Pastor Vernon Meyer recently retired as pastor of Sun Lakes United Church of Christ, but he knew that he still had a lot to give to the Church. So when the opportunity came along to be the Interim Pastor Of Chalice Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he said yes almost immediately. Vernon likes adventure and new experiences and is looking forward to bringing his gifts of preaching, knowledge of the Scripture, and passion for putting the Gospel into action to this new community.
Here is a VIDEO that captures the energy and joy of the recent Phoenix Pride parade. Scottsdale UCC joined forces with First Church Phoenix to extend their Open and Affirming invitation to both the participants and viewers of the parade.
Over two months ago, Shadow Rock was asked to sponsor an Afghan family that was especially vulnerable. The request came through friends and a chain of personal contacts. Since that time, this family has been in an agonizing hold waiting for the Department of Homeland Security to approve their application for humanitarian parole and travel visas to the United States. Shadow Rock received word this week that they were finally approved! More details of their story will be shared when they are safely on the ground here in Phoenix, AZ. For now we introduce you to Navid, Shajia, Omar (5 years), and Yosuf (18 months).
Casas Adobes is Praying for Their Neighboring Pastors and Churches
The Rev. Seth Wisplewey, Interim Pastor, Rincon UCC
Seth is one of the nine plaintiffs in Charlottesville, VA, in the Sines vs. Kessler case which is a legal effort to take on the vast leadership of the violent white nationalist movement and hate groups. The case is trying to prove that the Unite the Right march held August 12, 2017 in which one person was killed and others injured, was a planned conspiracy by the white nationalists where they plotted to do violence against Jews, Blacks, and their supporters. Please keep Pastor Seth and the other plaintiffs and lawyers for the trial in your prayers in the weeks ahead as they testify to the violence of that day and the long lasting physical and emotional trauma that victims still suffer. Hold Rincon UCC in their prayers as Seth is away for numerous weeks for the trial.
The Rev. Mike Longeran, Pastor, Painted Hills UCC
After a summer of health challenges, Mike's physician has ordered him to cease work immediately. Please hold Mike and his wife, Debbie, in your prayers for healing and peace. Please hold Painted Hills UCC in prayer as well as they seek to secure worship and pastoral care help.
The Phoenix Welcome Center does not have a commercial kitchen, so meals need to come in from outside. Arrangements were made for St. Vincent de Paul to provide lunch and dinner five days a week, but there were no meals on the weekends. Pastor Susan of First Church Phoenix remembered their friends at Salvadoreño Restaurant in Sunnyslope from the days of refugee hosting on the church grounds and asked them to provide dinner on Saturdays. A fund was set up. The word went out. Contributions came in and since March of this year, $16,771 has been donated to pay for the dinners. Churches in the UCC Southwest Conference, Synagogues in Phoenix, and the UUCP all donated. Other contributions came from UCC churches in Maine, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts and New Mexico, and from a Disciples of Christ Church in Indiana. With the help of so many, First Church is, without a doubt, welcoming the immigrant and feeding Christ’s sheep. (FYI, the Welcome Center receives about 200 refugees a day.)
Rev. Lorraine Ceniceros will be in the pulpit this week at Church of the Red Rocks. Rev. Ceniceros started her faith journey at The Church of the Red Rocks as a volunteer with children, and stepped up to be the lead teacher. CRR backed her as she started Seminary, and she was the first person the church supported through her Ordination. She has had many accomplishments since then, and will be starting a new position as Conference Minister of the Kansas-Oklahoma UCC in December.
Compost Collection for Creation!
United Church of Santa Fe offers a compost collection service. Folks can bring their compostable products to deposit anytime (easy access from the church parking lot) as well as pick up compostable garbage bags at the church.
Rincon also has compost collection bins set up on their property with instructions that teach members the ins and outs of composting.
Both Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque and Church of the Painted Hills in Tucson sponsor highway clean-up crews!
On Thanksgiving Day, United of Santa Fe will offer an outdoor “Drive-by Thanks-Give” event. Folks are invited to come by the church to drop-off food (homemade or store-bought) and/or checks for the Interfaith Shelter and also bring a note of what they give thanks for to put on a “Give Thanks” board (outside). It’s a reason to get out of the house Thanksgiving Day, see other church people, do something for others, and think about your thanks—all of which are ways to push back depression and gloom.
Churches are reaching out to their communities in this season of sharing. Here are just a few examples:
Church of the Beatitudes is sponsoring 2 families from Maryland School
Desert Palm is providing gifts for children in foster care
Casas Adobes is giving toys to Keeling School
Oro Valley is providing supplies to Youth on their Own
Shadow Rock has an Angel Tree for the Stepping Stone Foundation
Shepherd of the Hills has an Angel Tree for NourishPhx
Have a blessed Thanksgiving- Holly