to politicians upholding the status quo by working against justice for all. Restore justice! In 2020 it is critical that you exercise your vote and your voice so that our nation is healthy and equitable for all.

In mid-January, the Trump Administration proposed a plan to roll back the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which could cause great harm to God’s creation as well as to public health and safety. Please submit a public comment opposing the proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Transform Arizona Schools held meetings in Phoenix and Tucson to look over the language around HB2706 to discuss its intent and brainstorm ways to block it from moving forward.

Currently, the Arizona Interscholastic Association represents 269 schools in every Arizona county. They have a protocol in place to ensure competitiveness and inclusion for trans youth, and HB2706 would destroy all of this progress. We noted the dehumanizing nature of the bill and contrasted the language with 10 other states that have proposed similar anti-trans bills.

Some ideas from AZ Census 2020. Your ideas are welcome.

Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 2 - 6 PM
Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law
111 E Taylor St, Phoenix, Room 544

Join the Arizona Faith Network and community partners as we engage in education and experiences on mass incarceration in Arizona. This event is designed to dive deeper into the crisis of incarceration and help attendees understand how they can help solve this crisis.

This month’s “Getting to the Root of It” is Justice and Witness Ministries’ “State of the Union.”

The information here is for states within the Southwest Conference UCC. For more details. visit Rock the Vote.

The United Church of Santa Fe (Santa Fe, New Mexico) is one of the six national Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) 2020 Cool Congregations Challenge runners up. The annual contest accepts applications from religious congregations around the United States who are doing work to address global warming by reducing their carbon footprint as they create models of sustainability within their communities.

A message from Rev. Doug Bland, Arizona Interfaith Power & Light:

Earth Day is going to be a big deal this year. The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, is right around the corner. It’s also the 5th Anniversary of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’.

I’m writing to encourage you to participate in Faith Climate Action Week, April 17-26. There are so many possibilities from which to choose.

From New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light:

Blessings all,

This from our national office with our congratulations to United Church of Santa Fe and First Christian Church, Las Cruces for receiving runner-up awards for their work in addressing climate change and caring for creation. Of 10 top winners, 2 are from New Mexico. It is wonderful to share such hope-filled actions and accomplishments!!!! Start planning your entry for 2020 contest now.

DACA Anniversary event at Mesa Community College

Presentations on:

Tuesday, February 11, in Room SC-11E, 10:30 to 11:45 and

Tuesday, February 25, in Room SC-11E, 10:30 to 11:45

The Aliento Club at MCC is hosting a presentation by Victor Aronow, an immigration lawyer and member of Uncage and Reunite Families Coalition. 

Since this is the 10 year reunion of SB1070, he presents the politics and racism behind US immigration policy from the very beginning in 1790, then explores the development of US financial and economic influence that the US exerted and still exerts over Latin America.

Wednesday, February 12, 4 - 7 pm
Arizona State Capitol Lawn
1700 W Washington St, Phoenix

*** (From ACLU of Arizona) ***

Light candles on the lawn of the state Capitol for every incarcerated person who's lost their lives in DOC custody, every incarcerated person suffering due to lack of treatment for medical and mental illnesses, and all our friends, family, and loved ones in Arizona prisons. Let's show state lawmakers that we want real sentencing reform NOW.

Sunday, February 9, 4 pm
Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ
4425 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale

Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ (SCUCC) and the Arizona Faith Network (AFN) are sponsoring a discussion of the movie "Just Mercy." People who still need to see the movie can go to the 1:00 pm showing on Sunday 2/9 at Harkins Camelview at Fashion Square theater. Movie times are subject to change, so check the Harkins website before you go.

Rev. Katie Sexton, Executive Director of AFN, will be there, as will also Khalil Rushdan, with the ACLU (and AFN Board Member), who will be there to share his personal incarceration experiences.

The Southwest Conference endorsed this effort and invites congregations and members to do so too.

As people of faith, we are called to care for all of God’s children and to protect God’s creation. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is an inspiring, wild landscape. It is home to polar bears, wolves, the sacred Porcupine Caribou Herd that is 180,000 strong, and migratory birds tying the Arctic Refuge to our backyards in the lower 48 states.

Anna Peterson of Conservation Communications is helping to organize a faith statement signed by leaders of faith communities who oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge. See the full statement attached and below. Would a leader of your congregation be willing to sign on? Please let her know by March 1.

If you would be interested in joining a Southwest Conference delegation to attend this event together, please contact Bill. Expenses would be paid by the participants.