Congratulations to Catalina Martinez, wife of Rev. Tom Martinez of Desert Palm UCC, for passing the US Naturalization test to become a US citizen. Well deserved!
The new interim minister of Church of the Red Rocks, Rev. Marvin Morgan, has introduced a new word and symbol to the congregation as they start this journey together- Sankofa. Sankofa is often expressed in the Akan language as sewo were fi nawosankofa a yenki, which means, “it is not an abomination to return and take what you forgot.” In other words, Sankofa translates to gathering good lessons learned in the past to achieve future goals. This is different from being fixated on the past and resting on one’s laurels. In the true spirit of Sankofa, the sole purpose of looking back is to inform the present and to help shape a new, yet to be experienced, future.
Jean Brady, spouse of the founding pastor of Church of the Painted Hills, Rev. Dr. D. Joseph Brady, died on August 14, 2021. Church of the Painted Hills will hold a Memorial Service for Ms. Brady on Saturday April 9that 10:00 AM at Church of the Painted Hills UCC, 3295 West Speedway Blvd. Tucson. After Rev. Brady’s retirement in 1987, the Brady’s served the church as Annuitant Visitors in Southern Arizona, a service Ms. Brady continued after Rev. Brady passed away in 2007. We invite anyone touched by the lives of the Brady’s to join us for this time of remembrance.
Pastor Ken at Shadow Rock UCC recently sat down with KJZZ's Matt Casey to talk about their work with Afghan families. Check out the story of the Qaem family at this link!
One of the projects of the Women’s Fellowship of The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita is holding estate sales. The proceeds go to the church as well as supporting several local nonprofits.
The women at Scottsdale UCC enjoy getting together occasionally to “whine” ( that is, enjoy fellowship with snacks and wine). This next time, the theme is “A Blind Date with a Book,”. Folks are to bring a book they have read and enjoyed, wrapped in brown paper, and with a short description (not title) on the paper. The books will be categorized by genre and everyone can choose a new “date” to take home with them. Clever idea.
Church of the Good Shepherd in Albuquerque, along with First Congregational Church UCC, partner to supplement food and other necessities to the Zia Pueblo in northern New Mexico. Zia Pueblo is a Native American Keresan-speaking community of a little over 900 members living in approximately 260 housing units, located about 20 miles northeast of Bernalillo off Highway 550. The Pueblo has occupied the site they are on since the mid 13th century. The Pueblo is home to the Spanish mission of Nuestra Senora de la Asunción, which was constructed starting in 1694. The first missionary was assigned to the Pueblo in 1598. Based on current census data almost 20% of Zia Pueblo children live below the federal poverty line as well as 32% of those 65 or older. Food insecurity is widespread in the community. The Pueblo community has been hit hard by the Covid pandemic, and now is suffering the effects of high inflation, shrinking their buying power for food and supplies. The Pueblo has recently built a food distribution warehouse to manage the donations they receive. They have commercial refrigerator/freezers to store perishable and portable racks to store and distribute the canned and non-perishable donations. Food and supplies are distributed on a “most needed” basis starting with the elderly.
ICS is offering a two-hour informative session for Rincon staff, members, and friends on offering compassionate care while maintaining healthy boundaries. Others are welcome to join for this informative session. March 30 at 10am AZ 11am NM/TX,
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89406888240?pwd=L2dPQjdlWVFpUEwzVTdqL1gwUnA4dz09
Meeting ID: 894 0688 8240 | Passcode: 89870
Here is a column, posted by Congregational Church of the Valley, by John Roedel that expresses the thoughts and feelings of so many of us. It seems a fitting close for us today.
“I can’t make the
world be peaceful
I can’t stall tanks
from roaring down roads
I can’t prevent children
from having to hide in bunkers
I can’t convince the news to
stop turning war into a video game
I can’t silence the sound of bombs
tearing neighborhoods apart
I can’t turn a guided missile
into a bouquet of flowers
I can’t make a warmonger
have an ounce of empathy
I can’t convince ambassadors
to quit playing truth or dare
I can’t deflect a sniper’s bullet
from turning a wife into a widow
I can’t stave off a country being
reduced to ash and rubble
I can’t do any of that
the only thing I can do
is love the next person I encounter
without any conditions or strings
to love my neighbor
so fearlessly that
it starts a ripple
that stretches from
one horizon to the next
I can’t force peace
on the world
but I can become a force
of peace in the world
because
sometimes all it takes
is a single lit candle
in the darkness
to start a movement
‘Lord, make me a candle
of comfort in this world
let me burn with peace’”