Shepherd of the Hills is so excited to have kicked off their new ministry last night, serving meals at the Missionaries of Charity in downtown Phoenix. Many thanks to Laura Minnick for providing the delicious meal and to Bill and Ellen Janiga for being the dutiful servers. SOH is currently scheduled to serve dinner once a month, but looks forward to increasing the frequency of service in the seasons to come.
United Church of Sun City was thrilled to once again host the Tremble Clefs Annual Fundraising Concert on Sunday November 20th. Tremble Clefs is a musical therapy group for people with Parkinson's disease. Free ice cream sundaes were served afterward. Over 220 people attended. This is the first concert United Church has presented since February 2020 because of Covid.
Pastor Paul from Church of the Palms is so grateful for a community of people who donated food and time so that all could eat, laugh, and fellowship in safety and peace. 80 in-person (not counting second helpings) and 79 take-out meals... totaling...(let me get out the abacus)...159 meals were served! Thanks, also, to Wendy Whitlock for organizing it all! After a two year absence, the tradition that Len Silvester and (Liz) Elizabeth Adler started last century has returned. Thanks be to God! Namaste. Shalom.
During the clergy retreat in Tucson with the SW Conference, Church of the Good Shepherd’s Pastor Sarah visited Mexico on an invitation from La Casa de la Misericordia, a mission of the SWC. They have been helping migrants and their community at large which includes many children. COGS has now added the shelter to their long list of places to donate!
What a great Sunday! First Church Phoenix welcomed new members! Carl, Val, Keyth, Marian, Noelle, Andrea, Brittany, Nate, Sofia, Nicole, Juliana, and Elvia!
And Casas Adobes welcomed Ted, Karen, Mary, Olivia, Leona, Wayne, Joyce, and Tina! Our families are growing!
Blood Pressure Checks are done on the 2nd Sunday of each month at Casas Adobes by the parish nurse and other nurses in the congregation. It provides a person with a record of how their BP is doing if there is a problem or will help find a problem if it is not known. Blood pressure is known as the SILENT KILLER because a person may not feel bad with very high BP. Some people get a headache when the BP is high but many don’t.
Desert Palm celebrated four of its clergy as they transitioned into Exempt status.
Pictured are:
Clergy: Rev. Dr. Don Arey, Rev. Dr. James Ewing, Rev. Rich Doerrer-Peacock, Rev. Don Riemer. Spouses: Lois Arey, Ellen Colangelo, Pat Riemer
At Family Promise of Albuquerque, holiday gifts are given to families who “graduate” into their own homes. This year, 11 families graduated- a total of 54 individuals (parents and children). FIrst Congregational UCC in Albuquerque has signed up to provide gifts for a family of three: Kelly, 38 years old; Darth, 13 years old; and Kat, 11 years old (names have been changed for the privacy of the family.)
Many of our churches “adopt” children or families for the holidays. Here are a couple examples:
Church of the Painted Hills will be adopting a family facing financial struggles for Christmas from the Marshallese congregation, that currently shares their space.
Church of the Beatitudes will be adopting two refugee families whose children attend Maryland School.
Shadow Rock will be offering Our Whole Lives comprehensive, values-based human sexuality education beginning in January 2023. This offering is for junior high and senior high youth, with groups for 7th grade through 12th grade. Please reach out to your friends and neighbors to let them know about this nationally known program that's led jointly by the United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association. For information about Shadow Rock's OWL Program, please email Karen. To learn more about OWL's values and vision, check out their digital home!
Join faith leaders throughout Arizona for a casual Interfaith Winter Night on Monday, Dec. 12th from 6 30-8:30 at Trinity Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt, Phoenix. All will gather to share hymns, songs, chants, meditations, and reflections on love, unity and peace. The service will close with a time of community and refreshments. Part of the program will be outside, so dress accordingly. All are welcome. RSVP