After two plus years of Covid accommodations, we have all learned that church had to be church in new ways. We fought it, we hated it, we missed “real” church. This edited piece from Rev Talitha Arnold at United of Santa Fe spoke to me [Holly] this week:
“United Church of Santa Fe will have a Saturday evening “Easter Eve” in-person service (an older Easter tradition), a pre-recorded Easter service for those who can’t join in person, an Easter Sunrise Service, and an Outdoor Easter Celebration, weather permitting, with choir, trumpets, and 50 youth and adults from the Wellesley (Massachusetts) United Church of Christ. Easter will happen in different gatherings at different times and in different places—just like the first Easter, 2,000+ years ago. For the women, Easter happened at the cemetery when they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. It happened again when the Risen Christ met them on the road and told them to tell the disciples. For two of the disciples, Easter happened later that evening when a stranger met them on the road to Emmaus as they hightailed it out of Jerusalem. Others experienced Easter’s power when the Risen Christ stood among them in an upper room. For Thomas, Easter happened when he put his hand in Christ’s wounds. For the Apostle Paul, Easter didn’t happen until he got knocked off his horse and couldn’t see for a while. The early Christians experienced Easter and the power of the Resurrection in all kinds of ways and all kinds of places—indoors, outdoors, in a cemetery, on a road, in the breaking of bread, or the brilliance of a light. Where and how that happened wasn’t their primary concern. That it happened was. It still is.”
Several folks at First Christian Church in Las Cruces gather each week for a time of Spiritual Practices. Last week their sacred time involved creativity with paper and crayons/markers/colored pencils. The finished pages were brought to church on Palm Sunday and used to decorate the sanctuary!
It has been a long time since The Good Shepherd in Sahuarita was able to hold their Pizza Nights, but their Social Justice group is ready to start them up again. Folks will soon enjoy pizza, fellowship, and fun, all while learning valuable truth while watching videos about Social Justice issues like Climate Change, Sexism, Racism, Immigration, LGBTQ+ Issues, and more.
Because of funds raised through the sale of handcrafted items, Compassion on the Border (a ministry group at Casas Adobes) is able to do a six-month extension of their commitment to provide monthly donations to the Casa Alitas Welcome Center. Each month the Casa Alitas staff shares a list of suggested items needed to care for those asylum seekers sheltered at the center. Those items are purchased and delivered to Casa Alitas during the first week of each month.
Extreme Heat Webinar offered by the AZ Faith Network
Wednesday, April 20, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. via Zoom
Join us for a short presentation to learn how your faith community can help save lives this heat season. Please register to attend. To learn more about becoming a 2022 Faith-Based Cooling Center click here for our 2022 Cooling Center Application and details.
Prescott Congregational UCC will host the local Interfaith Climate Action Team (ICAT) service on April 28th at 5pm to pray and praise the love of our Earth, the importance of the Environment, recognizing that Climate Change is happening and must be addressed locally and beyond. This is done in the spirit and unity of all faiths. Several pastoral leaders representing different faith traditions will each give a brief message. The service will include Song and Prayer, Peace and Reflection. We humans do not live in a vacuum. Our planet is fragile. We need to honor and protect the Earth for a more just and sustainable future. Click here for more information on Earth Day and Earth Week.
The United Church of Christ is one of the over 40 sponsors of the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice. This year, Ecumenical Advocacy Days will be held virtually April 25-27! The conference theme “Fierce Urgency: Advancing Civil and Human Rights” will inspire us to work to protect and expand voting rights in the U.S. and human rights around the world. The program will include a UCC/DOC denominational time, worship led by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, powerful presentations by Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, and others. 35+ workshops(several featuring UCC and Global Ministries staff and global partners) will be held leading up to a virtual lobby day on voting and human rights. The pre-recorded EAD opening worship service will be available for use by local congregations on Sunday April 24th or any future Sunday. The videos and bulletin, including sermon by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III and music by Trinity UCC, will be available for download on the EAD website by April 18, 2022. The UCC office in Washington, D.C. is offering FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to attend EAD to the first 50 people who “follow” one of our social media accounts, or join the JPANET (if not already a member.) To receive the code for a free registration, follow the instructions on this page or email ucctakeaction@ucc.org for details!
After her closing service, Pastor Carol at Scottsdale UCC gifted the congregation with a framed copy of Janet McKenzie's work "Jesus of the People." It was a perfect gift to celebrate the 5 years of Carol’s ministry there and her work teaching about white privilege and anti-racism.
About the artist: Late in 1999 Janet McKenzie's painting "Jesus of the People" was selected winner of the National Catholic Reporter's competition for a new image of Jesus by judge Sister Wendy Beckett, host of the PBS show "Sister Wendy's Story of Painting". In the words of Sister Wendy, "This is a haunting image of a peasant Jesus - dark, thick-lipped, looking out on us with ineffable dignity, with sadness but with confidence. Over His white robe He draws the darkness of our lack of love, holding it to Himself, prepared to transform all sorrows if we will let Him."
Throughout Lent Oro Valley UCC is exploring various Christian renditions of the prayer of Jesus more traditionally known as the Lord's Prayer. (I loved this one. -Holly)
This week's version of the prayer of Jesus or Lord's Prayer
from the original Aramaic
O cosmic Birther, from whom the breath of life comes,
who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration.
May Your light be experienced in my utmost holiest.
Your Heavenly Domain approaches.
Let Your will come true in the universe (all that vibrates) just as on earth (that is material and dense).
Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need,
detach the fetters of faults that bind us, (karma) like we let go the guilt of others.
Let us not be lost in superficial things (materialism, common temptations),
but let us be freed from that what keeps us off from our true purpose.
From You comes the all-working will, the lively strength to act, the song that beautifies all and renews itself from age to age.
Sealed in trust, faith and truth. (I confirm with my entire being)