Pastor Gloria Smith from Encanto Community Church was assigned as the Poll Chaplain at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. She could be found outside there from 5:45 AM until 1:00 PM and her responsibilities included assisting individuals who were having a hard time voting, filing reports of intimidation and threats with the Secretary of State, and deescalating conflicts, intimidations, and threats. Rev Erin Tamayo from Desert Palm and Rev Rock Fremont from Shepherd of the Hills also served in other locations.
After a two year absence, The Church of the Palms is happy to announce that The Spaulding Memorial Thanksgiving Dinner will once again take place on Thanksgiving Day between 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM. This meal, open to the public, takes place with generous donations of food from congregants and a small army of volunteers that leave afterward saying, “Wow, that was fun!”
First Christian Church in Las Cruces has an opportunity to be part of a new ministry to serve the student population at New Mexico State University- to be an open and welcoming church for those who struggle with the more conservative churches that they grew up in. Over the years they have had visitors seeking a new way of connecting with God and the church has struggled with identifying how to do that. An answer may have arrived in an email this week- inviting them to become part of restarting the Interfaith Council at NMSU!
On October 28th, the Habitat House that Casas Adobes volunteers helped build was in a special article...click here to see the GREAT NEWS and the house!
Help the National UCC launch Climate Hope Summer on Giving Tuesday November 29th! Imagine 12 youth and young adults from across the country engaging in a dynamic fellowship program next year! Paired with a mentor and supportive UCC community, each fellow will participate in a project that will grow their understanding of environmental justice and nurture their leadership skills. Your gift to Climate Hope Summer will inspire these young leaders to advance one of our most important social justice causes.
We are already hearing about black Friday and the pressure to get just the right gift for everyone on your list. Each year, First Congregational in Albuquerque offers an Alternative Gift Catalog, so you don’t have to buy more gifts for folks who do not need them. This year the catalog has the opportunity to rebuild the butterfly garden, support asylum seekers (Brayan and David), support a fun youth event, replace the church’s rainbow doors, and more. You can access the catalog online: https://www.firstuccabq.org/. What a great idea!
Many thanks to the Church of the Painted Hills Crop Walk Team and all the team supporters! The Crop Walk team raised $1443 (and counting) to help end hunger in Tucson and around the world. So far, CPH is second on the leader board for the amount of money raised for the Crop Walk. Another year where CPH shines in their generosity to help those in need. And it doesn’t end there! Casa Maria recognized the Church of the Painted Hills and Trinity Presbyterian for their monthly help in supplying sandwiches. They hand out 400 individual lunches and 60 family food bags EACH DAY.
Rev. Ann Utke will begin her time as interim minister with Scottsdale Congregational UCC on Monday, November 28, and lead worship on Sunday, Dec. 4th. Ann moved here from Wisconsin in 2021 when her husband Rev. Bill Utke became the pastor at Desert Garden UCC in Sun City West. She has lots of varied experience pastoring in churches both as a called pastor and as an interim, and has also worked as a hospice chaplain. See short bio HERE.
This December, Shepherd of the Hills will kick off a monthly musical event. This series of performances will run through April of 2023. ALL ARE WELCOME, and the price of admission will be a suggested love offering! All of these performances will occur on Sunday afternoons at 4 PM, and hopefully, the final 2 concerts will be held outside (weather permitting). The first is on December 11th and will feature a Christmas "sing-along" led by Randall Barnes. Shepherd of the Hills hopes to see you there for some fun, food and fellowship!
